The Canucks are atop the Pacific Division and with Connor McDavid of the Oilers being out for a few weeks with injury, the Canucks will look to extend their division lead over 2nd place Edmonton and the rest of the Pacific. But are they really a Cup contender or is the Pacific weaker than the rest of the NHL?

Although they lead the Pacific, they are the tied for 3rd in the and there are a plethora of teams with better records in the East. However, they might have the most realistic shot of giving a Canadian city a Stanley Cup to celebrate since the 1993 Montreal Canadiens won the Cup.

Bookmakers have Toronto as the Canadian team most apt to bring a Cup to back to Canada (+1000 to win the Eastern Conference and +2000 to win the Cup), but Vancouver has an easier remaining schedule and is in a a shallower Western Conference. Vancouver is +1200 to win the West and a +2500 long shot to win a Stanley Cup. If these two were in the same conference, Toronto would beat them in 6 games, but they aren’t. Vancouver is in the easier Pacific and Toronto still has nightmares from Boston.

By no means am I going to tell you, or personally place a bet myself, on any Canucks future, but if you’re one of those hockey fans who wants to see a Canadian team in the Finals then Vancouver is the team with the best chance to do it,

Barnes
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