The 2016-17 season has certainly seen the resurgence of Canadian NHL teams. After last season saw no team from Canada qualify for the playoffs, this season guaranteed to see changes.
Canadian NHL Teams Back on Track
Currently four of the seven Canadian teams are holding down playoff spots, with the Winnipeg Jets only one point out of a wild card spot in the Western Conference as the fifth. The Montreal Canadiens, who are in first place in the NHL, were expected to be this good, especially with a healthy Carey Price. The Edmonton Oilers, Calgary Flames, and Ottawa Senators, who are holding down playoff spots, are showing to be competitive teams in their own right.
Edmonton Oilers
Connor McDavid leads the league with 39 points and has taken the Oilers to a 15-12-5 start. Leon Draisaitl is also coming into form having notched 26 points to start the season. Jordan Eberle rounds out the dynamic young trio with 23 points and is showing his worth more and more each night. The off-season addition of veteran Milan Lucic has also worked out great for this franchise with him being the fourth 20+ point forward on the roster with 22.
#Jets & #Oilers have 4 players with 20+ points this season, tied for the most in the NHL
— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) December 11, 2016
They have a goaltender who is playing exceptionally, Cam Talbot has posted a 2.57 goals-against average and .916 save percentage to start the year. This Edmonton team has all the elements to make a run towards the playoffs.
Winnipeg Jets
This Jets team has all the pieces to grab a wild card spot come March. Rookie sensation Patrik Laine has the Calder talks swirling around him with his 25-point start. His linemate Mark Scheifele is capitalising on his success with 28 points of his own. Nikolaj Ehlers and Blake Wheeler are also having great first halves to their seasons with 24 and 22 points respectively. Connor Hellebuyck numbers aren’t horrible, but they’re not great. If he can improve on his 2.74 GAA and .907 SV% just slightly this team could surprise many.
Calgary Flames
The third Canadian NHL team in the West is off to a good start with a 16-13-2 record thanks in big part to goalie Chad Johnson and his 1.98 GAA. When the Flames brought in Brian Elliott in the off-season it seemed as if the answer to their struggles in net had been answered. But his poor play led to the job falling to Johnson, and he has excelled. An injury sidelined Johnny Gaudreau for ten games, but he still leads the team with 19 points. Sean Monahan, Dougie Hamilton, and Sam Bennett will all need to bring their games to another level if Calgary is going to make the playoffs.
Montreal Canadiens
This team continues to play hot and boasts a very impressive 19-6-4 record. Despite the injury to Alex Galchenyuk, who has 23 points on the season, this team keeps clicking. The off-season additions are working out in dream like-fashion. Alexander Radulov has put up 23 points and Max Pacioretty has rebound from his rough start, and has 24 points.
Shea Weber is getting early Norris talks with his 18-point season so far, and Andrei Markov has chipped in with 21. When a duo of defenceman can combine for nearly 50 points before the New Year, that in itself is impressive.
This teams lives and dies with their goalie, Price, more than any other in the league. When he’s posting a 1.80 GAA and .940 save percentage the Vezina will be all but his at seasons end.
Montreal Canadiens Weekly Report: Habs Historic Night – https://t.co/jW14b2j0wBpic.twitter.com/IDFd31CORH
— Last Word On Hockey (@LastWordOnPuck) December 13, 2016
Ottawa Senators
The Senators are second in the Atlantic with a 16-11-2 record. They are also on pace for home-ice advantage in the opening round of the playoffs. Erik Karlsson is the heart and sole of this team and his 27 points show that.
Mark Stone, Mike Hoffman, and Kyle Turris are all have commendable seasons having combined for 59 points, but this trio will need to continue to play better if Ottawa aims to make a run. The goaltending tandem of Craig Anderson and Mike Condon have played well with nearly identical 0.924 and 0.920 SV%, respectively. They have also combined for five shutouts.
Canadian NHL teams are back and thriving in Canada’s game. There will not be a repeat of the 2015-16 season with not playoff representation, and 2017 just may be the time where Lord Stanley returns to the North.
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