The puck officially drops on the National Hockey League season this year and Canadian teams are primed for a good season.
Hockey in Canada has been a bit of a fickle matter over the course of the last couple of years as we have gone from five teams making it in 2015, to zero making it in 2016, and then back to five in 2017.
Which is where we stand now.
Five teams are looking to defend their playoff spots from a year ago including the Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators, Toronto Maple Leafs, Calgary Flames, and Edmonton Oilers.
All five of those teams have every reason to believe they could do it again, as well.
Really there is little reason to believe that six of the seven Canadian teams could make the playoffs, my apologies Vancouver.
The Canadiens come into the season with the best goaltender in the world and a solid group of forwards including newly acquired forward Jonathan Drouin.
While I do not expect the Habs to be as good as they were last year, if Price stays healthy I have a hard time seeing this team falling right out of the playoffs.
The Senators meanwhile, are coming off a trip to the Eastern Conference final and return their entire roster except defenseman Marc Methot and a number of depth forwards.
The Senators look like a team who is also capable of challenging for a playoff spot this season, but with looming injuries to key players, including Erik Karlsson, how they tread water with him out of the lineup will go a long way in deciding this teams playoff fate.
The Toronto Maple Leafs were the surprise of the NHL last season and look primed to take another giant leap forward.
The Leafs are loaded with talented forwards and a solid goaltender.
Their questions will be on defense and their health, which was incredibly good last season.
If they can stay healthy I see no reason why this team could not compete for one of the top playoff spots in the Eastern Conference.
Out west the Winnipeg Jets will look to earn just their second playoff spot since moving to Winnipeg.
The Jets missed the playoffs last year but seem poised to make a run at a bottom spot in the West.
Their biggest weakness last season was between the pipes and if Steve Mason and Connor Hellebuyck can be league average this season the Jets will be much improved.
The Jets boast plenty of offensive skill and some solid defenseman.
This team will make a run.
The Oilers are a lot like the Leafs, and I look at them the same way. Great skill up front, maybe a slightly better defensive core, and a steady goalie between the pipes.
This team will compete for a top spot in the West.
Their Alberta counterparts also look destined to compete for an upper tier spot in the playoffs.
The Flames however will be looking to do their damage on the defensive side of the puck, where they boast arguably the best defensive core in the league.
If Mike Smith can be steady and the forward group lead by Sean Monahan and Johnny Gaudreau produce like they are capable of this team is a playoff team.
That leaves Vancouver.
This team is rebuilding, I do not see anyway this team makes the playoffs.
Sorry Canucks fans.
The puck drops for good on Oct. 4 and it is going to be a really fun season, particularly for most of the Canadian teams.
Come April when the puck drops on the playoffs we could see six Canadian teams suiting up.
