Who is Canada’s best NHL team?

When it comes to Canada’s NHL teams, there have certainly already been some incredible highs and lows, even just a few weeks into the season.

One of the biggest surprises so far are the Montreal Canadiens, who were playing in the Stanley Cup finals just a few months ago. Now, they are 2-8 and without their star goaltender Carey Price, with no estimate on when he will be back.

On the other side of the country, you have the Vancouver Canucks, who are on a three game losing streak and have looked wildly inconsistent through their 3-5-1 start.

Where things get a little brighter however, is in the province of Alberta. The Edmonton Oilers have looked like one of the best teams in the league so far and have won 7 of 8 games in the early season. They currently sit at number one in the pacific division and are Rod Pedersen’s pick for the best team in Canada right now.

But for Scott Laughlin, who hosts Sirius XM NHL radio, it’s the other Alberta team who is the best in Canada.

“Right now, if you are going with what’s hot, you’re going with the Calgary Flames,” said Laughlin. “They are the best team right now that Canada has had to offer. I’m not sure anyone could have said that before the season began, but that’s a credit to what they have done, primarily on the road.”

The Flames are currently on a seven-game win streak, and just won five games on the road. After a 4-0 win against the Philadelphia Flyers in Calgary, the Flames will spend the next four games at home.

One big addition for the Flames came when the team signed Blake Coleman.

“I really like what Blake Coleman has done for the Calgary Flames,” said Laughlin. “I think he has the Stanley Cup pedigree now and I think he is Darryl Sutter’s type of player. Whether he’s a third or second liner in Calgary, I think he is that sort of muck and grime type guy with a little bit of offensive flare that has made a difference for Calgary.”

For Laughlin and Rod Pedersen, both have argued for some time now that talent was never the issue in Calgary. The problems have come from the team’s culture. Something Laughlin argues Darryl Sutter has had a huge hand in fixing for the Flames.

“He’s a big reason, no question about it,” said Laughlin. “Everybody thinks of him as the old school type of coach and that sort of thing and I think there is a certain truth to that, but I also think that he’s been adaptable to new ways.”

Tonight, the Calgary Flames look to win their eighth straight, and will take on the Nashville Predators at the Scotiabank Saddledome.

One thing is for sure, the next battle of Alberta may just determine who is the best team in Canada.