3 teams that are primed to go on a Stanley Cup run in 2021

NHL teams that won’t win the Stanley Cup this year, but could in 2021. 

As the first round of the NHL Stanley Cup playoff wraps up this week, some hockey clubs are left having to take a comprehensive retrospective of their NHL seasons. While teams are headed in different directions, in what should be a very unprecedented offseason. There are a few teams that competed in these NHL ‘Return To Play’ playoffs that will be in a great position to go on a Stanley Cup run next season. Here are three teams that won’t win the Stanley Cup this year, but could in 2021.

The Habs managed to pick up a spirited win over the Philadelphia Flyers in game five, picking up a 5-3 victory. While the Canadiens have put on a heck of a show for their fans, the chances of them doing any real damage beyond the first round of the playoffs realistically are really very slim. However, this a team with a lot of young talent coming up the ranks, and a heck of a lot of salary cap room for the offseason ahead. As for their 2020 playoff campaign, the Canadiens have held their own so far, ousting the Pittsburgh Penguins, and pushing the Philadelphia Flyers to at least a sixth game. The Habs have scored an average 2.33 goals per game in their nine games against the Penguins and Flyers, while only allowing an average of 1.56 goals per game. Overall, the Habs sit with a ‘Net Goals per Game’ average of +0.77, the 5th best net average of the 16 first-round playoff teams. Meanwhile, the Habs’ 2018 first-round pick, Jesperi Kotkaniemi has four goals in nine games, tied for 6th most in the 2020 NHL playoffs. For the Habs, 2021 looks promising, especially with $19.1 million dollars in cap space, that can be used to add key pieces to an already experienced young playoff team. The sky is limit for the Montreal Canadiens in 2021.

The Canucks have had a strong run in their two playoff series vs the Minnesota Wild, and the St. Louis Blues. Vancouver dropped their first game to the Wild, but put together three straight wins to knock off the Wild in four games, and then strung together two back to back wins against the Blues in the opening round of the playoffs. Since then, the Blues have managed to tie up the series, but never the less, this Canucks team is playing with house money at this point in their 2020 playoff run. In their first eight NHL playoff games, the Canucks have managed an average of 3.00 goals per game, with an average per game of 2.63 goals against. With that, the Canucks have 8th best ‘Net Goals’ average in the playoffs at +0.375. The Canucks young stock of players is reaching beyond expectations during this playoff run, with their 2017 5th overall pick in Elias Petterson putting up nine playoff points, while Bo Horvat leads the league in playoff goals with six. Combining all of that young depth with the fact that the Canucks will have $18 million dollars in cap space next season, there is a lot of potential for additions in what should be a fun offseason for Canuck fans. Whether they win or lose against the Blues remains to be seen, but the Canucks have some serious promise heading into the next decade of NHL hockey.

The Canes are in a tough spot after a first-round bouncing from the Boston Bruins, in a playoff run in which the numbers suggested they were the better team. Carolina put up an average 2.75 goals per game for, and 2.13 goals against per game in their eight games in the NHL playoffs. Comparing their numbers to their first-round opponent in the Bruins, the Canes likely deserved a better faith than a first-round exit in just five games. Regardless of their misfortunes, the Hurricanes will go into the offseason with the 10th worst cap situation in the NHL. While they couldn’t let Sebastian Aho leave town by way of an RFA offer sheet. The reality is that matching the Canadiens offer last season has left them slightly strapped for cash, with just $9.1 million in cap space in the offseason. Fortunately for the Canes, their young core isn’t due for a re-up on contracts until at least 2022. If Carolina can bait a few depth defensemen to their club in free-agency, and possibly pick up a few veterans on the market, a Wayne Simmons or TJ Brodie type player. They can only build on what is already a strong young core, of what could become an elite-level group of talent. There is no telling what the full potential of this Hurricanes team is, we will just have to wait and see.