The hopes of Canadian NHL fans were inspired as the Montreal Canadiens made a surprising run to the 2021 Stanley Cup final. However, those dreams were quickly squashed when the defending Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning crushed the Habs in five games. The Canadiens were the most recent Canadian team to win the Stanley Cup in 1992-93. Is their success of last season an indication that Canadian NHL teams are closer to ending this title drought?
- The Montreal Canadiens lost the 2021 Stanley Cup final to the Tampa Bay Lightning
- Montreal was the most recent Canadian NHL team to win the Stanley Cup in 1992-93
- The Toronto Maple Leafs are 3.00 favourites to be the next Canadian-based NHL champion
It’s been so long since a Canadian team won the Stanley Cup that is was Gary Bettman’s first season as NHL commissioner. Bill Clinton was in the first year of his first term as President of the United States. Jurassic Park was released in theatres on June 9, 1993, the same day that the Montreal Canadiens defeated the Los Angeles Kings to win the Stanley Cup final.
Canadian teams have been unsuccessfully seeking a route back to the summit of NHL supremacy ever since.
Which Canadian NHL team will be the one to finally get the job done? That’s the question being posed by Sports Interaction in a prop that simply offers odds on each of the NHL’s Canadian clubs and their chances of being the team to end the country’s Stanley Cup drought.
| Team |  |
|---|---|
| Toronto Maple Leafs | 3.00 |
| Edmonton Oilers | 3.50 |
| Montreal Canadiens | 7.50 |
| Ottawa Senators | 7.50 |
| Winnipeg Jets | 9.00 |
| Calgary Flames | 9.00 |
| Vancouver Canucks | 9.00 |
The Toronto Maple Leafs, top Canadian team in the NHL standings the past two seasons, are the 3.00 Canadian Stanley Cup favourites. Next at 3.50 are the Edmonton Oilers, who suit up the league’s last two MVPs in Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaital. Despite their heroics of 2021, odds of 7.50 can be accessed on the Canadiens.
Toronto Maple Leafs (3.00)
There’s just one issue with making the Leafs the choice to end Canada’s Cup slump. They’re dealing with a drought of their own. They haven’t won a playoff series since 2004.
Toronto lists NHL goal-scoring leader Auston Matthews. The team’s major offseason move was to add goaltender Petr Mrazek.
Edmonton Oilers (3.50)
Surrounding McDavid and Draisaitil with a better supporting cast is the task facing the Oilers. The Oilers picked up former Norris and Conn Smythe Trophy winner Duncan Keith, which was a great move if they were trying to win the 2012 Stanley Cup.
Edmonton came close to ending Canada’s Cup drought. The Oilers lost to Carolina in Game 7 of the 2006 Stanley Cup final.
Montreal Canadiens (7.50)
Montreal wouldn’t have made the 2021 playoffs without the one-season adjustments the NHL implemented due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Already, the Canadiens have lost captain Shea Weber (foot/ankle injuries) for the 2021-22 season.
Ottawa Senators (7.50)
They’re building something in Ottawa, there’s no doubt about that. A young nucleus already includes Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stutzle, Drew Batherson and Jake Sanderson, and there’s more coming down the prospect pipeline.
However, to suggest that the Senators are closer to winning the Cup than the Jets and Canucks seems far-fetched.
Winnipeg Jets (9.00)
The Jets are a difficult read. They have some talented players like Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele and Nikolaj Ehlers and a stellar goalie in Connor Hellebuyck.
Keeping this talent together in small-market Winnipeg is going to prove to be the challenge.
Calgary Flames (9.00)
In 2018-19, the Flames were second overall in the NHL and looked to be on their way, led by Johnny Gaudreau and Norris Trophy winner Mark Giordano.
Today, they look to have lost their way. Giordano is gone to Seattle in the expansion draft and there’s persistent speculation that Gaudreau will be traded.
Vancouver Canucks (9.00)
This is actually a surprisingly long price on the Canucks, who were among the final eight in the 2020 Stanley Cup tournament. Vancouver lost in the 1994 and 2011 Cup finals, both seven-game defeats.
Led by young stars such as Elias Pettersson, Bo Horvat and Quinn Hughes, the Canucks aren’t far away from contender status.
Where to Bet On The NHL
There are a number of leading online betting sites that will provide bettors with the chance to place a wager on the NHL, whether it be a moneyline or point spread wager, a future book bet, a parlay wager, or a player or team prop wager. The best bet you can make is to shop around in advance and seek out the right deal before joining one of these sportsbooks. Check out Sports Interaction and Bet99 as examples.
The signup bonus offers that are in place at all of these recommended sites will prove advantageous to the bettor. And since you’ll get a good deal wherever you go, why not check out several sites and find the ideal fit for your needs?
Do you want a risk-free first bet as a signup bonus? Perhaps you find a no deposit bonus to be enticing. Or maybe you simply like the feel of cold, hard cash in your account and you want to go for a matching first deposit bonus. Whatever option you choose, you’re already a winner.
Remember that new players and returning customers are eligible for better bonuses when they deposit using Bitcoin. As well, take advantage of the NHL betting advice offered at these sites to help newcomers acclimatize to sports betting.
See below the top sportsbooks where you can wager online and choose the right one for you:
