It’s likely either the Calgary Flames or Winnipeg Jets will have some big changes to make after missing the NHL playoffs, says Adam Proteau.

In some respects, Canada’s seven NHL teams have an advantage inherent to their national location. There’s diehard support in each and every market, and if you’re a team that can scratch and claw your way to the Stanley Cup post-season, the atmosphere in your home games will be extremely loud and laden with hope.

However, if you’re a Canadian team that falters in the face of high expectations, the fishbowl existence of playing in this hockey-mad country can singe you to the core. And we’re almost certainly going to see an example of that downside in the next few weeks when either the Winnipeg Jets or the Calgary Flames miss out on the playoffs.

As the third-to-last week of the regular season begins play Monday, the Jets are hanging on to the second and final Western Conference playoff berth. Winnipeg has next to no chance at moving up the Central Division standings, and they trail the other wild-card team (the Seattle Kraken) by three points, with Seattle holding two games in hand on them. So, the Jets can really only go one place – down and out of the playoff mix – in their final eight games.

Meanwhile, the team that is closest to them for that final Western Conference wild-card berth is the Flames, who trail the Jets by four points and also have eight games remaining in the regular season. Unless something drastic takes place, there is no room for both Winnipeg and Calgary in the playoffs. And neither side appears able to put the hammer down and keep their destiny in their own hands. The Flames are just 5-3-2 in their past 10 games, while the Jets are 5-5-0 in their past 10. If either team had played at a better clip, there would be a future with far less anxiety than the ones they’re looking at.

If the Jets do collapse and fall out of the playoff picture, all bets are off as to the future of GM Kevin Cheveldayoff. As of this coming June, Cheveldayoff will have been in charge of the Jets for 12 years – an eternity in the GM profession – and his team will have missed the post-season for the second straight year. That is unacceptable, especially for a team with so many veteran talents. 

Surely, there will be notable roster changes for them. Per CapFriendly, they have 11 free agents (five UFAs and six RFAs) and only $12.9 million in projected cap space to use this summer. But it feels like Cheveldayoff’s time holding the Jets’ reins is nearing an end, especially if they miss out on the post-season.

Meanwhile, the Flames are on the verge of missing the playoffs after being the Pacific Division’s top team last season. If that takes place, the jobs of GM Brad Treliving and coach Darryl Sutter are in jeopardy. And significant roster alterations would be likely for them. 

Calgary has only six free agents (five UFAs, and one RFA), but they also have only $1.3 million in cap space. They also have eight players with a no-move or no-trade clause in their current contracts, but after dealing with the public bitterness that surely will follow a season without playoff games, we suspect getting players to waive their NMC or NTC won’t be a problem.

At the beginning of the season, most people believed the Flames would be a playoff team, and some thought they could contend for the Cup. Many others thought the Jets would be able to take advantage of a comparatively weaker division and secure a playoff spot. Now, at least one of those teams is on the verge of letting down those who put their faith in them. Both teams really have only themselves to blame for the hardship that’s ahead.

And because they’re located in Canada, the pain is going to be more acute.