It may feel as if the 2021 NHL season just started, but the midpoint is officially here — especially north of the border.
The North Division is the only group to not have a single game postponed, and while there won't be the pomp and circumstance of an All-Star Game this year, this is still a good time to take a look at how things are going for the seven Canadian clubs.
Things have been anything but expected. Sure, no one is making friends on the ice and the physical play has been elevated, but we've already seen two teams send their coaches packing, the standings jam-packed and the Senators being a tough out.
Who will end up in the Stanley Cup playoffs is anyone's guess as seven points separate team Nos. 1 through 6 — and the No. 6 team is just two points out of the final playoff spot. Yep, the last two months of the season are going to be fun.
2021 Canadian teams midseason power rankings
1. Edmonton Oilers
T-first in North Division, 20-13-0
There were a lot of questions surrounding Ken Holland's team entering the season. The GM brought back netminder Mike Smith despite a robust free-agent goalie market, he didn't sign more offensive punch for Connor McDavid's crew and he didn't bolster his defense with defensive types.
But, to be honest, it looks as if he made all the right moves. Smith has been stellar between the pipes — he has his highest save percentage (.920) in a decade. Tyson Barrie leads all defensemen in scoring with 30 points, Darnell Nurse is putting together a Norris Trophy-worthy season and, obviously, McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are doing McDavid and Draisaitl things.
MVP: Connor McDavid. The captain has 58 points (20 goals, 38 assists) in 33 games, has scored ridiculous goals and is well on his way to another Hart Trophy.
Remaining games (23): Flames (4), Canadiens (6), Senators (2), Maple Leafs (2), Canucks (5), Jets (4).
2. Winnipeg Jets
Third in North Division, 18-10-2
Slow and steady is definitely the way in Winnipeg. After a disappointing end to bubble hockey, the team started the 2021 season 5-3-0, but after trading disgruntled winger Patrik Laine and adding someone who can play center and wing in Pierre-Luc Dubois, they went 8-3-1 in February.
Paul Maurice's squad is getting scoring across the lineup — 12 players have double-digit points — with Mark Scheifele (37 points in 30 games) leading the way. The Jets will still need to bolster the blue line (you've probably heard this before) and take the pressure off their netminders; they have the second-worst Corsi For percentage in the division (47.69) and have allowed 47 shots more at 5v5, per Natural Stat Trick.
MVP: Connor Hellebucyk. The reigning Vezina Trophy winner faces a ton of shots (averaging 28 shots against per game) but still posts solid numbers (.911 save percentage) and keeps his squad in games.
Remaining games (26): Flames (4), Oilers (4), Canadiens (3), Senators (5), Maple Leafs (6), Canucks (4).
3. Toronto Maple Leafs
T-first in North Division, 19-10-2
Up until a few days ago, the Leafs would have topped this list but times have gotten tough in Toronto. After sweeping their way through Edmonton and jumping out to a division-leading 18-4-2 record, the bottom has fallen out. Sheldon Keefe's squad has just one win in its last seven games. When you look at the overall season numbers, everything looks great — but check into the numbers in the last seven and, well, it's the Upside Down.
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The team has been hit by the injury bug — veteran voices Joe Thornton and Wayne Simmonds have missed time, as has Auston Matthews and goalies Frederik Andersen and Jack Campbell — and while that hasn't helped, things still need to change. GM Kyle Dubas recently said he's looking to make some deals; it'll be interesting to see what this team looks like come the end of the season.
MVP: Auston Matthews. Entering Friday's game vs. Calgary, he had piled up the points with 21 goals and 15 assists in 27 games. Before a wrist injury forced him out of the lineup, he had a point in 16 straight games and 18 of his first 20. He also notched seven game-winning goals, including a nifty backhander to give the Leafs their lone win in the last six games. He led the team in individual shot attempts (119), scoring chances (92) and high-danger chances (36), and the Leafs have a 56.64 percent expected Goals For when he's out there (per Natural Stat Trick).
