Hockey may be Canada’s game, but in the NHL, the Stanley Cup hasn’t come north of the border for 29 years. In 1993, few would have thought that the Montréal Canadiens’ 4-1 obliteration of the Los Angeles Kings – following seven Canadian winners in the nine years prior – would commence a near-three-decade drought.
Now, to try to avoid a full 30 years of hurt, two Canadian teams look to have emerged to go one step further than the 1994 Canucks, 2004 Flames, 2006 Oilers, 2007 Senators, 2011 Canucks, and 2021 Canadiens simply couldn’t.
Of course, all of Canada certainly isn’t behind all of the Canadian teams, with fans of one team never willing to sell out for another even when the country’s hockey dignity is on the line. Still, the 30th anniversary of the last time that the Cup was won by a Canadian team is something hockey fans don’t want to see exceeded.
A most unlikely drought for Canada
By 1993, Canada had already won 49 Stanley Cups, but now, the US has 54. In 1994, there were 26 NHL teams, eight of which were based in Canada. Now, there are 32 total teams with only seven Canadian franchises. Still, even with the increase in the rate of US-based teams, 21.9 percent of competitors are Canadian.
Due to how the NHL is locked, uses the salary cap system, and implements a draft that promotes the weakest teams, over the course of three decades, even the lowliest Canadian team from the 90s should have built up a Stanley Cup-winning side, in theory. Of course, that hasn’t come to pass.
In 2017, an analysis of strength for each team, starting in 1988, showcases the drop in overall quality of Canadian teams by comparison to their competitors. The clubs certainly haven’t been without their stars, even superstars, but poor management and lackluster team building have been common themes.
Last season, the odds were quickly stacked against Canadian teams breaking the streak. In the first round, Toronto met the three-peat-seeking Tampa Bay Lightning, bowing out in Game 7. In the Western Conference, the Flames and Oilers met in the Second Round after grueling seven-game openers. Edmonton won but was then swept by the eventual champions.
Will Canada get the Cup back after 30 years?
This far out from the start of the NHL season, with so much player and staff movement, the best reference for how the experts see the season playing out is the odds. Follow this link if you are interested in wagering on the home teams! Right now, the best hockey bets are in the futures markets, with the Stanley Cup favorites currently being the Avs. However, just behind the reigning champions is Toronto.
Colorado is quite some way out in front at +450, but Toronto can’t be counted out as the second-favorite at +850. Behind the Buds, there’re the super-powered Florida Panthers (+900), Carolina Hurricanes (+1000), Bolts (+1200), and then another Canadian team: the Edmonton Oilers (+1400).
The Connor McDavid-led side went the furthest last season and, by all accounts, improved in the offseason. During the 2021/22 campaign, the team was significantly boosted by the February change of head coach to Jay Woodcroft, and now, they seemingly have a much better goaltending setup with minimal free agency losses.
Toronto, on the other hand, lost their goalie to the Oilers (Jack Campbell) and have taken a punt on the oft-injured Matt Murray – who is formidable when not on the nurse’s bench. With a fair bit of lower line turnover, the thinking is that the Maple Leafs’ stars are now established enough to power the Buds past the first round for the first time since 2013 – having taken Auston Matthews first overall in 2016.
Naturally, gains made by leading Canadian sides mean little if the US sides improve further or stay as strong. The defending champions certainly saw some big names depart, but an adequate replacement goaltender in Alexandar Georgiev was traded in to fill in for Darcy Kuemper, and they may yet bring back Nazem Kadri.
Still, the craziness that comes with the Stanley Cup Playoffs gives the underdogs Toronto and Edmonton a chance at glory and snapping Canada’s streak before it goes past the dreaded 30.