from Justin Bourne of Sportsnet,

The NHL currently hands out the Presidents’ Trophy, awarded to the team with the best record during the NHL season. Would this next season, with an all-Canadian Division, not be the perfect time to introduce the Prime Ministers’ Trophy, awarded to the Canadian team with the best record each year?

There’s a truth that most Canadians know, but a portion of the hockey media seems oblivious to. When there’s a Canadian team left in the playoffs, the bulk of Canadian hockey fans are not rooting for them, not at all. Few north of the border are ambivalent enough to hope the Stanley Cup simply “comes back to Canada.” Oilers fans would rather see the Seattle Kraken win the Cup in 2022 than the Flames. Habs fans might rather see the league shut down for a year than see the Leafs win the Cup. That’s not even a joke.

There’s a competitive fire here, and it’s better stoked than smothered.

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