Last hockey season, five Canadian NHL teams competed in the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time since the league's lockout a decade ago.
With the NHL regular season beginning Oct. 7, the Montreal Canadiens are projected to have the strongest likelihood of qualifying again. The Toronto Maple Leafs, with their commitment to rebuilding, are the biggest longshot among Canadian teams.
The Canadiens, led by two genuine superstars in defenseman P.K. Subban and goaltender Carey Price, carry a -280 moneyline wager (meaning a $280 bet turns out a $100 profit) to reach the playoffs. Montreal missing the playoffs is +220 (meaning a $100 bet on the Canadiens falling short potentially pays $220).
At the other end of the spectrum are the Maple Leafs, who have not made the playoffs in a full 82-game regular season since 2003-04. At +250, a $100 bet on the Leafs qualifying would yield a $250 profit if that actually came to pass. There is a -325 moneyline for the Leafs missing the playoffs.
With first overall draft pick Connor McDavid now in copper and blue, the Edmonton Oilers making the playoffs is a -130 moneyline wager. The Oilers have not made the playoffs since 2006, when they reached the Stanley Cup final. The Oilers missing the playoffs is an even-money proposition.
The Winnipeg Jets, who are coming off their first playoff berth since relocating in 2011-12, have interesting playoff props. The Jets making the playoffs is -105, offering a slightly better payoff than the -125 moneyline for the Jets missing the playoffs.
As far as the three other Canadian clubs that were in the playoffs last season, NHL betting on any of the Calgary Flames, Ottawa Senators or Vancouver Canucks qualifying again carries a higher payoff than the corresponding prop for each team.
The Senators, after a midseason coaching shakeup that saw Dave Cameron take over behind the bench, earned the next-to-last berth in the Eastern Conference. Coming into this season, Ottawa missing the playoffs is a -150 moneyline wager. It is +120 for the Senators to qualify.
The Flames, buoyed by bright young hopes such as Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan, reached the second round last spring. Calgary missing the playoffs is -160 moneyline wager, while the club qualifying is listed at +130.
The aging Canucks missing the playoffs is a -180 moneyline wager, compared to a +150 prop bet for the Canucks qualifying.
*Odds as of September 28, 2015