Friday 11 August sees the return of Premier League football action, one of the biggest betting leagues across the world. For those who are yet to use the best betting sites in Canada for a play on the Premier League, we have tried to find the ideal way to explain each of the 20 teams to a Canadian audience, through hockey!
Now, there are 32 teams in the NHL and only 20 in the Premier League so there are naturally going to be some missing but we have done our best to match them up with regard to past glories and the quality of the teams as a whole. Those who would rather play a few rounds of blackjack or some spins of roulette then you can check out our reviews of the best live casinos in Canada.
There are not all that many teams who have a genuine chance of landing the 2023/24 Premier League title but fans of these five teams will all believe that they can!
Five of the last six titles have been won by Manchester City with the Lightning winning two and making another Stanley Cup Final in the last four seasons. Pep Guardiola is the second longest-serving manager in the Premier League while Jon Cooper is the longest-serving behind an NHL bench. That stability at both teams is a huge part of their success and looks sure to continue to be the case this season.
Both teams are owned by Stan Kroenke so it makes sense to partner them. Having the tag ‘The Invincibles’ put upon them in the 2001/02 season was always going to make things tough for Arsenal, winning a single Premier League since. The Avs were also successful in the 2001/02 season, winning a single Stanley Cup since. Both look likely to contend again this season, where the fitness of the squads will be key.
Both Anfield and Madison Square Garden are on the bucket lists of many casual fans of the two sports, a pair of the most famous buildings in world sports. Each has seen plenty of success in the past, though just a single title each in a long time. Surrounding those titles have been plenty of years where they have been in contention but without having the end product to show for it.
An ageing squad dining out on past glories was perhaps moved on from a touch in Manchester when Ronaldo left the team but there are still fans who continue to live in the past. There is still enough talent in each team to give their fans some great days this season. They will always be in contention and will get lots of tv time simply because of the name but do they have the current squad to take it over the top?
It had been a while in the wilderness for Newcastle but last year they looked like they had built a team with the potential to challenge once more. Their season ended with a bit of a whimper but there is plenty to like about their chances heading into the new season. They are two squads who both look to be on the up, with fans looking forward to seeing if they can back up last season.
There are a number of sides who are just a little below the very best ones in the division but they are going to have their sights set on at least qualifying for Europe next season. A couple are coming off their best season for a long time so it will be very interesting to see if they can kick on off the back of that or whether they go backwards.
One of the most feared teams in the league for a long time but they had a poor season last time round which leaves them with some questions to answer ahead of the new season. Each starts this season with a new Head Coach who has something to prove at a new team. Whether either side is going to be able to get involved at the business end of the season is up for debate at present, only time will tell.
Spurs and Leafs fans are subject to lots of taunts on social media regarding the last time they won a trophy. They have had some classy teams in recent seasons but have always just managed to miss the mark when it came to claiming the trophy that their supporters are so desperate for. A string of good players does not necessarily make up into a complete squad but there would be no shock if both have a good season and equally no great surprise if both fail to hit the target once more.
A big team in the 1980s, Villa won what is now the Premier League as well as a pair of European titles beating Bayern Munich and Barcelona to lift the cups. They faded away for a while before they returned with a bang. Last season saw them finish 7th, in front of both Chelsea and Spurs which was their best campaign in a long time. They have some excellent players and could yet make a bid at a stronger finishing position this season.
Both teams are owned by men who have had their critics when it comes to how they have earned their money. Tony Bloom at Brighton is a professional gambler who has made a career of relieving people of money while Thomas Dundon started out selling used cars before heading into subprime loans in the auto trade. Away from their owners, both teams have been on the up in recent years and have taken some bigger scalps along the way. No surprise to see both take another step forward this season.
Yet to win much though West Ham did pop up out of nowhere to win the Europa Conference League last season while fighting a relegation battle at the same time. That was rather reminiscent of the Blues who won the 2019 Stanley Cup despite having the fewest points in the NHL halfway through the season. Both teams have shown that they are capable on the odd occasion but equally, they have not shown it often enough to be at the top of the tree in their respective sports.
