The Vancouver Canucks 3-0 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 7 on Friday night marked their departure from the Stanley Cup Playoffs and extended the streak since a Canadian team won the Cup to 27 years.
Only five Canadian-based clubs (Canucks – 1994 and 2011, Calgary Flames – 2004, Edmonton Oilers – 2006, and Ottawa Senators – 2007) have made to the Cup Final in that span, and after another season of being shut out, the question of which one of the seven teams north of the border is best positioned to break through.
Latest NHL News
- PODCAST: Full Press Islanders – 6/7 – Lou Lamoriello Presser, Isles Will Play Outdoors
- Three Keys to Game 3 of the 2023 Stanley Cup Final
- NHL Rumors: Carolina Hurricanes, New Jersey Devils, Washington Capitals
- PODCAST: Full Press Hurricanes – 6/6 – Potential Draft Picks For Canes
- Montreal Canadiens Find Value In Cole Caufield New Contract
7. Ottawa Senators
In spite of a collection of excellent young prospects, a pair of top-five draft picks in the 2020 NHL Draft, and core pieces like Brady Tkachuk and Thomas Chabot, the Sens do not have a franchise goaltender and probably will not devote the financial resources necessary to building a contender while Eugene Melnyk owns the club.
-
Ep 60: Vegas Takes Game 1; Panthers Set For Game 2; Cole Caufield
by Full Press Coverage on June 5, 2023 at 11:43 pm
Jim and Chris look at the Golden Knights Game 1 win and look ahead to Game […]
6. Montreal Canadiens
There is optimism in La Belle Province after the Habs upset of Pittsburgh and challenging Philadelphia in the first round, but in spite of encouraging performances by youngsters Nick Suzuki and Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Montreal did not get enough offensive production from Jonathan Drouin and Max Domi. The fact that the core group (Carey Price, Shea Weber, Jeff Petry) are all over 30 and that GM Marc Bergevin has difficulty getting free agents to come to Montreal will limit their chances of contending.
5. Calgary Flames
The Flames appear to be a team in transition with a need for an upgrade in goal (veteran Cam Talbot started most of their playoff games over David Rittich), departures on defense (TJ Brodie and Travis Hamonic are unrestricted free agents), and questions about their core group other than Matthew Tkachuk. Both Sean Monahan and Johnny Gaudreau are rumored to be on the trade market after a disappointing season and showing in Calgary’s playoff loss to Dallas.
4. Winnipeg Jets
Connor Hellebuyck was responsible for the Jets staying in the playoff race, with a Vezina caliber performance in front of a thin defense. GM Kevin Cheveldayoff must replace Dustin Byfuglien and that could come at the cost of their forward depth. There is speculation that Winnipeg may shop Patrik Laine with a year left on a bridge deal or Nikolaj Ehlers with an affordable cap hit to replenish the blueline and find an adequate #2 center behind Mark Scheifele.
With the #Canucks being eliminated from the #StanleyCupPlayoffs, which Canadian team has the best chance to break the countries Cup drought? #HockeyTwitter @FP_Coverage
— Full Press NHL (@FullPressNHL) September 5, 2020
3. Edmonton Oilers
The playoff loss to Chicago exposed the Oilers’ ongoing defensive issues, their lack of a dependable starting goalie, and an overreliance on Connor McDavid and likely Hart Trophy winner Leon Draisaitl. A loaded goalie market and promising blueline prospects Philip Broberg and Evan Bouchard may help GM Ken Holland address some of Edmonton’s problems, but their lack of depth upfront is a problem that may take more time to rectify.
2. Toronto Maple Leafs
The Leafs with Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, John Tavares, and William Nylander are one of the highest-scoring clubs in the NHL, but after an early exit for the fourth year in a row, GM Kyle Dubas finally appears ready to address Toronto’s long-standing issues on the blueline. Kasperi Kapanen was dealt to Pittsburgh to provide cap flexibility and goalie Frederik Andersen may be moved with a year left on his contract if the Leafs see an upgrade in free agency or a trade.
1. Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver boasts two of the most exciting young stars in the league in Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes, quality scoring depth with Brock Boeser, Bo Horvat, and J.T. Miller, and has over $17 Million in available cap space going into next season. GM Jim Benning has both Pettersson and Hughes on their entry-level contracts for another year but has to make a decision on whether to re-sign pending UFA forward Tyler Toffoli, defenseman Chris Tanev or goalie Jacob Markstrom.
