The trade deadline has come and gone and teams are now getting used to the additions and subtractions to their respective rosters. All seven Canadian NHL teams have made a few moves in the run-up to the deadline.
This is a unique season where all seven clubs could make the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Here’s a ranking of the rosters of all seven Canadian-based franchises post-trade deadline.
Canadian NHL Team Rankings
Winnipeg Jets
The Jets are first in the Western Conference and in a battle with the Washington Capitals for the President’s Trophy. Winnipeg already had a talented roster with goalie Connor Hellebuyck making a case for the Hart Trophy for the league’s most valuable player.
Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor bolster the Jets offence while Josh Morrisey is putting together a Norris Trophy-candidate like season.
However, Jets General Manager Kevin Cheveldayoff continued to make some improvements to the roster. Winnipeg brought back Brandon Tanev to help bolster their forward depth. Tanev was a Jets player from 2015 to 1019.
Winnipeg also got defenceman Luke Schenn to help with the blueline group. The Jets have a realistic shot of ending Canada’s Stanley Cup drought dating back to 1993.
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Leafs have been strong this regular season, but only post-season success matters to the fan base. Toronto is locked in a dogfight with the Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers for control of the Atlantic Division.
General manager Jim Treliving wanted to take a big swing and get Mikko Rantanen. However, he settled for getting Scott Laughton from the Philadelphia Flyers and Brandon Carlo from the Boston Bruins.
Scorers like Mitch Marner, Auston Matthews, John Tavares and William Nylander are looking to push the Core Four to success in what could be their last time together before Marner and Tavares hit free agency.
There was an added cost of dealing away first-round picks and prospects Fraser Minten and Nikita Grebenkin. However, the cost could be worth it if Toronto hoists the vaunted silver chalice for the first time since 1967.
As always, there are many in Leafs Nation who flock to online betting, for which you can get more info on if you’re interested. Whether those bets are materializing is a different matter.
Edmonton Oilers
The Oilers were just one game away from winning their first championship since 1990. Expectations are always high in Alberta, but Edmonton always has a chance with talent like Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl on the roster.
However, that didn’t stop first-year GM Stan Bowman from trying to tinker with the roster. Bowman added Jake Walman from the San Jose Sharks and got Trent Frederic and Max Jones for the Boston Bruins.
Despite the moves, Oilers fans were hoping for more in possibly getting Rantanen or fixing their inconsistent goaltending. A number of Edmonton’s players have underperformed, but this team could turn it on late in the season to give itself a shot at completing their quest for a title.
Ottawa Senators
This could finally be the year for the Ottawa Senators, who have missed the post-season every year since the 2016-17 campaign. Ottawa has steadily improved and it may finally break into the playoffs.
There’s a lot of young talent on the roster with Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stutzle, Drake Batherson and others pacing the offence. Thomas Chabot and Jake Sanderson give offensive firepower from the blueline.
Senators General Manager Steve Staios began his remodel last off-season in landing Linus Ullmark. However, moves for Dylan Cozens, Dennis Gilbert and Fabian Zetterlund added to this group loaded with potential. This could finally be the year.
Montreal Canadiens
Some may think seeing the Habs fifth on this list as a slight. However, Montreal has taken plenty of steps towards playing meaningful hockey late in the season. The Canadiens are in the thick of the wild card race in the East and are on schedule.
Some thought general manager Kent Hughes would have sold off assets like Joel Armia, David Savard and Jake Evans, who were all pending unrestricted free agents before the deadline. However, Evans signed an extension and Armia and Savard stayed put.
Montreal has put together a winning run thanks to Cole Caufiled and Nick Suzuki lighting the lamp. There’s also a wealth of young blueliners getting quality minutes and the young goalie tandem of Sam Montembeault and Jakub Dobes keeping the team in games.
Montreal could fall short of the playoffs, but Habs fans have to be excited for the future.
Vancouver Canucks
This should have been a year for the Canucks to be in the mix for a Clarence Campbell Bowl. However, Vancouver has been dealing with a number of issues on and off the ice.
The alleged drama between J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson (the forward one) came to a head when Miller was sent to the New York Rangers. Carson Soucy was also sent to the Big Apple in a later deal.
Canucks General Manager Patrik Allvin did get Filip Chytil, Victor Mancini and a conditional first-round choice as part of the Miller trade.
There’s also been the Thatcher Demko injury and the uncertainty surrounding forward Brock Boeser’s next contract hanging over the Canucks’ head. However, this team still could cause a problem if it gets healthy and sneaks into the post-season.
Calgary Flames
Many thought the Flames would be rebuilding under general manager Craig Conroy. However, Calgary is in the fight for a playoff spot with the likes of rival Vancouver.
Dustin Wolf has seemingly solidified the team’s future in the crease while Jonathan Huberdeau is having a bounce-back season after struggling last campaign. Nazem Kadri has also been putting up the points and adding veteran leadership.
Rasmus Andersson has provided stability on the blueliner while youngsters like Matthew Coronato and Connor Zary have shown some flashes of promise.
The Flames did make some moves prior to the deadline in landing Morgan Frost and Joel Farabee from the Philadelphia Flyers. However, March 7 was quiet as Conroy didn’t mortgage the future for the present.
Main Image: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
