Now that they’ve just passed the half-way point of the 2007-2008 National Hockey League season, let’s take a few minutes to have a look at the Canadian franchises, how their currently doing and how much potential they have for down the road.
In all, most of our teams are doing very well to average, with one glaring and notable exception. So without further ado, here’s a look at the teams in order of most potential to bring home the Stanley Cup for the first time since 1993, to the team with the least hope – and basically a very grim future.
Ottawa Senators
The leading team in the Eastern Conference, the Senators possess all the tools to make another run at the finals following their defeat to the hands of the Anaheim Ducks in last season’s championships.
After 44 games, the Senators sport a 29 win, 11 loss, 4 tie record, good for 62 points, seven ahead of the second place New Jersey Devils in the east. On top of that, the only team the Sens trail in the entire league are the Western Conference leading Detroit Red Wings, but following their 3-2 win over the Wings on Saturday night in Ottawa – the only meeting between the two this year, you’ve got to like the Sens to make another serious run for the Cup this spring.
While they’ve just lost the services of Dany Heatly for at least the next six weeks due to a shoulder separation during the Detroit game, and a vicious open-ice hit on Jason Spezza against the New York Islanders on Sunday night that could keep him out of the lineup for an extended period as well, the Senators are very deep in talent and should continue to lead the east for the rest of the way.
Vancouver Canucks
If the old adage that ‘defense wins championships’ is true, you’ve got to like the Canucks as well to make some noise come playoff time.
With possibly the league’s best goaltender in the crunch – that being Roberto Luongo, the Canucks possess one of the best goals-against average in the NHL and are currently nine games above the .500 mark in the very competitive Western Conference.
As long as they can keep escaping any major injuries and can keep their Swedish tandem of Markus Nielson and the Sedin twins – Daniel and Henrick, producing offensively, the Canucks will easily make the playoffs an could go a long way into the spring.
Calgary Flames
The NHL message boards were alive with doom-and-gloom scenarios when the Flames announced over the summer that they had hired Mike Keenan as their new head coach.
Following a number of tumultuous tenures with several other teams in the league over the past 20 years, fans of the Flames – for the most part, thought general manager Darryl Sutter had gone off the deep end.
But after a disappointing campaign last year under then head coach Jim Playfair, the Flames needed somebody to come in and crack the whip, and the results speak for themselves.
Long known as ‘Captain Hook’ for his penchants for pulling goaltenders are particularly odd times during games, fans of the team thought he’d be the one to mess with the head of goalie Mikka Kiprusoff, but it hasn’t happened – at least not as badly as predicted, and the Flames should be a solid pick to make the playoffs.
Throw in yet another outstanding season by the heart and soul of the team Jarome Iginla and some solid defensemen including Robin Reagher and Dion Phaneuf, and they could also make a serious run for the mug.
Montreal Canadiens
After hitting some rough patches earlier in the season, the Habs have turned the corner and are back to their form of early in the season. After starting with a record of 12 wins, 6 losses and 3 ties, Montreal went on a horrendous streak of just 2 wins, 5 losses and two ties in their next nine games, but have rebounded nicely – once again with strong defensive play being the key.
Alternating between the goaltending tandem of Christobal Huet and Carey Price, the Habs have strength between the pipes – even though they recently sent Price to the minors for more playing time.
Up front, the Canadiens possess the league’s top powerplay and the always-dangerous Alex Kovalev who is among the NHL’s leading point-getters, is enjoying a bit of a career-resurgence giving the Habs a very legitimate shot at the playoffs.
Edmonton Oilers
The Oilers seem to be having so much fun on the ice that they’re more than willing to play more than 60 minutes a night, that’s because they are lethal in the shoot-out and their record proves it.
On the year the Oilers are 11-2 in shootout victories with Alex Hemsky and rookie Sam Gagner thrilling fans with at times, unbelievable moves that leave opposing goalies shaking their heads.
Many thought the trades of Jason Smith and – most noticeably Ryan Smythe, would send the Oilers to the depths for many years to come, they’ve also stockpiled a number of very high draft picks for the coming years.
That, combined with the fine crop of rookies they have, give the Oilers a major upside for years to come. They may not make the playoffs this season, but they’ve got a very bright future up in Oil country, something that certainly can’t be said for the…
Toronto Maple Leafs
Even if you absolutely despise the Leafs, as a Canadian hockey fan, you’ve almost got to take a bit of pity on the buds who have fallen on some very hard times and of all the teams north of the border, are easily the longshots to make the playoffs and worse, have basically nothing in the form of future stars in their system and no high draft picks.
When the Toronto Maple Leafs traded for Vesa Toskala over the summer they expected to get a solid starting goaltender, and after a slow start, it seemed as if he was coming around.
The Leafs were disappointed with the play of Andrew Raycroft as the starting goaltender last season and were able to acquire Toskala and forward Mark Bell from the San Jose in exchange for three draft picks, including a first and second-round selection in the 2007 draft.
But once again, the Leafs shot themselves in the foot by trading away the future for the presence and following a groin injury that’s kept him on the sidelines for the past few weeks, Toskala has not gotten his form back, and the Leafs have plummeted into virtually oblivion and are currently in second last place in the Eastern Conference with only Tampa Bay and Los Angeles trailing them in points in the entire league.
Not only are they an extreme longshot to make the playoffs this year, by trading away their future, it could be another 40 years before the Leafs raise the Cup in the spring.