Is the NHL Presidents' Trophy Cursed?
The Presidents' Trophy is coveted by many but achieved by few. Since the 1985-86 season, the NHL has given the award to the team with the most points at the end of the regular season. While finishing first overall in the league is an honor, others believe that this award comes with a curse.
Since the trophy’s existence, 33 teams (17 franchises) have won it. However, only eight of those teams, or 24 percent, have won the Stanley Cup. Three teams have lost in the Stanley Cup Final, six have lost in the conference finals, nine in the second round, and seven in the first. In other words, 76 percent of the teams that have won the Presidents' Trophy have not won the ultimate prize.
In the 2018-19 seasons, the Tampa Bay Lightning won the Presidents' Trophy with 128 points. Then, the Columbus Blue Jackets, the lowest-seeded team in the playoffs, swept the Lightning in the first round. If you aren’t superstitious, call it a coincidence, but there’s no denying that winning the Presidents' Trophy does not increase a team’s odds of winning the Stanley Cup.
In fact, it may be the last thing a team wants to do.
1985-86 Edmonton Oilers
Regular-season record: 56-17-7 (119 points), first in Smythe Division
Postseason record: 6-4
Finish: Lost division finals (4-3) versus Calgary Flames
Coach: Glen Sather
Captain: Wayne Gretzky
Stats: 426 goals (1st of 21), 310 goals against (13th of 21), 1.25 simple rating system (SRS, 1st of 21), -0.20 strength of schedule (SOS, 21st of 21)
Did you know: The Oilers had four players with 100-plus points: Wayne Gretzy (215), Paul Coffey (138), Jari Kurri (131) and Glenn Anderson (102).
Bottom line: There would be no three-peat for the Oilers after winning the Stanley Cup in 1984 and 1985. But the season was far from a washout.
Wayne Gretzky set the Oilers' franchise record for most points in a regular season with 215, and the 25-year-old captain was named league MVP.
Though the honor wasn't the Cup, it was something to celebrate for Edmonton (since individual awards are not won without strong team support) and added to Gretzky's legend as one of the best players in NHL history.
1986-87 Edmonton Oilers
Regular-season record: 50-24-6 (106 points), first in Smythe Division
Postseason record: 16-5
Finish: Won Stanley Cup Final (4-3) versus Philadelphia Flyers
Coach: Glen Sather
Captain: Wayne Gretzky
Stats: 372 goals (1st of 21), 284 goals against (10th of 21), 1.06 SRS (1st of 21), -0.04 SOS (15th of 21)
Did you know: The Oilers have won a total of five Stanley Cups to date.
Bottom line: When given a shot at redemption, the Oilers did not disappoint. Despite earning less points than the previous season, Edmonton earned both the Presidents' Trophy and the Stanley Cup.
Once again, led by the great Wayne Gretzky who tallied yet another season MVP, the Oilers got the job done against the Flyers in what many believe to be one of the best Stanley Cup Finals of all time.
At this point, the Presidents' Trophy gave a team a 50/50 shot at the Stanley Cup.
1987-88 Calgary Flames
Regular-season record: 48-23-9 (105 points), first in Smythe Division
Postseason record: 4-5
Finish: Lost division finals (4-0) versus Edmonton Oilers
Coach: Terry Crisp
Captains: Lanny McDonald, Jim Peplinski
Stats: 397 goals (1st of 21), 305 goals against (12th of 21), 1.10 SRS (1st of 21), -0.05 SOS (17th of 21)
Did you know: This was the Flames' eighth season in the NHL in Calgary, and the organization’s 16th in total after playing in Atlanta.
Bottom line: It was a season of firsts for the Flames, as they won both the Smythe Division and Presidents' Trophy for the first time ever.
While the Flame’s first-round series to the Los Angeles Kings was dominant, even setting a record-scoring 30 goals in a five-game series, Calgary was derailed by the Oilers, who went on to win their fourth Stanley Cup in five years.
During the season Calgary set many franchise records, including most wins (48), most home wins (51), most road wins (22) and most points (105), to name a few. One record from the season even holds today, 397 goals.
1988-89 Calgary Flames
Regular-reason record: 54-17-9 (117 points), first in Smythe Division
Postseason Record: 16-6
Finish: Won Stanley Cup Final (4-2) versus Montreal Canadiens
Coach: Terry Crisp
Captains: Tim Hunter , Lanny McDonald , Jim Peplinski
Stats: 354 goals (2nd of 21), 226 goals against (2nd of 21), 1.57 SRS (1st of 21), -0.03 SOS (12th of 21)
Did you know: The Flames have not won another Stanley Cup since the 1988-89 season.
Bottom line: Can you call it redemption? Absolutely. After winning the Presidents' Trophy the previous season but losing in the division finals, the Flames won the Presidents' Trophy for the second consecutive season and got the job done in the playoffs, winning the Stanley Cup.
This Flames team was the epitome of dominance with All-Star players such as Gary Suter, Joe Nieuwendyk, Joe Mullen and Mike Vernon. Co-captain Lanny McDonald, who scored the the game-winning goal to clinch the Cup, was Calgary's leader and went on to be inducted to the Hockey Hall of Fame.
