Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect the final status for the 2021 Montréal Canadiens.
The Toronto Maple Leafs had the best record of the Canadian division in the NHL in 2021. The Montréal Canadiens won what each of those Canadian teams wanted in the beginning of the season: winning the Canadian division in the playoffs.
The Stanley Cup is the ultimate goal but no Canadian team has won the Cup since 1993. Being the best Canadian NHL team isn't much for bragging rights. For fun, we thought to look at which Canadian team did the best in the seasons since the 2004-2005 NHL lockout.
2006 Edmonton // Stanley Cup final
2007 Ottawa // Stanley Cup final
2008 Montréal // Conference semifinal
2009 Vancouver // Conference semifinal
2010 Montréal // Conference final
2011 Vancouver // Stanley Cup final
2012 Ottawa // Conference quarterfinal (3 games)
2013 Ottawa // Conference semifinal
2014 Montréal // Conference final
2015 Montréal // Conference semifinal (2 games)
2016 Ottawa // Regular season (85 points)
2017 Ottawa // Conference final
2018 Winnipeg // Conference final
2019 Toronto // Conference quarterfinal (3 games)
2020 Vancouver // Conference semifinal
2021 Montréal // Stanley Cup final
The Ottawa Senators and Montréal Canadiens would have 5 Canadian titles in that time. Vancouver would have had 2 titles with Winnipeg, Edmonton, and Toronto with a single title. The Calgary Flames would have qualified in 2004, reaching the Stanley Cup final.
After the 2021 season, there have been 4 Stanley Cup finals, including the 2021 Montréal Canadiens, and 4 other conference finals reached by Canadian teams.
Tiebreakers were determined with the most number of playoff games won in that round and, with 2016, the most regular season points when no Canadian team qualified for the playoffs.
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Was trying to think of a NHL player who played for a bunch of Canadian teams. Dion Phaneuf came to mind since he is Canadian and played for Calgary, Toronto, and Ottawa. Unless we have a better entry, we will unofficially call that the Phaneuf award.
We know the Canadian division is not returning for the regular season. Can honestly say this made the NHL a lot more fun for this reporter.
photo credit: NHL
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