In the spring of 1970, there were 12 NHL teams; 2 of them from Canada. The Montréal Canadiens were the defending Stanley Cup champs and would win the Stanley Cup the next season. In 1970, the Habs lost out to the New York Rangers on the second tiebreaker: goals scored.
This was the only season between 1948 and 1995 that the Canadiens ended their season without a playoff appearance.
2016 is not 1970 by any standard. In 2014, the Montréal Canadiens were the only Canadian-based team to make the Stanley Cup playoffs. The only other 2 seasons in the post Original 6 era where there was only a single team from Canada in the playoffs were 1968 and 1973.
Yes, 5 Canadian teams made the playoffs last year. Ottawa and Calgary played come from behind. Winnipeg squeezed in barely. Vancouver and Montréal were stronger in the regular season but showed vulnerabilities in the playoffs.
Eastern Canada has been relatively good compared to Western Canada. This is the second time in 3 years that no Western Canada team made the playoffs. In 2014 and 2016, the Western Canadian teams filled the worst 4 slots in the conference.
The Calgary Flames did win a playoff series last season, the first since the team came within a controversial goal of the Stanley Cup win in 2004. The appearance was the first for Calgary in 2009. Its provincial rivals haven't made the playoffs since losing out in the Stanley Cup final in 2006. The Vancouver Canucks have won 3 playoff games in its last 3 playoff appearances. Winnipeg did sneak in last year, but the Jets are nowhere near winning a playoff series.
Unlike 1970, no team truly came close. The last team standing was the Ottawa Senators.
A look back at how many Canadian teams made the Stanley Cup playoffs each year (CBC/Canadian Press)
Don Cherry talks about how great Canadian players are in the NHL, almost to a fault. But many Canadian players have accomplished what Canadian teams have struggled with doing: win the Stanley Cup.
In the old, old days, French-Canadian players would end up in Montréal, almost by default. But now, if you look at where star Canadian players are, often that isn't Canada.
Money
Even with huge salaries, small financial incentives make a huge difference. Playing for the Dallas Stars, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Florida Panthers don't just mean enjoying warm weather; players on those teams don't pay state income tax. Nashville Predators players don't pay state income tax on income, but do on dividends and interest income. If the NHL expands to Seattle or Las Vegas, players on those teams also won't have to worry about state income tax.
Residents pay more in other taxes but they are regressive toward lower-income households. If you're rich in those states, and NHL salaries fall into this category, you pay a much smaller percentage of your income in taxes than the fans who comes to see the NHL games.
Players on Canadian teams get paid in U.S. dollars, so right now, their money goes further in Canada. That is helpful these days with a 25%-30% advantage on the Canadian dollar, but costs are higher in every regard. Income taxes, property taxes, food and other amenities are more expensive in Canada. NHL players actually can afford housing costs in Toronto and Vancouver.
Being Anonymous
Playing in a city that isn't hugely passionate about the NHL is a drawing point for a number of NHL players. In California and the southern U.S. states, players aren't swarmed with pressure from media, talk radio, and fans. They can go about their business off the ice without having to worry about being recognized.
Canada Olympians on U.S. teams
There were 25 NHL players on the Canada roster that won the gold medal in the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. 21 of the 25 players came from U.S.-based teams.
Goalies Carey Price (Montréal) and Roberto Luongo (Vancouver) along with defencemen P.K. Subban (Montréal) and Dan Hamhuis (Vancouver) were the only players on Canadian-based teams. Luongo specifically wanted to go back to the Miami area; Hamhuis is a UFA but signed a lesser deal to go with Vancouver in 2010. Even if Hamhuis signs with Vancouver in the offseason, he might be playing for a U.S.-based team down the stretch.
Benefits to playing for Canadian team
If you are an excellent defenceman, you will be loved in Edmonton and get to play alongside amazing young talent in a brand new arena next fall. Yet the Oilers have trouble getting good defencemen to come to northern Alberta.
Playing for Mike Babcock would be a good challenge for a number of NHL players. You won't win anytime soon, but the idea of playing for the Maple Leafs if/when they are ready to contend for the Stanley Cup could produce undying loyalty from fans.
Montréal and Vancouver are incredible vibrant cities to enjoy life, but that hasn't played too much into decisions over where to go.
Calgary has a young nucleus with some playoff experience from last season. They do play in the NHL's oldest arena once Edmonton moves downtown in October.
Ottawa doesn't spend the money needed to compete at a high level. Winnipeg winters are intense though with amazing fan support. The Jets are also in a very tough division.
In the not-so-recent past, European players struggled to find homes in North America, and the Quebec Nordiques proved Euro-friendly. Now, Canadian-based teams aren't destinations for top free agents.
Would Steven Stamkos come to Toronto?
For the challenge; to play under Mike Babcock; to be a piece of the puzzle that delivers to Toronto something the city hasn't seen since 2004: win a playoff series. The Maple Leafs haven't reached a conference final since 2002 and haven't played for the Stanley Cup since 1967.
Stamkos would be close to home, having grown up in the GTA. But home cooking hasn't been a draw for top Canadian players. Hamhuis has been a grand exception, having played for U.S. teams and deliberately signing with Vancouver. Price is from British Columbia and Subban from Toronto.
If Stamkos were to come to Toronto, he might inspire other Canadians to play north of the border.
Patience from fans and management
Building a NHL champion is easier to do in cities where hockey isn't as big of a deal as it is in Canada. Management feels pressure from fans and doesn't want to rebuild, even if that is the best option.
Vancouver was in the Stanley Cup finals in 2011; Ottawa: 2007; Edmonton: 2006; Calgary: 2004; Montréal: 1993 (though with a win); Toronto: 1967 (though with a win). Winnipeg? Not so far.
The next Canadian-based team to win the Stanley Cup — a city that has never won the Cup in modern times (Vancouver, Ottawa, Winnipeg) or have to go back a generation to remember that glory (Montréal, Calgary, Edmonton) or when colour TV was a luxury (Toronto) — will get the grace of an entire country.
Right now, no team is close. We're left to wonder how many seasons Canadians will wait until that happens.
Some of us are wondering if we'll ever see it happen in our lifetime.
Posted by: Tyler | April 12, 2016 at 10:22 AM
Which shall happen first? Chicago Cubs World Series or a Stanley Cup back in Canada.
Posted by: Chad | April 12, 2016 at 08:37 PM