The Montreal Canadiens were the last Canadian team to hoist the Stanley Cup when they did so during the 1992-93 season. It's been an agonizingly long drought for the country that has seven teams in the league to go without winning the sport's most coveted prize.

The Athletic's NHL staff picks first-round winners, dark horse, biggest disappointment, conference champs, Cup champ and Conn Smythe.

USA TODAY's Jason Anderson, Mike Brehm and Jace Evans provide their predictions for the Stanley Cup Final teams, the NHL champion and the Conn Smythe winner as playoff MVP: Stanley Cup Final: Carolina Hurricanes vs. Colorado Avalanche