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Jeff Parker is an sports writer for BetCanada.com. Jeff lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and provides news and analysis of the latest developments in professional sports media, with an emphasis on the NHL and the CFL.
NHL Playoffs: Anatomy of a Stanley Cup Championship Team
After a hard-fought first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, three Canadian teams remain in round two. From East to West, it’s the Toronto Maple Leafs, Winnipeg Jets, and Edmonton Oilers vying to become the first Canadian NHL team to hoist Lord Stanley’s cup since 1993.
But how does this trio of contenders compare to past champions?
To find out, BetCanada.com looked at the past 10 Stanley Cup winners, and identified key statistics that epitomize a prototypical championship franchise. All the stats below, which represent the “anatomy” of a Stanley Cup champ, are the averages of the past 10 Stanley Cup winners.
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Anatomy of a Stanley Cup Championship Team
Category | Data |
Average Age of Team | 28.5 |
Stanley Cup Win Before? | 60% Yes |
Season Before Points Pct.* | .648 |
Total Points Scored* | 108 |
Goals/Game | 3.25 |
Save Percentage | .913 |
*The total points scored per season average extrapolates the points for the two COVID-shortened seasons (2019-20 and 2020-21) out to 82 games at the same pace. The season before points percentage is the average for all 10 seasons the year before the teams won the Cup, regardless of season length.
This is part of our Canada sports betting insight with the Stanley Cup playoffs rolling along.
Of the three Canadian teams still competing for the Stanley Cup, the Winnipeg Jets not only fit the profile of past champs – they exceed it in most categories.
Winnipeg Jets Profile
Category | Jets |
Average Age of Team | 29.7 |
Stanley Cup Win Before? | No |
Season Before Points Pct. | .671 |
Total Points Scored | 116 |
Goals/Game | 3.35 |
Save Percentage | .915 |
This season’s President’s Cup winning Jets also ended the 2023-24 season strong, posting a 0.671 PTS%, outpacing the last decade’s average of NHL champions. Winnipeg was also 3rd in the NHL in Goals per Game this season, besting both the Leafs and Oilers.
You can keep track of Winnipeg Jets odds with BetCanada.com during their second-round series against the Dallas Stars.
Perhaps most importantly for playoff hockey, the Jets – led by arguably the greatest goalie on Earth, Connor Hellebuyck – had the best SV% in the NHL this season. At.915, Winnipeg is just a tick above the 10-year champ average of .913.
But despite the championship profile, you’ve got to look way down the odds board with Canada sportsbook apps to find Winnipeg. After barely escaping Round 1 in seven games against the St. Louis Blues, the Jets have fallen behind 2-1 in their series against the Dallas Stars. They are at +1700 with FanDuel to win the Stanley Cup going into Tuesday’s Game 4 in Dallas.
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Toronto Maple Leafs Profile
Category | Maple Leafs |
Average Age of Team | 29.4 |
Stanley Cup Win Before? | Yes |
Season Before Points Pct. | .622 |
Total Points Scored | 108 |
Goals/Game | 3.26 |
Save Percentage | .905 |
Next up, the Toronto Maple Leafs certainly bear resemblance to our anatomy of a Stanley Cup champion – and our Toronto Maple Leafs odds are worth following.
But if they want to end the longest Stanley Cup drought of all time, dating to 1967, the Leafs first need to get through the defending champs, the Florida Panthers.
In theory, Toronto has the firepower to do so. William Nylander is tied for third in total points this postseason. But on the other hand, three time “Rocket” Richard winner Auston Matthews has only found the back of the net twice during these playoffs. Even more concerning is the status of goaltender Anthony Stolarz, who sustained a head injury in Game 1 and did not travel with the team to Florida. He’s not expected to return during the second round.
After the Panthers evened the series at 2-2 on Sunday night, Pinnacle Canada Sportsbook has the Leafs at +1050 odds to win it all this year.
Edmonton Oilers Profile
Category | Oilers |
Average Age of Team | 30.4 |
Stanley Cup Win Before? | Yes |
Season Before Points Pct. | .634 |
Total Points Scored | 101 |
Goals/Game | 3.16 |
Save Percentage | .894 |
As for the Edmonton Oilers, FanDuel has their Stanley Cup odds at +390.
Last season, Connor McDavid and company took the Panthers to the brink in the Cup finals before ultimately losing in seven games. Now the Edmonton Oilers odds are looking good after the team got hot at the right time. Edmonton ousted the Los Angeles Kings in the first round (again) and leads the Vegas Golden Knights 2-1, though the Oilers need to recover after Vegas won Game 3 in Edmonton on a last-second goal,
The Oilers are aiming for their first Stanley Cup victory since 1990.
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USA Today photo by Jim Rassol