Can you imagine the Stanley Cup Playoffs without a single Canadian team in it?
It could happen.
All seven NHL teams north of the border are currently below the playoff bar, including the Calgary Flames. At the All-Star break, Canada’s teams represent seven of the worst 11 teams in the league. Edmonton and Toronto are tied for the lowest point total in the NHL.
Vancouver, who the Flames defeated in the playoffs last season, are the closest to making it with just 20 wins in 50 games.
Vancouver trails Arizona by 2 points for the final spot in the woeful Pacific Division. Calgary isn’t out of it yet, but they’re 8 points back of a playoff spot.
The Oilers are two points behind Calgary.
Winnipeg plays in a much tougher division and are 9 points back of the final wild card spot.
In the East, Montreal has fallen apart without Carey Price. The Habs started off the season 9-0 and were considered a Stanley Cup contender. Since then they are 15-22-4 and are 3 points back of the final wild card spot.
Tied with Montreal are the Ottawa Senators, who made the playoffs last season.
The Toronto Maple Leafs, who are in a rebuilding year, sit 12 points back of the final playoff spot.
If all seven teams miss the playoffs, it will be the highest number of Canadian teams to miss the playoffs in NHL history. The last time that no teams from our country made the playoffs was in 1970, when just two Canadian teams existed.
The most Canadian teams to ever miss the playoffs is six, which happened two years ago when the Canadiens were the only team to qualify.
And of course the last time a Canadian team won the Stanley Cup was in 1993.
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