With the Ottawa Senators being eliminated Wednesday, no Canadian franchises will appear in the 2016 Stanley Cup playoffs. The 1970 Stanley Cup playoffs are the only other NHL postseason to not have a Canadian team, and in 1970, the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens were the only Canadian franchises.
Five Canadian teams made the playoffs last season: the Canadiens, Senators, Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames and Winnipeg Jets. Those teams were a combined 15-24, with none advancing beyond the second round of the playoffs.
Canada is guaranteed another year without a Stanley Cup champion. The last time a Canadian team won the Stanley Cup was in 1993 (Canadiens).
What was the downfall of each team?
Canadiens
Injury limited Carey Price to 12 games in 2015-16 after he had one of the best seasons by a goaltender in recent memory last season. Price led the NHL in wins (44), save percentage (.933) and goals against average (1.96) on his way to winning four awards, including the Hart and Vezina trophies.
Canucks
The Canucks have had little scoring depth this season. Daniel Sedin and Henrik Sedin have combined for 110 of the team’s 458 points (24 percent). That exceeds the percentage of production by the Dallas Stars ’ Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin -- and they are in the top eight in points in the NHL. Too much of the Canucks’ production has come from its top line.
Flames
The Flames are last in the NHL in penalty killing (74 percent). That is a big drop from last season, when the Flames killed 81 percent of opponents’ power plays.
Jets
Scoring in the NHL is difficult, and it’s more difficult when you score on 14 percent of power-play opportunities, as the Jets have this season. They scored on 18 percent of their power plays last season.
Maple Leafs
Engaged in a committed rebuilding effort, the Maple Leafs didn’t expect to make the playoffs this season. Among the notable players they have traded away since the end of last season are Phil Kessel and Dion Phaneuf, their captain. Their top scorer this season is Nazem Kadri, who has 44 points (tied for 105th in the NHL).
Oilers
Even with four players selected No. 1 in the NHL draft, the Oilers’ struggles have continued: This is their 10th consecutive season out of the playoffs. Among their issues this season was an injury to Connor McDavid, the No. 1 choice in 2015, who missed three months. Despite the missed time, McDavid is tied for third on the team with 45 points in 42 games.
Senators
The Senators’ shortcomings are the most difficult to pinpoint. Of the 10 Senators players to score at least 20 points this season, Bobby Ryan, 29, is the oldest. With so many core players in their prime, including 2015 Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson, the Senators would seem to have little excuse for not making the Stanley Cup playoffs this season.
On the plus side, not making the playoffs gives all of the Canadian teams a chance to get the No. 1 pick in this year’s draft, which is widely expected to be used on Auston Matthews -- a U.S. player.