Thumbs up to Canadian teams, Jagr's career accomplishments Dave Hodge extends his thumb up to Canadian-based NHL teams, or at least most of them, and their improvement from last season. Hodge also gives a thumb up to Jaromir Jagr and his career statistical accolades, but notes he may just miss out on joining an elite group in one category; playoff points.

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Thumbs up to Canada… well, of course.

Specifically, thumbs up to the Canadian-based teams in the NHL, or at least most of them. If the Stanley Cup playoffs began immediately, five of the seven Canadian-based teams would qualify. But, OK, the playoffs don't start until April.

Still, five - even in mid-December - is a big jump from one last season. The Montreal Canadiens had the playoff spotlight all to themselves in the 2013-14 playoffs, and they held our interest for three rounds. It would be nice if they had some company this time and Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg and Toronto offer such hope.

Which brings us to Ottawa and Edmonton, and to doubts that the number of Canada's playoff teams could rise above five.

In case you're wondering if the Stanley Cup playoffs have ever featured seven teams from Canada, the answer is yes.

The history lesson takes us back to 1986, when Montreal beat Calgary in the Stanley Cup final. Toronto and Vancouver were also playoff teams, and for the first time together, all three Canadian teams that had come from the WHA - Edmonton, Quebec and Winnipeg - made the playoffs. So c'mon, Senators and Oilers, how about seven again… One of these years?

Thumbs up to Jaromir Jagr… well, of course.

Specifically, thumbs up to the 42-year-old future Hall of Famer who recently played the 1,500th game of his career - no other active NHLer has played 1,400.

Jagr has scored 710 goals. No other active NHL player has scored 600. Jagr's assist total is 1062. No other player in the league today has reached the 900 mark. And Jagr's point total now sits at 1,772, fifth on the all-time list, and 552 points more than his nearest current rival, Joe Thornton. 552 is a career total never attained by a lot of good NHL players.

What's my point in listing Jagr's statistical accomplishments? I'm afraid he might not get a chance to add to his playoff totals, and he needs just one more point for 200, a milestone only ever reached by four members of the Edmonton Oilers dynasty; Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, Jari Kurri and Glenn Anderson.

Maybe there's no reason to think Jagr is considering retirement, maybe the New Jersey Devils can sneak into the playoffs, and if that's not likely, maybe they'll trade Jagr at the deadline. He has never missed the playoffs two years in a row, so I hope that doesn't happen this season and I hope his last NHL game - whenever he plays it and whatever uniform he's wearing - is a playoff game.