This NHL season has been unique to all others. All teams are restricted to play exclusively within their own division until the final four remain, one champion of each division. This will give Canada their best shot at a Stanley Cup in a long while, one team north of the border is guaranteed to be a semi-finalist. Do any of Canada’s clubs have what it takes to go all the way?

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The fifty-six game regular season is fast approaching its conclusion, and the playoff picture is starting to fill in. In Canada, the four teams likely to advance will be the Toronto Maple Leafs (30-13-5), Edmonton Oilers (28-16-2), Winnipeg Jets (27-18-3), and Montreal Canadiens (21-17-9). The Vancouver Canucks (19-20-3) could theoretically make a last-moment push, but their window is quickly closing and losses to teams like Ottawa are not helping their cause.

Toronto

The Leafs have had a very successful season, one that leafs fans have been (loudly) waiting for since Austin Matthews was drafted in 2016. They have lead the pack since day one and have cemented themselves as the Canadian team to beat. Matthews is on track to win the Rocket Richard trophy for most goals in the season, they have scoring from everywhere, and Jack Campbell has made a much larger impact in net than was expected. Toronto needs to prove themselves in the post season. They have the pieces together, now they need to shed the label of “chokers” after being eliminated in the first round four years in a row, and nothing short of conquering the North division will do that.

Edmonton

The Oilers’ two headed monster of McDavid and Draisaitl have been more dominant than ever this season. #1 and #2 in the NHL in scoring by a wide margin, they have had their way with the North division. The team’s depth has come along from years prior, but is still comparably weak. For this team to find success, Mike Smith needs to stay hot in net through playoffs, and McDavid and Draisaitl have to continue to dominate. Like the Leafs, the Oilers have high expectations that they have yet to live up to, and an early playoff exit would lead to serious questions about the construction of the team.

Winnipeg

The Jets have been steady right through the season. They have been consistently strong in all areas of the ice, with world class goaltending in Connor Hellebuyck. What the Jets lack are real showstoppers up front like the Oilers and Leafs have. They have found success in the playoffs in the past and still have their main core intact, but will have their hands full when they likely face the Oilers in round one.

Montreal

The Canadiens started the season looking like the team to beat, and have slowly died down to fourth place. The Habs have depth throughout the lineup, but no consistently strong scoring lines. Montreal is still a young team building up and will be a threat in the near future, but to find success this Carey Price will have to prove he is still the beat goalie in the world, like he did last season vs. the Penguins.

A look at other top teams from the three other NHL divisions shows strength not found in Canada. Teams like Vegas, Colorado and Tampa Bay look primed to be serious contenders for the Stanley Cup, and any team that survives the ultra-competitive East Division can not be underestimated. While inside the North division the teams look strong, whoever comes out on top will have to play their best hockey of the season by a long shot to stand a chance against the other three. Canada could be on their way to being very close to another cup, but maybe not close enough.