It was an eventful 2025 NHL postseason for Canada’s seven franchises. Five Canadian teams made the playoffs, and for the first time since 2004, three of them advanced to the second round. Yet the country’s Stanley Cup drought (dating back to 1993) continues. Below we recap each Canadian team’s 2025 playoff performance (or 2025 regular season for those that missed the playoffs) and look ahead to their 2026 outlook – including notable offseason storylines and early odds to win the 2026 Stanley Cup.
Edmonton Oilers
Playoff Performance
The Edmonton Oilers entered the 2025 playoffs looking to avenge their 2024 Final loss. Despite a scare in Round 1 (falling into an 0-2 series hole against Los Angeles), Edmonton stormed back to win four straight and advance.
Connor McDavid has been sensational throughout the postseason, leading the team with 17 points through two rounds. The Oilers then dominated the Pacific Division champion Vegas Golden Knights in five games, clinched by a dramatic overtime winner in Game 5.
In the Stanley Cup Final, they are currently facing the Florida Panthers in a rematch of last year’s championship series.
2026 Outlook
Standout performances from players like Evan Bouchard and Leon Draisaitl have kept Edmonton in the fight. Edmonton’s 2026 prospects remain bright regardless of how this season goes. Most of the core is locked in, and with few cap casualties expected, they can focus on tweaking depth.
Bookmakers peg Edmonton as a top contender again. Early futures show the Oilers around +600 to win the 2026 Stanley Cup.
Winnipeg Jets
Playoff Performance
The Winnipeg Jets earned their first Presidents’ Trophy in franchise history. They led the league in defense and power play efficiency, thanks in large part to Connor Hellebuyck and head coach Scott Arniel.
They advanced past the first round for the first time since 2021, needing a Game 7 double-overtime winner to beat St. Louis. In Round 2, they battled Dallas closely but were undone by explosive bursts from the Stars.
2026 Outlook
Looking ahead, Winnipeg’s focus will be on converting regular-season success into a deeper playoff run. The team will have substantial cap flexibility to tweak the roster this offseason. Some of that budget is earmarked for keeping key pieces – 23-year-old forward Gabriel Vilardi (acquired last year) is a pending RFA likely to be re-signed after a 20+ goal, 61-point season. A bigger question mark is dynamic winger Nikolaj Ehlers, who will be an unrestricted free agent. The Jets must decide whether to re-sign Ehlers, pursue a sign-and-trade, or potentially let the seven-time 20-goal scorer walk.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Playoff Performance
The Toronto Maple Leafs won the Atlantic Division and finally got past the first round, defeating the Ottawa Senators in six games. Three of their wins came in overtime.
In the second round, they took a 2-0 lead over Florida but lost four of the next five. Their offense disappeared at key moments, culminating in a 6-1 Game 7 loss on home ice.
2026 Outlook
Despite the painful finish, the Maple Leafs remain positioned as a contender heading into 2025-26. Berube’s first year behind the bench was largely a success – Toronto improved defensively (8th-best goals against) without sacrificing too much offense. Much of the roster will return, but all eyes are on the future of Mitch Marner. The 28-year-old winger is an unrestricted free agent this summer, after choosing to play out his previous contract year. Whether Marner re-signs in Toronto or heads to market will be one of the NHL’s biggest offseason storylines.
Ottawa Senators
Playoff Performance
The Ottawa Senators returned to the playoffs for the first time in seven years. They secured the final Eastern wild-card spot and played a tight series against Toronto.
Despite falling in six games, they showed promise. Their scoring was limited, but defensive structure and goaltending from Linus Ullmark stood out.
2026 Outlook
For Ottawa, 2025-26 will be about building on this breakthrough. Internally, the feeling is that the rebuild is essentially over – now it’s time to shift from hopeful upstarts to expecting to make the postseason each year. The Senators will enter the summer with some personnel decisions to make. Veteran winger Claude Giroux (who will be 37) is a free agent and has been a vital leader and secondary scorer since arriving three years ago. If Giroux opts to continue his career, Ottawa will be keen to re-sign him for another year of mentorship and depth.
Montreal Canadiens
Playoff Performance
Montreal surprised many by making the playoffs in Year 3 of their rebuild. They surged in the second half of the season, led by Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, and rookie Lane Hutson.
In Round 1, they gave the Capitals a fight but lost in five games. The turning point was the injury to starting goalie Sam Montembeault.
2026 Outlook
The Canadiens remain a team building for the future, but there’s genuine optimism in Montreal after the strides made in 2024-25. Head coach Martin St. Louis has fostered a confident, fast-playing group – he treated his players as if they deserved to be in contention, instilling belief that clearly paid off. Now the key will be staying patient and not deviating from the rebuild plan. General manager Kent Hughes has been very clear about a “slow and steady” approach.
Calgary Flames
2025 Season Recap
The Calgary Flames missed the postseason in 2025, but there were signs of progress under their new regime. After a tumultuous 2023–24 that saw Calgary finish with just 81 points, the Flames rebounded to stay in the playoff hunt until the final week of this season. They ultimately fell just short, one of 11 Western teams to top 89 points in an ultra-competitive race. Importantly, Calgary established an identity amid years of change – with a new GM (Craig Conroy) and coach (Ryan Huska) in place, 2024–25 brought a measure of stability the franchise sorely needed.
Rising star goalie Dustin Wolf was a revelation after being called up; the 24-year-old seized the No.1 job and even made a serious Calder Trophy case as a rookie. His emergence allowed Calgary to move on from veteran Jacob Markström and significantly improve their defensive consistency.
