NHL Teams Struggle: Canadian Teams Face Playoff Drought

According to Yahoo Sports NHL, of the seven Canadian NHL teams, only the Edmonton Oilers would have a chance to win the Stanley Cup if the playoffs started today. The article highlights that all but one Canadian team ranks in the bottom 15 according to points percentage, with the Montreal Canadiens having the best points percentage at .569, ranking 16th overall.

The report lists poor defensive play and subpar goaltending as the primary reasons for the sluggish start to the 2025-26 season, with four Canadian teams ranking among the bottom 10 in three key defensive categories.

The Vancouver Canucks allow the most goals per game at 3.60 and have conceded the most goals overall at 108. The Canadiens follow closely, allowing 3.55 goals per game, and the Oilers concede the fifth-most goals per game at 3.47.

The Ottawa Senators allow the ninth-most goals per game and the most goals against above expected at 10.32. Conversely, the Calgary Flames struggle offensively, being noted for their lack of scoring. The report states that only the Winnipeg Jets rank in the top half of the league in overall goals against, indicating significant challenges for many Canadian teams as they aim to improve their standings before the playoffs.