Which Canadian Team Will Go the Farthest?

[The Panther]

I really have no idea this season.

Since November 25th, all of Winnipeg (2nd), Edmonton (6th), Toronto (7th), and Ottawa (9th) are top-10 teams. And since Dec. 18th, Montreal is 8th.

However, I don't see Montreal going anywhere. I don't know why, I just don't think they have enough vets and defence. Some good young guys up front, and great that they made it in, but I think a first-round exit. (I'd be happy to proved wrong.)

Edmonton is the club I follow. They are such a schizophrenic team this season that it's very difficult to tell even what they have. Rarely has the full line-up been fully healthy and dressed for action (actually never, as Evander Kane has been out all year). But assuming Ekholm is injured again (as early reports suggest), I don't see them even getting past L.A., which never loses at home. And Edmonton basically has two AHL goaltenders.

Winnipeg and Toronto are in good shape. I actually have a feeling that one or the other is going to be in the Final Four, and possibly in the Finals. I think both clubs have moved on from previous editions that weren't playoff-ready. Both have been pretty consistently good all year, which is what you want. The Leafs are about, oh, 58 years overdue, and Winnipeg has the best goallie around.

Ottawa is the most interesting one, as in "could go either way". Would be great to see them go on a run. I feel like they're the youngest, hungriest club in Canada.

 

[nucks88]

If I had to choose a team to pull for it would be the Habs. Their hatred of the Bruins made them the only fan base that wasn’t cheering against the Canucks in 2011…Je me souviens!
(Still hope they all fail though lol.)

 

[Beville]

As a Leafs fan, I have to begrudgingly admit Montreal is the most interesting team, though also the biggest underdog.

Everyone is expecting the Leafs to crash and burn as usual, expectations seem to be lower for Edmonton this year, Winnipeg has its own Leafs-complex of playoff mediocrity to overcome, and Ottawa, I don’t know, does anyone think they’re a dark horse, or just a happy-to-be-there team?

I’m not feeling particularly glowing over any of their chances at a cup, but I also wouldn’t be shocked to see Edmonton or Winnipeg in the finals.

I’m definitely just happy to be here, to be honest.

Even if we got swept we’ve still done well considering the last 7 years.

 

[Adele Dazeem]

Definitely the Leafs, because they will win Cup

 

[Jaytee]

Winnipeg has its own Leafs-complex of playoff mediocrity to overcome...

That's not how the actual teams look at things, you know. I guarantee you that neither the Leafs or the Jets (or any other team, for that matter) are sitting around thinking "I sure hope we can overcome the Leafs-complex of playoff mediocrity".

It's a fun thing for sportswriters to latch onto, and something for fans to argue about, but it's not the way sports psychology actually works.

 

[Fish on The Sand]

I would say the Jets, but as we saw last year the Oilers top end talent could take them far.

 

[SeanMoneyHands]

The Leafs will go deep because they finally have a coach who knows how to make adjustments in the playoffs.

 

[Johnny HFBOARDS]

I now say leafs have the best chance, Jets are injured... and it looked bad when each player left.


So GL leafs

 

[Hunter368]

So much depends on injuries and style match ups in the playoffs. Hard to predict

 

[kevsh]

I guarantee you that neither the Leafs or the Jets (or any other team, for that matter) are sitting around thinking "I sure hope we can overcome the Leafs-complex of playoff mediocrity".

I can guarantee you that making a ridiculous statement like that suggests you know absolutely nothing about sports psychology.

Messi, Stockton, Malone, Garcia, Andy Murray and many others would love to have a word with you about that.

Of course, no player is likely thinking precisely what you quoted, but it's incredibly ignorant to "guarantee" that even some players - especially Matthews, Hellebuyck, Marner - aren't at least thinking about & perhaps will even affected on some level by the post-season failure(s) they've experienced.

 

[MrLunatik]

In round 1 it will probably be Edmonton, since Edmonton and LA are 1700 miles apart and I believe have the largest distance between the 2 cities of all playoff matchups. I suspect it will be a long series... so the Oilers could easily go 8500 miles in round 1.

 

[Blanka]

Vancouver

 

[zenator]

I sure won't be Montreal if they somehow get in, as they have demonstrated a severe lack of heart and tendency to choke this week.

When the going got tough, the Habs collapsed.

