It has been a strong regular season for Canadian NHL teams, as all seven franchises still have a chance to make the playoffs. Each team has its own trajectory, and doom lies in wait for all, but one team who will be crowned Stanley Cup champion.
Let’s take a look at how these teams have got to this point and where they might go from here in this month’s edition of the Canadian Power Rankings.
Vancouver Canucks hope for better luck next season
The Vancouver Canucks might have kept their playoff hopes alive until the dying moments of the season, but 2024–25 has been a disaster. From in-fighting, to injuries, to poor individual performances, there has been no shortage of drama for one of the most disappointing teams of the league.
To make matters worse uncertainty and unrest still linger about. The president and general manager have both delivered some honest truths, often fanning the fires. Rumours surround Coach Rick Tocchet’s future with the team, especially with the unfilled position with the Philadelphia Flyers. Highest paid player Elias Pettersson’s play does not appear to be on a good trajectory. Major longer term health concerns for Thatcher Demko and Filip Chytil. Brock Boeser seems destined to leave in free agency.
There are still some positives to take from the roster, as Kiefer Sherwood joins Dakota Joshua and Pius Suter as an incredible feather in the cap of the Canucks pro scouting ledger. Adding Marcus Pettersson and Victor Mancini helps the blueline for the next few seasons. Younger players like Jonathan Lekkerimaki, Elias Pettersson, and Aatu Raty are stepping into the lineup. This team has a lot of quality depth, though centre ice has become an area of concern.
The one constant is Captain Quinn Hughes. Unflappable and endlessly magical, Hughes is full value as one of the best the world has to offer. It is his talent that powers the team and defines them. Undoubtedly the Canucks need more from top centre Pettersson, through improved play or otherwise. This decision could be one of the most important of the Quinn Hughes era.
As long as Hughes is around the Canucks will have a chance to make the playoffs, and could continue to yo-yo up and down the standings from year to year. If the vibes, and injury luck, are better next season the Canucks should be a lot better.
Do the Calgary Flames have a chance?
It really has been a gutsy performance from the Calgary Flames this season. Outside of the unfortunate ramifications of the Sean Monahan trade a lot has gone well for the team. Though the team did not rebuild as deeply as initially expected the Flames have witnessed some great seasons from their young players and prospects.
Dustin Wolf has been every bit as good as advertised, and seems poised to fight his way into the league’s elite in the years ahead. Matt Coronato has been one of the team’s best forwards. Connor Zary has shown promise for a bigger role in the future. Aydar Suniev looks to be in the mix for a spot next season, as might Samuel Honzek, Rory Kerins, and others. The crown jewel is Zayne Parekh, who might become the team’s most dynamic offensive talent in the near future. The right shot will get a look this season, and should at least be a great preseason story to track. Even if he is not ready to be an all-star level player next season hopes should still be high.
The Flames still have some veterans that can play key roles for contending teams, Mackenzie Weegar, Nazem Kadri, and to an extent Jonathan Huberdeau and Rasmus Andersson as well. Blake Coleman is still a gamer too. The team has some unsightly contracts, but with so much space to work with these are not much of an issue in practice.
Despite the complications surrounding their own first-round pick, the Flames have two first-rounders in hand this season and next. This will keep the Flames prospect cupboards full for years to come, and keep hope alive for brighter days ahead. There is some appetite for more star talent, especially at centre, but Wolf and Parekh seem like elite talents themselves.
GM Craig Conroy has probably built up enough faith that a losing record over the next two seasons could be survived, with it the potential to draft high again. Regardless, Conroy has seen the Flames long term outlook improve each season of his tenure.
Montreal Canadiens surprising us all
What a brilliant coming of age season for the Montreal Canadiens. Not only have young players continued to emerge, but their play has begun to elevate each other. Nick Suzuki leads the way, reaching new heights surrounded by more talent. Lane Hutson and Patrik Laine joined Cole Caufield as dynamic scorers. Juraj Slafkovsky and Kaiden Guhle add dimension and are coming into their own. Alex Newhook, Alexandre Carrier, and Jake Evans have had nice upticks.
The Habs have more on the way as well, including two first-round picks, and nine picks overall across the first four rounds of this year’s draft. Ivan Demidov gives the Habs a real shot at back-to-back Calder Trophies. Goaltender Jacob Fowler is highly touted, as is centre Michael Hage. Oliver Kapanen, Owen Beck, Joshua Roy, and Emil Heineman could be pushing for bigger roles next season.
The Habs have done well to get here, and the team should continue to improve in the seasons ahead. There might yet be some bumps in the road, but the Habs have added a lot of weight to sustain their ascent. President Jeff Gorton and GM Kent Hughes have added a lot of skill to the program, coinciding with some remnants from Marc Bergevin’s focus on big defence prospects. The convergence has been overseen by coach Martin St. Louis, a surprise hire that seems to have survived through a rebuild.
If the Habs are able to author some playoff success their confidence will grow leaps and bounds. The Habs core will soon have the chance to prove themselves in the postseason, which could rewrite the narrative for next season. At the same time, the New Jersey Devils might have been in a similar position two seasons ago, winning a playoff round powered by their young core, having more high end prospects on the horizon. Things have not gone well for the Devils since, a reminder that nothing is guaranteed.
