A Canadian Division Will Make for a Thrilling Playoff Race
As the Canadian teams are set to form one division, the NHL playoff outlook is very intriguing.
When the NHL drops the puck in January, things are going to look different, and one of the many changes will be the divisional alignment across the league. North of the border, we will see the NHL’s seven Canadian franchises create one division and battle against one another for a limited number of postseason positions.
Obviously, no division will look the same as last year, and that will make for great playoff pushes all around the league, but the Canadian Division will be one of the most competitive and deep races in the NHL.
The Ottawa Senators clearly have the longest odds to qualify for the playoffs, as the Sens are the only Canadian team that did not play in the expanded 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs. While additions like Matt Murray and Evgenii Dadonov will give Ottawa fans something to be excited about, the team will face an uphill battle to reach the postseason.
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The Montreal Canadiens also seem like one of three Canadian Division teams destined to be excluded from the playoffs. Like Ottawa, the Habs added key players this offseason, like Tyler Toffoli, Josh Anderson, and Joel Edmundson. The acquisition of Jake Allen to back up Carey Price also looks like a strong move, but this team was the 24th team in the 2020 Qualifiers for a reason.
To be clear (and probably obvious), anything could happen this season. Both Ottawa and Montreal have a shot to make the playoffs, and the Canadian Division would become even more interesting if they are competitive. However, the race between the other five teams is what’s exciting.
The Toronto Maple Leafs, Winnipeg Jets, Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers, and Vancouver Canucks all will and should have playoff aspirations, but only four teams will qualify. So who comes up short?
It absolutely can’t be Toronto, Calgary, or Edmonton. That’s not to say that missing the postseason can’t happen, but that it would spell disaster for any of these clubs. The Leafs and Flames have made a habit out of early playoff exits, while the Oilers have struggled to even qualify, all despite elite players and high expectations. That must end this year.
With that said, the Canucks made huge strides forward last season, becoming the last Canadian team standing in the playoffs, while the Jets have become a staple in the postseason, so it is also difficult to see either of them missing the playoffs.
Looking at the superstars in the Canadian Division, goal-scoring will be the primary factor when it comes to which teams find success. Players like Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews, Leon Draisaitl, Johnny Gaudreau, Elias Pettersson, Mark Scheifele, and many more will make every game exciting on the way to the playoffs.
Goaltenders could also play a major role in the playoff picture, as players like Connor Hellebuyck and Carey Price are potential game-changers. Jacob Markstrom is another goalie to watch, as he switches from Vancouver to Calgary in 2021.
He’s not the only addition/subtraction, though, that will impact the Canadian Division. The rotation of free agent defensemen that includes T.J. Brodie (CGY to TOR), Tyson Barrie (TOR to EDM), and Chris Tanev (VAN to CGY) will also play a big role in this division. Any time a loss by one team is a direct gain by a divisional opponent, it is worth keeping an eye on.
With the recent history and all of the talent, the Canadian Division is wide open. Any of the top five teams could win the division, while one will miss the playoffs. Plenty will happen between now and the season’s start, so the outlook here could change quickly.
Right now, though, I would look for Toronto to become division champs with Edmonton close behind. The Canucks have the offensive weapons to reach the playoffs as well, while the Flames and Jets will battle for the last spot.
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It truly is difficult to identify clear favorites in this new look division, but that is all the more reason to watch closely as the NHL season approaches.