4 Canadian hockey groups will compete for the Stanley Cup this season, and with rather a lot on the road for every one, followers from throughout the nation are weighing in on who they most need to convey dwelling this summer time.
The Montreal Canadiens had been the final Canadian staff to hoist Lord Stanley’s Cup, and in accordance with the Angus Reid Institute, followers appear overly assured that one of many Toronto Maple Leafs, Edmonton Oilers, Vancouver Canucks or Winnipeg Jets will finish the drought.
When requested which staff they imagine represents Canada’s greatest alternative, simply over 1,000 Canadian hockey followers polled had been divided equally between the Maple Leafs (21 per cent) and the Edmonton Oilers (20 per cent).
The third staff with probably the most votes is the Vancouver Canucks (14 per cent), whereas simply 5 per cent imagine the Winnipeg Jets have what it takes to win the Cup.
The third-seeded Maple Leafs are slated to face off towards the second-seeded Florida Panthers within the first spherical of the playoffs, whereas the second-seeded Edmonton is probably going to attract the third-seeded Los Angeles Kings.
Toronto is coming off a second-round playoff defeat by the hands of those identical Panthers final playoffs. McDavid and the Oilers eradicated the Kings in six video games final 12 months earlier than dropping to the Vegas Golden Knights in spherical two.
The second-seeded Jets will face robust competitors of their first-round matchup this season, the third-seeded Colorado Avalanche and Hart Trophy favorite Nathan MacKinnon. Winnipeg drastically improved its common season level totals, with 106 as of Monday, and can look to knock off the Avalanche after being eradicated by the Golden Knights in spherical one final 12 months.
The Canucks have been one of many NHL’s largest surprises after ending with 83 factors and lacking the postseason in 2022-23. Vancouver enters Monday with 107 factors and can end first within the Pacific Division. Meaning J.T. Miller and the crew will doubtless host the wild-card-clinching Nashville Predators within the first spherical.
Who will Canadian hockey followers cheer for?
The Maple Leafs have been the highest hope for Canada to win a Stanley Cup in previous 2019 and 2021 Angus Reid Institute surveys, however Toronto has not superior to an Japanese Convention ultimate since 2002.
As for which followers within the nation might be rooting for, the outcomes level to a special story.
For Ontario East, the Maple Leafs are the best choice for hockey followers, with three-quarters in Ontario (73 per cent) and half in Atlantic Canada (52 per cent) cheering for Matthews and firm.
In British Columbia, it’s largely Canucks or bust, with 83 per cent of NHL followers in that province cheering for star defenceman Quinn Hughes and his staff.
The identical story is true in Manitoba, the place the province hopes the Jets can mount a run to the Cup ultimate in June. Two-thirds of Albertans who observe the NHL (64 per cent) might be pulling for McDavid and the Oilers.
In 2016, solely 57 per cent of Canadians mentioned they didn’t care which staff ended the Stanley Cup drought, whereas 43 per cent mentioned the staff to win was vital to them. In 2024, practically two-thirds (64 per cent polled) say they’ll cheer for any staff that calls Canada dwelling.
The Stanley Cup Playoffs start on April 20.
