Montreal embarrasses all other NHL Canadian teams again as Canada's most popular team

A recent report from Pallas Data shows that the Montreal Canadiens are, once again, the most popular team from the NHL in all of Canada. This now marks the second year in a row finding the deep-seated nature of the fan base supporting the Canadiens, with 23% of Canadian hockey fans naming them as their favorite team. This puts them ahead of the Toronto Maple Leafs, who have 20% favoring them, and the Edmonton Oilers, at 12% of the base. Other teams behind them include the Vancouver Canucks at 9%, the Calgary Flames and Winnipeg Jets each at 7%, and the Ottawa Senators coming in dead last at 5%.

Whereas the Edmonton Oilers just went to the Stanley Cup Finals, 18% of Canadians think a Canadian team will win the Stanley Cup this year. It simply shows that even fans themselves are not very confident about their teams winning the coveted title, notwithstanding the fact that each of these teams has enjoyed success in the last seasons.

Particularly, the Montreal Canadiens have been steadily rising over the past three seasons. Coming off a rough 2021-22 season in which they amassed only 55 points, they upped the ante to 68 points in 2022-23 and further to 76 points last season. Head coach Marty St. Louis has spoken optimistically about the trajectory, even suggesting the team is close to making a run for a playoff position. The playoffs may still be out of reach this year, but St. Louis says a 90-point season and competitive games into April are reachable.

One potential key to such success could be the return of Patrik Laine. Adding a proven scorer to the second line would be the equivalent of acquiring a high-impact player at the deadline but with no cost and no wait. He would make a tangible difference in tight games, and the Canadiens struggled in tight games last season. Of the 43 one-goal games the Canadiens played, they lost 26 of them, and Laine's capabilities on offense might help them against the opposition in crucial moments.

While they are more than likely not a candidate to win the Stanley Cup this season, over time, the Montreal Canadiens have grown to be where they appear to be gradually working out a scheme toward competitiveness. With cornerstone players like Patrik Laine possibly boosting their offense and a solid foundation under Marty St. Louis, the Canadiens may be in for a breakthrough season that could give fans some optimism regarding their team, which after all is the most popular in the country!