Every year, the last Canadian team in the Stanley Cup playoffs gets adopted as Canada's unofficial team. Once their team is eliminated, Canadian fans are expected to throw all of their support behind the last man standing.
This year, six of the seven Canadian teams missed the post-season, leaving the Montreal Canadiens as the nation's only chance to bring back the Stanley Cup for the first time since 1993.
But are the Canadiens really Canada's team?
Montreal boasts one of the league's best fan bases. Their fans are vocal throughout each game, starting at the elaborate visual display on the ice prior to puck drop. I'm sure most hockey fans feel something when the young hockey player "lights the flame" at centre ice to ignite the crowd.
In terms of numbers, the Canadiens also have 13 Canadians on the roster representing five provinces. Two of those players, Carey Price and P.K. Subban, won gold medals in February in Sochi. Both Price and Subban have represented Canada at all levels of international play.
But will Canada be in full support of Montreal? Fans of the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Ottawa Senators are probably reluctant to cheer for some of their hated rivals. It was easier to get behind teams like Calgary in 2004 or Edmonton in 2006 on their run to the Stanley Cup because of their underdog status as the seventh and eighth seeds respectively.
If you're basing Canada's team on the number of Canadians on roster, Montreal's opponent in the Eastern Conference semifinal, the Boston Bruins, would be the choice. Their roster has 15 players with Canadian passports covering seven provinces. These players also have international pedigree as players like Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and Milan Lucic have been mainstays of Team Canada. The Bruins also dress back-up goaltender Chad Johnson from Saskatoon, but he won't see the ice unless Tuuka Rask is injured.
Points are taken away from Boston's case based on the treatment of Subban by their fans. Following the Canadiens' 4-3 double overtime win in game one of the semifinal, angry Bruins fans took to Twitter to slam Subban, who scored two goals in the game, with racist remarks.
The Los Angeles Kings, the New York Rangers and the Anaheim Ducks also have 13 Canadian players on their playoff rosters. All three feature Canadians who have played for the national team.
One of the New York Rangers' Canadians, Martin St. Louis, took a hit to his reputation when he forced his way out of Tampa Bay at this season's NHL trade deadline. He was unhappy with not being initially named to Canada's Olympic squad, and after being named as an injury replacement, asked for a trade to New York.
As for the Ducks, captain Ryan Getzlaf is from Regina, which might make them more popular here. He is one of the toughest players in the league, especially considering his remarkable return from taking a puck in the face early in the first round series against the Dallas Stars. Isn't toughness one of the traits associated with a good Canadian boy, as Don Cherry calls them?
Melville's Jarret Stoll is one of the Canadians on the Kings. Also on the Kings is Jeff Carter, who had a hat trick for Team Canada in Sochi.
The Chicago Blackhawks and the Pittsburgh Penguins have the fewest Canadians on their rosters, but have two of the country's best.
Pittsburgh has arguably the best player in the world in Sidney Crosby. He has given Regina's Chris Kunitz a career with his ability. If you need a Canadian story, Kris Letang worked his way back into the lineup in time for the playoffs after suffering a stroke early in February. There is also the redemption of starting goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, who has had a couple of shaky appearances between the pipes in recent post-seasons.
In Chicago, Jonathan Toews is one of eight Canadians on the roster and has recently thrown his name into the discussion for best player in the world. He has a history of scoring big goals, including a dominating shootout performance in the semifinal of the 2007 World Junior Championship, the eventual gold medal-winning goal in Sochi and a highlight reel overtime goal in game five of their series against the St. Louis Blues in this year's playoffs. If there is any one player to get behind as a Canadian, it's hard not to fall in line behind Toews.
The last team is Minnesota, the underdog of the eight remaining teams. They have already gained fans for their come-from-behind overtime win in game seven of their series against Colorado. Also, Saskatoon's Darcy Kuemper, before getting hurt, took over in net for Ilya Bryzgalov. Kuemper is one of 11 Canadians on their roster.
So, where should we put Canada's allegiances? With over 700 players in the league, it's hard to find a team that is not full of Canadian players. Just because the team has a postal code instead of a zip code, doesn't mean they will be held as Canada's team.
