With no Canadian teams in the playoffs, some of the attention will shift to players who used to play up north and were moved for a variety of reasons. A few of those players will get to show their former teams what they missed - or prove that trading them was the right call.
Related: 3 reasons why Canadians should still watch the NHL playoffs
There are 22 players in this season's playoffs who ended last season on a Canadian team.
Here are some of the most notable.
Phil Kessel, Pittsburgh Penguins
All seemed right in the world for Kessel when he inked an eight-year, $64-million contract extension with the Toronto Maple Leafs prior to the start of the 2013-14 season. Kessel was Toronto's scoring leader for six seasons, and one of the more consistent goal-scorers in the league. But Toronto only had a single playoff performance to show with Kessel in the lineup. He performed well, scoring four goals and six points in a now infamous seven-game series loss.
When Pittsburgh general manager Jim Rutherford pulled the trigger on July 1 to get Kessel, it wasn't a move designed to get his team into the playoffs, but to provide more scoring throughout the lineup. The Penguins needed Kessel's offensive prowess to help stop a string of early spring exits. With 21 points in 22 career playoff games, and Pittsburgh's first-round pick in 2016 now Toronto's, we're about to find out if the Pens' gamble paid off.
Andrew Ladd, Chicago Blackhawks
Acquired only days before the trade deadline from Winnipeg, Ladd never wanted to leave the Jets. But unable to agree to terms with its captain, and having already signed other players to massive extensions, Winnipeg felt it necessary to get some assets in return before Ladd hit unrestricted free agency.
Ladd's fit in well and should continue to do so on a team he won a Stanley Cup with in 2010. He had eight goals and 12 points in 19 games with the Blackhawks, and having recently turned 30, he's looking to win his third Cup ring.
Teddy Purcell and Jiri Hudler, Florida Panthers
Hudler and Purcell, both wingers, were acquired from the Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers at the trade deadline and have played together on the Florida Panthers' third line since.
This being Florida's first trip to the playoffs in four seasons, both players bring experience - 99 combined postseason games - and will be expected to help settle some of the younger players' nerves. Hudler has 41 points in 77 career playoff games, while Purcell comes in with seven goals and 18 points in 22 spring games.
James Reimer, San Jose Sharks
It's been established that Martin Jones will start Game 1 of the playoffs for the Sharks, but don't be surprised if you see Reimer at some point. Acquired before the trade deadline from Toronto, Reimer has been nothing short of superb in his brief tenure out west, with a 6-2 record, a .938 save percentage, and a 1.62 goals-against average. He also has something Jones doesn't have - playoff experience.
Here are a few other noteworthy players taking part in the postseason who were recently playing for Canadian teams:
- Nick Bonino, traded from Canucks to Penguins
- Tomas Fleischmann, traded from Canadiens to Blackhawks
- Roman Polak, traded from Maple Leafs to Sharks
- Shane Prince, traded from Senators to Islanders
- Kris Russell, traded from Flames to Stars
- Dale Weise, traded from Canadiens to Blackhawks
- Daniel Winnik, traded from Maple Leafs to Capitals
