Stanley Cup: Canada's clubs make the next attempt

The NHL record champion Montreal Canadiens (24 titles) will be visiting the Toronto Maple Leafs (13) on Wednesday, and the Capitals, who won the Stanley Cup for the first time, will be honored almost at the same time in Washington. The team around superstar Alexander Owetschkin starts its title defense against the Boston Bruins. The Capitals have hardly changed the team; 18 of the 20 players who won the decisive victory in the final series against the Vegas Golden Knights are back. The most serious change came to the gang. Barry Despite, who moved to the NY Islanders, was followed by Todd Reirden as head coach.

Alex Ovetschkin and the Caps are the big hunted. © APA/getty / BRUCE BENNETT

The Capitals' strongest challengers in the East are the Pittsburgh Penguins, NHL winners in 2016 and 2017, and the Tampa Bay Lightning. From the Western Conference, the Nashville Predators, Winnipeg Jets, San Jose Sharks and Vegas Golden Knights have the best chances. The Knights made a sensational advance to the finals in their debut season and brought two top strikers, Paul Stastny and May Pacioretty, to Las Vegas. The motherland of ice hockey has been without a title for 25 years But the Toronto Maple Leafs and San Jose Sharks also underlined their ambitions with their transfer activities. The Sharks recruited Swede Erik Karlsson, who won the Norris Trophy for the best defenseman in 2012 and 2015, from the Ottawa Senators. Toronto signed center John Tavares, inking this summer's most sought-after free agent to a seven-year, $77 million contract. With the 28-year-old, the Maple Leafs hope to finally bring the Stanley Cup back to the motherland of ice hockey. Canadian teams have not triumphed in the NHL since the Montreal Canadiens won their 24th title in 1992/93. John Tavares' move from the Islanders to the Maple Leafs was the king of the summer. © APA/getty / Claus Andersen

We can also look forward to Ilja Kovalschuk’s comeback. The now 35-year-old Russian star striker returned to the NHL after five years with SKA St. Petersburg and signed a three-year contract with the Los Angeles Kings. Devils and Oilers start in Europe The NHL is taking the international route again this season with guest games in Europe and China. The Boston Bruins and Calgary Flames played two preseason games in China, where the Winter Olympics will take place in 2022. The New Jersey Devils and the Edmonton Oilers, who are definitely outsider chances, will start their season on Saturday in Gothenburg.

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Stanley Cup: Canada's clubs make the next attempt

The National Hockey League starts the season on Wednesday with the banner hoist for winning the Stanley Cup in Washington and the duel between the two most successful clubs in history. Over the summer months, it was mainly the transfers of John Tavares and Erik Karlsson that caused a stir.

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