NHL training camps are starting — here's a catchup on the Canadian teams

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With training camps across the league opening today and the first pre-season games coming up Saturday, here's a quick catchup on the NHL's seven Canadian teams:

Calgary Flames: The departures of top forwards Matthew Tkachuk and Johnny Gaudreau in the summer of 2022 crippled the Flames. They went on to miss the playoffs while Tkachuk ascended to superstar status by leading Florida on a surprising run to the Stanley Cup final. The architect of Calgary's failure, general manager Brad Treliving, left to take the same job in Toronto before the Flames fired Darryl Sutter, whose old-school ways toxified the dressing room. The hope is that a fresh head coach (Ryan Huska) and GM (Craig Conroy) can rejuvenate a team that didn't make any big changes apart from trading leading scorer Tyler Toffoli to New Jersey for unproven forward Yegor Sharangovich.

Edmonton Oilers: Connor McDavid is coming off a season for the ages. He ran away with his fifth Art Ross Trophy by piling up 153 points — the NHL's highest total in 27 years — and captured his first Maurice Richard by potting 64 goals in 82 games. But the best player in hockey is still looking for his first trip to a Stanley Cup final after Edmonton was bounced in the second round by eventual champion Vegas. Beyond scoring-race runner-up Leon Draisaitl (128 points), McDavid's supporting cast lacks an elite player. The Oilers are crossing their fingers for either Stuart Skinner or Jack Campbell to step up in net and help the NHL's highest-scoring team shore up its leaky defence.

Montreal Canadiens: It could be another long year for a