Ottawa Senators in a wild card slot
Another upstart playoff team, the Ottawa Senators have turned things around under president and GM Steve Staios. The team is fierce and formidable, willing and able to win with their physicality. The forward group is much deeper, the blueline more balanced, and of course Linus Ullmark has stabilized in net. Travis Green deserves some credit for his team’s defensive performance.
While some might think Staios’ success was inevitable given the roster, it is undeniable that adding Dylan Cozens and Fabian Zetterlund at the deadline was great work. Both add to the physical nature of the team, as Ridly Greig and Shane Pinto come into their own and Brady Tkachuk leads the charge. Nikolas Matinpalo and Dennis Gilbert join Travis Hamonic and Tyler Kleven as physical options in the depths of the blueline.
It has been a strange experience since their last playoff appearance, but the Senators have the look of a stable franchise that should have better days ahead. There have been legitimate improvements across the lineup, offering some potential team building wisdom as a case study. The Sens will likely be the less experienced team in their first round matchup, but they should be the more physically imposing as well. Their presence will be felt either way, as the team is playing with house money at this point.
How far will the Toronto Maple Leafs go?
Things are looking up for the Toronto Maple Leafs, inching closer to a rare division title. The theme of improved rosters continues, as GM Brad Treliving and Coach Craig Berube have the team looking as sound as ever. While the star power layers often take the heat, the truth is that the Leafs have had some structural flaws during the Auston Matthews era.
The team is bigger, stronger, and more direct than in seasons past. They have added three top-four level defencemen in the past year, including two penalty killing right shots. Having two legitimate starting goalies is a shortcut to a great regular season record, and the Leafs should be content with either of their goalies in net. The forward depth is as good as ever as well.
It has come at a cost, as the Leafs have no first-round picks for the next three seasons, something that will limit their trade options in the future. Fraser Minten might have been a year away from being an impactful NHLer. Of course, with Mitch Marner and John Tavares reaching UFA status, and with Matthew Knies due a large raise as an RFA, not to mention president Brendan Shanahan’s contract ending, this could be the last stand for the core as currently constructed.
Fate beckons the Leafs against the ghosts of their history, a potential convergence of factors in their favour. If there is still a question on if the Leafs should continue on their path or not, this is the perfect time to find out. There is nowhere left to turn, the Leafs going all in on this moment. Needless to say another first round exit would be devastating, and the Sens lie waiting.
Winnipeg Jets with a spectacular season
No doubt it has been an impressive regular season for the Winnipeg Jets, sporting the best goals against, the best goal differential, and with a shot at the Presidents Trophy. Depth and continuity propel the team, hallmarks of GM Kevin Cheveldayoff’s patient approach. Still, there is no resting on laurels, as the Dallas Stars are still in hot pursuit for the division lead. For now it seems the Jets will avoid the St. Louis Blues, who have passed the second Wild Card spot by. Getting the division will be crucial to avoid the Colorado Avalanche.
The Jets playoff history is not beaming with success, especially in recent years. Although they have played well enough to be considered contenders, the teams in their stratosphere are more proven. Even with home ice advantage the Jets will likely find themselves underdogs as the playoffs progress.
There are injuries to deal with, perhaps most concerning that of Gabe Vilardi. While a fantastic player, Vilardi has continued to miss time throughout his career. Naturally the Jets will hope that their lineup is back together for the playoffs.
The recipe for success will rely heavily on Connor Hellebuyck, and so playing sound defence will be vital. The power play has been a huge factor as well, and will have to remain effective. The Jets have seen crucial steps forward from Dylan Samberg and Cole Perfetti which has helped unlock a higher ceiling as well. Both players have even more to give, and could author a coming out party with a big playoff performance.
Edmonton Oilers still pushing for home-ice
For those only looking at the standings, having the Edmonton Oilers in the top spot might be a surprise. For Oilers fans watching every game it might be a bit surprising too, as the team has not seemed at its best all season. The team stumbled out of the 4 Nations Face-off break, and have since suffered a number of key injuries. Between Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and starting goalie Stuart Skinner one might argue the team is now without its three most important players on a nightly basis.
Still, history cannot be ignored. The Oilers are expected to be back in action come playoff time, where McDavid and Draisaitl have consistently dominated. Yes, there are flaws, but the Oilers have routinely pulled together exceptional playoff performances, losing to the eventual Stanley Cup champions in each of the past three seasons.
For all his faults, and the public’s distrust, Stuart Skinner currently has more career playoff wins than Connor Hellebuyck, for example. While this speaks to team quality in general, Skinner has put together a solid first three seasons of his career. While not a highly touted prospect, Skinner was thrown into the fire as a starter for a team with championship expectations and has survived.
The team will need to keep helping him. The penalty kill should not be expected to be as dominant as last season, a similar scenario of peaking at the right time will be greatly appreciated. The Oilers are poised to ice their deepest lineup of the season once the playoffs start, perhaps even including Evander Kane and Trent Frederic.
The Oilers will have a tough road, as the team could square off against several recent Stanley Cup champions on their path to glory. Though the team was able to make it to the final round last season, achieving or surpassing their level of success should not be taken for granted. Despite some dreary closing weeks of the regular season, the Oilers should still be considered the top team in Canada.
Photo by Curtis Comeau/Icon Sportswire