-
Ep 60: Vegas Takes Game 1; Panthers Set For Game 2; Cole Caufield
by Full Press Coverage on June 5, 2023 at 11:43 pm
Jim and Chris look at the Golden Knights Game 1 win and look ahead to Game […]
-
Ep 59: Stanley Cup Final Preview; Game 1 Thoughts
by Full Press Coverage on June 4, 2023 at 1:43 am
Jim and Chris give their thoughts on the Stanley Cup Final between Vegas […]
-
2023 Stanley Cup Final and Los Angeles Kings Talk with Dennis Bernstein
by Full Press Coverage on June 8, 2023 at 3:59 pm
Jim Biringer speaks with Dennis Bernstein of the FourthPeriod.com, Host of […]
-
2023 Stanley Cup Final Talk - Vegas Golden Knights with Willie G. Ramirez
by Full Press Coverage on June 5, 2023 at 12:39 am
Jim Biringer speaks with Willie G. Ramirez of ESPN Las Vegas, The Sporting […]
-
Ep 83: Stanley Cup Playoffs Are Here; Can Bruins Keep Up Pace?
by Full Press Coverage on April 17, 2023 at 4:06 pm
Ian and Chris are back to give their thoughts on the Stanley Cup Playoffs, […]
-
Ep 82: Bruins Set Wins Record, Pasta Hits 60, Playoffs Around The Corner
by Full Press Coverage on April 10, 2023 at 2:27 pm
Ian and Chris react to the Bruins 63rd win of the season, David Pastrnak's […]
-
The Hockey World Revolves Around Toronto
by Jim Biringer on May 23, 2023 at 12:00 pm
Jim is back for a fourth season of the Final Word on Hockey as he is […]
-
S4Ep28 - Stanley Cup Playoffs - Conference Final Preview
by Jim Biringer on May 16, 2023 at 7:28 pm
Jim is back for the fourth season of the Final Word on Hockey previewing […]
-
Golden Knights at Panthers
by Broken Controller Media on June 8, 2023 at 5:00 pm
Stack the Pucks gives a breakdown of every NHL Game on the card. For more […]
-
Panthers at Golden Knights
by Broken Controller Media on June 5, 2023 at 5:00 pm
Stack the Pucks gives a breakdown of every NHL Game on the card. For more […]
-
Panthers at Golden Knights
by Broken Controller Media on June 3, 2023 at 4:00 pm
Stack the Pucks gives a breakdown of every NHL Game on the card. For more […]
-
Golden Knights at Stars
by Broken Controller Media on May 29, 2023 at 4:20 pm
Stack the Pucks gives a breakdown of every NHL Game on the card. For more […]
-
Episode #141: Tend The Goal
by Full Press Coverage on May 25, 2023 at 2:24 pm
The 2023 AHL Calder Cup Playoffs have reached its final four teams, and […]
-
Episode #140: Stone Cold's 4th Line
by Full Press Coverage on May 23, 2023 at 1:41 pm
And then, there were four. The 2023 AHL Division Finals have concluded, […]
-
Full Press Blackhawks - Thursday, June 8th
by Full Press Coverage on June 8, 2023 at 4:00 pm
After Connor Bedard going #1, who are some prospects to look at for the […]
-
Full Press Kraken - Thursday, June 8th
by Full Press Coverage on June 8, 2023 at 4:00 pm
Areas of improvement, prospect look and AHL playoffs. Learn more about […]
-
Full Press Islanders - Wednesday, June 7th
by Full Press Coverage on June 7, 2023 at 4:00 pm
Lou Lamoriello holds a press conference yesterday we talk about what was […]
-
Renegades Of Puck Ep 770
by Charlie Saunier on June 6, 2023 at 7:13 pm
Ep 770 The Renegades Of Puck Recap Game 6 & Preview Calder Cup Final […]
-
Full Press Hurricanes - Tuesday, June 6th
by Full Press Coverage on June 6, 2023 at 5:20 pm
A brief look at game one of the Stanley Cup Final and potential draft […]
-
Full Press Blackhawks - Tuesday, April 6th
by Full Press Coverage on June 6, 2023 at 2:00 pm
It is the Connor Bedard show at the NHL Stanley Cup Finals. Will Connor […]
-
6/8 - Nuggets Dominate; PGA/LIV Merge
by Full Press Coverage on June 8, 2023 at 12:38 pm
Ian and John discuss the Nuggets Game 2 win over the Heat and the recent […]
-
6/6 - Golden Knights Cruise; NBA Final Heads To Miami
by Full Press Coverage on June 6, 2023 at 2:36 pm
Ian and John discuss the Golden Knights dominating win and look ahead to […]
-
6/5 - Heat Take Game 2; Golden Knights; Aaron Rodgers/Jordan Love
by Full Press Coverage on June 5, 2023 at 2:28 pm
Ian and John discuss the Heat's win over the Nuggets, the Golden Knights […]
-
6/2 - Nuggets Take Game 1, Barry Bonds, Stanley Cup Chat w/ Jim Biringer
by Full Press Coverage on June 2, 2023 at 2:03 pm
Ian and John discuss the Nuggets Game 1 win over the Heat, the upcoming […]