 

[Royale With Cheese]

In round 1 it will probably be Edmonton, since Edmonton and LA are 1700 miles apart and I believe have the largest distance between the 2 cities of all playoff matchups. I suspect it will be a long series... so the Oilers could easily go 8500 miles in round 1.

Bruh

 

[MrLunatik]

Bruh

tell me I'm wrong

 

[NyQuil]

In round 1 it will probably be Edmonton, since Edmonton and LA are 1700 miles apart and I believe have the largest distance between the 2 cities of all playoff matchups. I suspect it will be a long series... so the Oilers could easily go 8500 miles in round 1.

Hopefully they fly this time instead of riding their bikes.

 

[JKG33]

In round 1 it will probably be Edmonton, since Edmonton and LA are 1700 miles apart and I believe have the largest distance between the 2 cities of all playoff matchups. I suspect it will be a long series... so the Oilers could easily go 8500 miles in round 1.

I for one appreciate this post

 

[MrLunatik]

I for one appreciate this post

thank you, I figured this thread was probably full of pissing and moaning between Canadian fanbases, so I went for the laugh

 

[Sens9292]

The Leafs will go deep because they finally have a coach who knows how to make adjustments in the playoffs.

Yes, because that’s what was holding them back.

 

[StewieP19]

I'm really not a Habs fans but
I need to go with Montréal if they can clinched
Why ?
Winnipeg Need to pass STL or Minessota in 1st round not necessary an easy one Phiosically and after they will played the Stanley cup winner in Colorado or Dallas

Edmonton core player not fully healthy that's why I don't see them pass the 1st round

Ottawa Will probably played Toronto in 1st round and if they passed they will facing Tampa or Florida too phisically to advance.

Toronto I see them pass ottawa but losing in 2 round

Now Montréal !!! They facing Washington in 1st round not an easy one but I think the real objective of Washington team was OVI Chasing record. If they pass Caps they will facing Carolina. A good team but not the best if you look all other 2 round matchup. So this year Montreal hgave a chance to go deep due they are not playing a team in their division before the 3rd round

 

[Zhamnov5GoalGame]

All of the Canadian teams have very favorable matchup/bracket scenarios, once again showing how broken this playoff format is. Toronto & Winnipeg get to avoid the two cup favorites playing each other in their respective divisions. Edmonton gets to play LA for the 17th time in a row. Ottawa gets perennial choker Toronto. And even Montreal as an 8 seed has a Washington team that we dont quite know if they're legit yet.

Realistically, 3/5 should advance to the 2nd rd, and id be shocked if any of them made it past that because quite frankly they all just aren't very good. Vegas/StLouis should beat Edmonton (if St. Louis doesn't beat Winnipeg in rd 1), COL/DAL should beat Winnipeg, and TB/FL should beat TOR/OTT.

You don't think Winnipeg earned the number one seed?
114 pts plus one more game to go.
+85 goal differential (Dallas is only +57)
The best record against the best teams.
If anything this playoff system works against the Jets because they are likely to run into the 2nd best team in the West in round 2 and shouldn't have to do that until the conference finals.

In 2018 the Jets finished 2nd best in the whole league and had to play the #1 team (the Preds) in round 2.
Winnipeg beat them in a gruelling and exciting 7 game series to advance to the WCF.
Should the two best teams in the whole league be playing each other in round 2?

If Dallas and Colorado wanted to avoid playing each other they should have finished in first.
Dallas had two head to head matches against the Jets late in the season to close the gap and potentially take over first and the Jets punched them in the face for a combined 8-1 score in those two games.

 

[GrumpyKoala]

The South Canada Panthers.

 

[Tak7]

I want to say the Jets, but that Central Division, and the West in general, feels like it's going to be a bloodbath.

I'll go with whoever wins the Battle of Ontario.

 

[HabzSauce]

For the east, I can see Ottawa going deep this year. They can beat anyone in the east. Good at all positions, they have nice mix of vets and youth, and they're hungry. Tkachuk wants it & will fire up rest of their team.

Can also see Toronto going deep. I like their build. Metro stinks so if they can get through the Atlantic, I think they go all the way to cup finals.

As a homer I think Habs can beat anyone when at their absolute best. Especially now with demidov......problem is they run out of gas playing that way and too inconsistent. Tough to always be perfect, their margin for error is so small

 

[ExtremeColdWeather]

Calgary