With the NHL season approaching its midway point and Christmas just around the corner, this is the time of year when joy and holiday cheer fill the air. All around the world, children are finalizing their wish lists for Santa. The same can be said for NHL teams, especially in the Great White North.
By this point in the year, each NHL franchise should have a clear picture of what their team is missing. Some teams head into the holidays looking for health, while others are hoping for that final piece to complete their roster. Whatever the need, now’s the time to hope for a Christmas miracle.
In the spirit of the season, we’re taking a look at what all seven Canadian NHL franchises want for Christmas. From Montreal to Vancouver, these teams are hoping to find the perfect gift waiting for them under the tree this year.
Montreal Canadiens
Christmas Wish: Veteran Defenceman
Why: Everyone knows the Habs are hunting for a second-line centre, but injuries have created a major need on the blue line. With Kaiden Guhle on the IR and Mike Matheson now missing some time, the Canadiens are in desperate need of a reliable stay-at-home defenceman to support their elite playmakers.
This would provide some much-needed depth on the back end, while helping Montreal’s struggling goaltenders play with more confidence. Adding a savvy veteran to their young defensive corps could go a long way and would take the Canadiens one step closer to becoming a legitimate Stanley Cup contender.
Ottawa Senators
Christmas Wish: Secondary Scoring
Why: Ottawa’s top players have shown they can produce offensively, but that production has failed to trickle down throughout the rest of their lineup. Top-six forwards like Tim Stutzle, Drake Batherson and Dylan Cozens have all been contributing, but if they have an off-night, Ottawa’s scoring dries up in a hurry.
Adding a little more depth on offence would make a huge difference for the Senators over the second half of the season. It would reduce the pressure on their star players to carry the load, while making it harder for opponents to match up against their lineup. Playing in a tight Eastern Conference, those secondary goals could be the difference between making the playoffs and going home.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Christmas Wish: Top-Six Winger
Why: Toronto made some major changes over the offseason, but this team once again finds itself in need of some added scoring depth. More than anything, the Maple Leafs would benefit from another top-six forward who could play alongside Auston Matthews on the top line.
Adding another reliable scorer would create a more balanced attack and prevent them from going long stretches without a goal. Hindsight is 20/20, but it’s nothing a little holiday magic can’t fix to get Toronto’s season back on track.
Winnipeg Jets
Christmas Wish: Consistency
Why: The Jets are talented enough to keep up with just about any team in the league, but last year’s President’s Trophy winners have been plagued by inconsistent play. On their best nights, the Jets are structured, physical and tough to beat. The problem is those nights have been few and far between.
Winnipeg doesn’t need a star player or some dramatic shake-up—it just needs to start bringing the same high level of play night in and night out. It may sound like a boring Christmas wish, but the Jets need to find a way to consistently bring their A-game before it’s too late.
Calgary Flames
Christmas Wish: Elite Playmaker
Why: The Flames are 29th in the league in goals per game (2.50), and their power play (13.8%) sits dead last. They may have some quality veterans and solid depth in the prospect pipeline, but it’s become clear that Calgary is in need of an elite offensive talent.
Perhaps more than any team in the league, the Flames would benefit from a skilled playmaker who can control the pace of play in the offensive zone. They need someone who can create quality chances when they need it most and unlock more scoring opportunities for teammates. With the trade deadline looming, now’s the time for Calgary to strike a deal and save their season.
Edmonton Oilers
Christmas Wish: Reliable Goaltending
Why: It’s another year with the same problem in Edmonton; the Oilers are blessed with two of the best hockey players on the planet in Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, but shaky goaltending continues to be this team’s Achilles heel. What Edmonton is really hoping for this Christmas is a more reliable presence between the pipes.
If they can get a netminder playing with confidence, the Oilers would go from a strong contender to heavy favourites. If this wish comes true, Edmonton could end up being the first Canadian team to win the Stanley Cup in more than 30 years. Now that would make for a merry Christmas.
Vancouver Canucks
Christmas Wish: Clear Direction
Why: It’s been a tough first half of the season for the Canucks, and trading away the franchise’s best player in Quinn Hughes has led to a crisis of faith in Vancouver. The fans can accept change and fight through the short-term pain, as long as they understand where it’s leading. It’s up to the Canucks’ leadership to show them.
Vancouver isn’t praying for some miracle turnaround, they simply want a well-defined plan for the future. Because once you have some clear direction, belief has a chance to follow—and that’s all the Canucks organization can cling to at this point.