As the most storied franchise in the Stanley Cup’s history, Montréalers have been aching for the Montreal Canadiens to add to their immense history in the competition. In the blink of an eye, it’s now been a staggering 31 years since the Cup’s most successful team last tasted its glory.
Having won the Stanley Cup a whopping 24 times, 11 more times than their closest rivals, the Toronto Maple Leafs. Despite the Canadiens rich history and stellar record, they’ve only made the playoffs four times in the last 10 years. As we inch closer to the 2024 playoffs, here’s a look at whether the Montreal Canadiens’ have any realistic chances of Stanley Cup glory this year.
Do the Canadiens Stand Any Chance?
Once upon a time, the Montreal Canadiens would have enjoyed the status of being the outright favorites to win the Stanley Cup. However, sadly for their fans, it’s been a long time since they’ve been seriously considered a contender. Unfortunately, that trend isn’t set to change much this year either.
Most betting sites have their odds at greater than +10000 to win the cup. In fact, in many cases, their odds sit between +15000 and +50000. While that makes for a sad state of affairs for the once unbeatable outfit they were, recent and current form don’t suggest a departure from these odds. Instead, it would take the most loyal of fans to give them any serious chance of bucking the odds against them.
Which Teams are the Favorites?
With the Montreal Canadiens looking like heavy outsiders, at the moment, the Edmonton Oilers are the current favorites to win the Stanley Cup this year. The average odds for the Oilers give them a +850 chance of being champions. Meanwhile, the Florida Panthers, Colorado Avalanche, and Boston Bruins all have a +1000 shot at glory, according to online gambling sites.
If you prefer the larger picture, some other trends to keep in mind are that of the last 10 championships, Western Conference teams have won the cup six times. However, despite the Oilers currently being the favorites, it was the Canadiens themselves who were the last Canadian to win the Stanley Cup. That means, it’s been over three decades since the cup was lifted by a non-American team.
The Oilers have a great shot at finally breaking that trend this year. However, things can always change between now and the time of the playoffs. As for the Canadiens, not only are they highly unlikely to win the Stanley Cup, they’re also not likely to make the playoffs at this point. If they miss the mark again on that count, it would make for the third straight year the iconic franchise has failed to reach the playoffs.
While the players and fans are still hopeful they can mount a late resurgence and battle their way in, things aren’t looking for the Canadiens at the moment. For now, Montreal fans will likely have to wait another year for their team to start showing the kind of form that made them the greatest team in NHL history again.
The Canadiens’ Future
It’s been ages since the Canadiens tasted Stanley Cup glory. However, as recently as 2021, they have proven good enough to make it into the playoffs. Despite how long it’s been since they were at their dominant best, the franchise is one that’s simply too big to stay down forever.
In that respect, the Montreal Canadiens aren’t just an iconic hockey team. Their immense heritage and storied history also make them a North American sporting dynasty.
Here are some cool facts about them that remind us why they’re so revered in the world of ice hockey despite their relatively dismal record in the 21st century.
- The Canadiens’ now long-standing home arena, the Bell Centre, is one of the largest in the NHL. It has a seating capacity of over 21,000, and is regularly also used for other events like concerts.
- Over the years, the Canadiens have had some of the most notable players around. Their most famous names include the likes of Maurice “Rocket” Richard, Howie Morenz, and Patrick Roy.
- The Canadiens hold the distinction of being the oldest continuously operating ice hockey team in the world. They were established in 1909, have more than a century of history, and a formidable legacy behind them.
- The Canadiens’ team throughout the ‘50s are widely regarded as the greatest outfit in ice hockey history. In that period, they reached the championship game every year between 1951 and 1960. They also won it six times in that period, including a record-setting run that saw them win the championship five times in a row between 1956 and 1960.
- Their fans are known as the Habs, an abbreviation of the term les habitants, referring to the informal term given to the original French settlers that arrived at the region known back then as “New France”.
Given the Montreal Canadiens’ long and storied history, there’s no doubt that this massive franchise will one day rise again. It remains a longshot that this will happen this year. However, the team’s superb standing and legacy as legends of ice hockey make it inevitable that they will one day regain their former glory.
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