Canada’s relationship with hockey is nothing short of legendary, as demonstrated by the sheer number of Stanley Cup titles that four of their seven teams have brought north of the border over the years. While the giant trophy may not have made its way to the Great White North since 1993, it has crossed over the border a mighty 43 times over the years, a figure that is only 12 shy of the number that the 25 American outfits have managed to keep in the Land of the Free.
Among the seven Canadian franchises in the NHL, each has its unique history with the championship series, a journey filled with victories, losses, and unforgettable moments. But when was the last time that each one contested the big one? It may be an eternity since the country was able to call one of its teams a champion, but it wasn’t that long ago that they were battling it out for glory. Let’s take a look at the last time each team competed for the Stanley Cup.
The last time the Montreal Canadiens reached the Stanley Cup Finals
The Montreal Canadiens are the NHL’s record champions, with a mighty 24 Stanley Cups to their name. That figure dwarfs the rest of the league and is more than twice as many as the second-placed team – a team that is also Canadian, by the way. That feat is even more impressive considering the fact that the Quebec outfit last tasted success 31 years ago. They were in the midst of a 28-year drought by the time the 2020/21 season got underway, but the Canadiens that year would go all the way and reach the championship series where they faced off against a Tampa Bay Lightning team aiming to become back-to-back champions.
And in the end, they did exactly that. Despite a valiant effort, the Canadiens fell short, losing the series by four games to one. The heroics of netminder Casey Price managed to get them into the latter stages of the postseason, knocking off two of Canada’s finest – namely their archrivals Toronto Maple Leafs and the Winnipeg Jets – as well as the New York Islanders. But in the end, the Floridians ultimately were too much to handle.
The last time the Toronto Maple Leafs reached the Stanley Cup Finals
The Toronto Maple Leafs, one of the “Original Six” NHL teams, last won the Stanley Cup in 1967, defeating the aforementioned Canadiens. Since then, the team has faced challenges reaching the finals, with their quest for the cup becoming one of the most talked-about droughts in professional sports, rivalling that of the Curse of the Bambino-ridden Boston Red Sox. Despite this, the Maple Leafs have remained competitive, building a strong team capable of challenging for the championship.
The last time the Edmonton Oilers reached the Stanley Cup Finals
The Edmonton Oilers’ most recent trip to the Stanley Cup Finals was in 2006 when they faced the Carolina Hurricanes. In a thrilling seven-game series, they were narrowly defeated, marking an end to a remarkable playoff run. This period highlighted their resilience, as they entered the playoffs as the eighth seed in the Western Conference but managed to captivate fans with their Cinderella story. Ultimately, however, they were unable to roll back the years to the days of the Wayne Gretzky era in the 1980s and came up short.
This term though, Connor McDavid is doing his utmost to bring a championship to Rogers Place for the first time since 1990. His blistering displays have led his side to second place in the Pacific division, and with four games in hand on the league-leading Vancouver Canucks, they may very well enter the 2024 postseason as one of the top seeds. It’s enough to have caught the attention of bettors everywhere; many people are already considering whether they will stake a wager on them when the time comes. And even the bookies fancy their chances, with online NHL lines and futures providers making them the +700 favourites for the Stanley Cup this term.
The last time the Calgary Flames reached the Stanley Cup Finals
The Calgary Flames reached the Stanley Cup Finals in 2004 and just like the Canadiens 17 years later, they too would have to do battle with the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Alberta side didn’t raise any eyebrows throughout the course of the regular season and headed into the playoffs as the Western Conference’s sixth seed. However, victories against the Canucks, the top-seeded Detroit Red Wings, and the second-seed San Jose Sharks secured a shock appearance in the finals.
Despite being massive underdogs against the Eastern Conference’s number-one team, the Flames gave everything and left everything out there on the ice. The series went to seven games, with the Canadian outfit ultimately losing in a heart-wrenching defeat, despite needing just one win from the final two games to seal the title.
The Rest
The Vancouver Canucks’ last appearance in the Stanley Cup Finals was in 2011, when they faced the Boston Bruins. In a series full of intensity, they lost in seven games. The aftermath of the final game was marred by riots in Vancouver, overshadowing the team’s incredible season.
The Ottawa Senators’ most recent journey to the Stanley Cup Finals occurred in 2007 when they faced the Anaheim Ducks. Led by a potent offence, they still couldn’t overcome the Ducks, losing the series 4-1.
Finally, we have the Winnipeg Jets. They rejoined the league in 2011, taking over the Atlanta Thrashers franchise, and within seven years, they were playoff regulars. They reached the Conference Finals in 2018, but couldn’t make it to the championship series, and they remain one of the five active teams to have not contested the Stanley Cup.