There will be highs and lows for this group of five teams this season but they are unlikely to make any headlines at either end of the table. Some of these will be looking to build on a solid 2022/23 season but in all likelihood, they are probably going to struggle to repeat what they did last season.
Both sides are tough enough to beat at home but are yet to be able to put all their ducks in a row to land a title. Having one of the smaller home grounds has helped both make the atmosphere a difficult one for visiting sides. There have been flashes from each of them in recent seasons that they are capable of hanging with the big boys but both are a little way away from being genuine contenders.
These sides have plenty in common. Fulham are a London team that people tend to forget, Buffalo are a New York State team that people tend to forget, both have been around for a long time and have won absolutely nothing of note. Fulham managed to finish in the top half last season while the Sabres notched up 91 points, missing out on a playoff berth by one point. The best season for both clubs in a long time, the difficult part is backing it up to prove that it was not just a one-off.
Selhurst Park was used as the backdrop for Ted Lasso’s Richmond Greyhounds but there has been far less for supporters to believe in. Palace have enjoyed some iconic kits down the years without really managing to achieve a huge amount on the pitch. The Canucks have been similar, some notable jerseys that will go down in history as retro favourites but they are yet to get their hands on a Stanley Cup. Both teams have some talented young players but another season of mediocrity looks on the way.
Wolves had a disciplinary record that the Broad Street Bullies would have been proud of last season. Five players were sent off and 84 players shown a yellow card saw them lead the league in both categories. Most teams don’t enjoy a trip to Molineaux but there is not enough class in the home team to make it a fortress just yet.
This will be Everton’s last season in their famous Goodison Park ground, moving into a brand new, custom-built complex next season. They have had their moments in history but have always been overshadowed by a bigger team from the same city. Everton was a successful club in the 1980s but things have been a little tougher in recent years and this year looks no different.
Relegation could be a real threat to these five sides. Luckily for their NHL counterparts, no matter how poor they are, they can stay in the league next year. Relegation is a costly thing for a Premier League club but with three teams to go down, there are always teams who are facing an uphill struggle to beat the drop.
It was a tale of Disney proportions for a club like Bournemouth to even make it to the Premier League. They are a team that most fans have a soft spot for but are yet to really make a big impression upon the division. Neto is the Bournemouth captain and one of their stronger players, their goalkeeper who on a regular basis gets hung out to dry by his defence. John Gibson anyone?
Competitive most years in the 1980s but more recent seasons have been slim pickings for the team. Towards the bottom of the standings last year and it would be a surprise if they manage to achieve much more than survival this season. Have some classy enough players but there is little depth in the squad.
Likely to find themselves down the bottom of the division despite having a league legend in charge. Burnley admittedly lacks the past glories of the Canadians, though they did win the top tier back in the 1959/1960 season. They were one of the founding members of the football league back in 1888 which certainly gives them something key in common with the Habs.
It could well be another short stay at Premier League level for ‘The Blades.’ They have been a yo-yo club in the last decade or so, promoted four times and relegated three in the last 18 years, they are not really good enough for the Premier League. It’s easy to see this being another long and difficult season languishing at the bottom for fans.
The smallest ground in the Premier League, it is a wonder that they are even in business given their issues in the past. A lot of fans will wonder how they are even playing in this league and while there will be the odd flash of talent against the bigger sides, ultimately, they are set for a season of struggles.
Manchester City are the team to beat once more this season, though Arsenal gave them a real scare last campaign and looks like their biggest rivals once more. Manchester United and Liverpool lost their hopes on the road last season having both performed very well at home. It will be interesting to see if any of Newcastle, Brighton or Aston Villa can take another step up on their campaign or whether Spurs and Chelsea find a way back after awful years. Whatever happens, the new Premier League season will be full of excitement and we can’t wait.
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