2026 Outlook
There’s a palpable sense of optimism around the Flames as they head into 2025-26. The message from Calgary’s exit meetings was “the future is bright” and that the club is on the right track to contend again soon. General Manager Craig Conroy and coach Huska appear committed to continuing this youth-infused approach. Fans can expect even more from youngsters who are ready to step up. For instance, 20-year-old sniper Matt Coronato flashed potential in limited action and will be vying for a full-time role. On the back end, prospect Zayne Parekh will push for a roster spot.
Vancouver Canucks
2025 Season Recap
The Vancouver Canucks experienced a roller-coaster two-year swing. In 2024, the Canucks shocked the hockey world by finishing first in the Pacific Division and even winning a playoff round. But 2025 brought a harsh regression, as Vancouver failed to qualify for the postseason. Their 36-29-13 record (85 points) left them on the outside looking in, eliminated from contention in the final week of the regular season.
What went wrong? A combination of factors, starting with internal turmoil. Reports of a rift between franchise center Elias Pettersson and veteran forward J.T. Miller had been bubbling, and in late January team president Jim Rutherford confirmed the two had been feuding most of the season. The locker room tension reached a breaking point, and Vancouver pulled the trigger on a blockbuster trade at the deadline: Miller was sent to the New York Rangers on Jan. 31 in exchange for forward Filip Chytil, a prospect defenseman, and a 2025 first-round pick
2026 Outlook
For Vancouver, this offseason is about a reset and retool. The core pieces – Pettersson, Hughes, and Demko – are still relatively young and form a talented foundation most teams would envy. The task for GM Patrik Allvin is to build the right supporting cast (and culture) around them. With J.T. Miller gone, the dressing room dynamic may improve; the team can firmly hand the leadership reins to Pettersson and Hughes and move forward without the inner conflicts of last year.
Early 2026 Stanley Cup Odds for Canadian Teams
Below are the early 2026 Stanley Cup futures odds for each Canadian NHL team, ranked from favorites to long shots:
Edmonton Oilers – Shortest Odds (≈ +950 or 10.5)
The Oilers are currently Canada’s best hope according to oddsmakers, with roughly +950 (10.5) odds to win the 2026 Stanley Cup. Edmonton’s back-to-back Finals appearances and superstar core make them one of the overall league favorites. Bettors know this team is on the verge – those +950 odds reflect a strong belief that Edmonton will be in the championship mix again next year.
Toronto Maple Leafs – (~ +1200 or 13.00)
The Maple Leafs aren’t far behind Edmonton in the early odds. Toronto is around +1200 (13.00) for example at Batery Betting to win the 2026 Cup. Sportsbooks recognize the Leafs’ potent roster and the massive support they draw from the betting public. If Toronto can resolve its offseason questions (like Marner’s status) and build on its 2025 progress, the Leafs will likely remain among the top five or six favorites when the season kicks off.
Winnipeg Jets – (~ +1000 to +1500)
Winnipeg opened last season as a 13-to-1 contender and saw their odds improve to about +1000 (around 11.00) by playoff time after their Presidents’ Trophy run. For 2026, the Jets project as a solid second-tier contender, in the ballpark of 10- to 15-to-1. In Canada, the highest odds for Winnipeg Jets next season are likely going to be with Cobrabet. They have the pieces to challenge for a Cup, but their playoff track record tempers expectations slightly. Savvy bettors might eye Winnipeg’s odds as a value play, hoping this is the year they break through.
Ottawa Senators – (~ +3500 or 36.00)
Despite their promising young core, the Senators are still viewed as a dark horse in the Cup race. Early futures list Ottawa around +3500 (36.00) to win in 2026. That puts them well outside the top contenders – not surprising for a team that just won its first playoff game in years. For bettors, Ottawa offers an enticing high-upside gamble: if you believe the Sens’ youth will take a big leap, a small stake could pay off huge. Otherwise, most will wait to see proof that Ottawa can reach the NHL’s upper echelon.
Calgary Flames – (Long Shot, ~+4000 range or 41.00)
Calgary’s strong finish in 2025 has improved their standing, but the Flames remain a long-shot pick in the Cup futures market. Last year, Calgary was down at 150-to-1 odds – effectively given no chance. After a 96-point season, you can expect their 2026 odds to be considerably shorter, perhaps in the ~+4000 (41.00) range. In other words, they’re still underdogs, but dangerous ones. If you’re a believer in the Flames’ youth movement and new culture, this might be the time to grab them at an attractive price before any further rise.
Vancouver Canucks – (Long Shot, ~+5000 or worse)
Following a tumultuous season, the Canucks are once again in the outsider category. Vancouver was about a +5000 (or 51.00) Cup hopeful entering 2024-2, and after missing the playoffs their odds for 2026 remain steep – likely on the order of +5000 (or 51.00) or longer. Betting on the Canucks to win it all is a bet on a dramatic turnaround. The talent is there to surprise, but until we see a cohesive, winning product on the ice, sportsbooks will continue to price Vancouver as a long-shot gamble.
Montreal Canadiens – Longest Odds (≈ +8000 or 81.00)
The Canadiens carry the longest odds of any Canadian club for 2026, roughly +8000 (81.00) at the moment. Despite their inspiring playoff berth this year, Montreal is still in rebuild mode and not expected to contend for a championship just yet. An 80-to-1 flyer on the Habs would appeal only to the most optimistic (or die-hard) fans. More realistically, Montreal projects as a team aiming to develop its young stars and perhaps sneak into the playoffs again – a Stanley Cup parade in 2026 would be a stunning outcome. As always, though, hockey has its surprises, and the hefty odds on Montreal reflect just how big an underdog story it would be.
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