Remaining games (23): Flames (3), Oilers (2), Canadiens (6), Senators (2), Canucks (4), Jets (6).
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4. Vancouver Canucks
Fifth in North Division, 16-16-2
Oh, how the tables have turned in Vancouver. This team started the season dismally, to put it nicely, but then the calendar turned to March and, well, hello there, bubble Canucks. Travis Green's team is 8-2-0 this month and has been playing stellar hockey — despite Elias Pettersson being on the shelf since March 3 with an injury.
Bubble Thatcher Demko is back. Entering Friday's game against the Canadiens, he was boasting a 7-1-0 record in March to go with a 1.71 goals-against average and an NHL-best .951 save percentage, despite facing a league-high 272 shots against. Demko is a big reason this club is sitting one point out of a playoff spot and why it is so high on this list.
MVP: Thatcher Demko. See above.
Remaining games (22): Flames (4), Oilers (5), Canadiens (1), Senators (4), Maple Leafs (4), Jets (4).
5. Montreal Canadiens
Fourth in North Division, 13-8-9
The Canadiens started the season like gangbusters, going 7-1-2 in their first 10 games. Then things started sliding, with the team going 2-4-2 in the next eight and Claude Julien being shown the door on Feb. 24. Things haven't gone any smoother with new bench boss Dominique Ducharme; Montreal is 4-3-5 under him.
The pressure is on in Montreal after GM Marc Bergevin made some splashy moves in the offseason. Tyler Toffoli has been a solid addition with 18 goals and 27 points in 30 games but the club needs more oomph from the rest of its roster. It certainly doesn't help that the Canadiens have a .154 winning percentage in one-goal games.
MVP: Jeff Petry. The defenseman is having a Norris Trophy-worthy season with 11 goals and 16 assists in 30 games (tied with Toffoli for the team lead in points). He's also plus-15, leads all NHL defensemen in shooting percentage (14.9) and is fourth with 0.91 points per game (minimum 20 games played).
Remaining games (26): Flames (5), Oilers (6), Senators (5), Maple Leafs (6), Canucks (1), Jets (3).
6. Calgary Flames
Sixth in North Division, 15-13-3
Like the Canadiens, the Flames made a change after inconsistency reigned supreme. With his team showing a lack of bite and fight, GM Brad Treliving sent Geoff Ward packing and brought in the toughest bench boss he could find — Darryl Sutter. The Jolly Rancher has led the club to a 4-1-0 record. He hasn't cured all that ails this team, as it just got thumped by the Oilers 7-3, but it has definitely played more like a cohesive unit on a mission since the change.
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MVP: Chris Tanev. While everyone was oohing and aahing over the signing of Jacob Markstrom, the veteran defenseman — who also came over from the Canucks in the offseason — has been a calming and solid presence on the blue line. Entering Friday's game, the Flames had a 53.33 Corsi For percentage (22nd among NHL defensemen) and a 60.27 expected Goals For percentage (third among NHL defensemen) at 5v5 when he was on the ice, according to Natural Stat Trick. Calgary also had a 95.54 On-Ice save percentage (second among NHL defensemen) when he was out there at 5v5. Tanev also has elevated the game of his defense partner, Noah Hanifin.
Remaining games (25): Oilers (4), Canadiens (5), Senators (4), Maple Leafs (4), Canucks (4), Jets (4).
7. Ottawa Senators
Seventh in North Division, 10-20-3
Ottawa may be last in this power ranking — and last in the division — but as a number of players and coaches have said, this is one of the hardest-working teams in the division and a team on the rise. Not much was expected from this group but it has continued to build on each game. While the record and stats are at the bottom of the league, the Senators have created quite a disruption in the standings. They will be a team to keep an eye on in another year or two.
MVP: Tim Stützle. The 19-year-old has been a beaming bright spot for the Senators this season with 18 points (six goals, 12 assists) in 30 games — and one of the biggest smiles in the NHL.
Remaining games (23): Flames (4), Oilers (2), Canadiens (5), Maple Leafs (3), Canucks (4), Jets (5).