1989-90 Boston Bruins
Regular-season record: 46-25-9 (101 points), first in Adams Division
Postseason record: 13-8
Finish: Lost Stanley Cup Final (4-1) versus Edmonton Oilers
Coach: Mike Milbury
Captain: Ray Bourque
Stats: 289 goals (11th of 21), 232 goals against (1st of 21), 0.64 SRS (2nd of 21), -0.07 SOS (21st of 21)
Did you know: Game 1 of the 1990 Stanley Cup Final went into three overtimes and is the longest Stanley Cup game in NHL history.
Bottom line: The Bruins captured their first Presidents' Trophy in the organization's 66th season with just 101 points, the least amount of points of any Presidents' Trophy winner in a non-lockout-shortened season.
Defensively, the Bruins were unbreakable, or so most thought. Boston allowed just 232 goals — including the fewest power-play goals (53) and fewest shorthanded goals (3) — and recorded five shutouts to tie the Capitals for most in the league.
In the Stanley Cup Final, Edmonton’s offense proved to be too much for Boston's top-notch defensive pairings, and the Bruins would have to wait to add another Cup to their collection.
1990-91 Chicago Blackhawks
Regular-season record: 49-23-8 (106 points), first in Norris Division
Postseason record: 2-4
Finish: Lost division semifinals (4-2) versus Minnesota North Stars
Coach: Mike Keenan
Captain: Dirk Graham
Stats: 284 goals (8th of 21), 211 goals against (1st of 21), 0.85 SRS (3rd of 21), -0.06 SOS (18th of 21)
Did you know: The Blackhawks hosted the NHL All-Star Game for the first time since 1974.
Bottom line: After appearing in the conference final for two consecutive seasons and then winning the Presidents' Trophy, many believed this was the year the Blackhawks would get the job done.
Led by Steve Larmer, Jeremy Roenick, Chris Chelios, Dirk Graham and Ed Belfour, Chicago was dominant all season. What could stop them? The Minnesota North Stars, the Blackhawks' archrival.
To make matters worse, the two teams met in the first round, and the Hawks did not make it out alive. What could have been never was.
1991-92 New York Rangers
Regular-season record: 50-25-5 (105 points), first in Patrick Division
Postseason Record: 6-7
Finish: Lost division finals (4-2) versus Pittsburgh Penguins
Coach: Roger Neilson
Captain: Mark Messier
Stats: 321 goals (3rd of 22), 246 goals against (4th of 22), 1.01 SRS (1st of 22), 0.08 SOS (6th of 22)
Did you know: The last time the Rangers sat at the top of the league was in the 1941-42 season.
Bottom line: The Rangers' first Presidents’ Trophy came after one of their strongest seasons.
This team had stunning talent — from Mark Messier, who won the Hart Trophy, to Brian Leetch, the Norris Trophy winner. The Rangers also had depth, with five 30-goal scorers, and they weren't shut out in any of their 80 regular-season games.
But all that talent could not bring home a Stanley Cup. The Rangers' season came to a bitter end in the division finals. Another Presidents' Trophy, another season over too soon.
1992-93 Pittsburgh Penguins
Regular-season record: 56-21-7 (119 points), first in Patrick Division
Postseason record: 7-5
Finish: Lost division finals (4-3) versus New York Islanders
Coach: Scotty Bowman
Captain: Mario Lemieux
Stats: 367 goals (2nd of 24), 268 goals against (3rd of 24), 1.23 SRS (1st of 24), 0.05 SOS (9th of 24)
Did you know: Before Mario Lemieux missed time due to Hodgkin's disease, he was averaging over a goal a game.
Bottom line: The Penguins were stacked and still became another team to fall short of a Stanley Cup after winning the Presidents' Trophy.
Four Penguins players reached 100 or more points, and five scored 30 or more goals. Pittsburgh put together a 17-game winning streak during the season, an NHL record that still stands today.
Records and trophy’s aside, perhaps the most memorable thing about this season was Mario Lemieux, who missed more than a fourth of the season due to Hodgkin's lymphoma. He returned in time to help the Pens put together that long-standing winning streak.
1993-94 New York Rangers
Regular-season record: 52-24-8 (112 points), first in Atlantic Division
Postseason record: 16-7
Finish: Won Stanley Cup Final (4-3) versus Vancouver Canucks
Coach: Mike Keenan
Captain: Mark Messier
Stats: 299 goals (4th of 26), 231 goals against (3rd of 26), 0.81 SRS (3rd of 26), -0.00 SOS (12th of 26)
Did you know: The Rangers have appeared in just one Stanley Cup Final since, when they lost in 2014.
Bottom line: Rangers fans never will forget this season, which remains talked about to this day.
The team earned its second Presidents Trophy and set multiple records in the process, including finishing with a franchise-best 112 points, a mark that has since been beaten.
Unlike the Blue Shirts' last Presidents’ Trophy win, New York, led by head coach Mike Keenan in his first season with the team, capped off the postseason with the ultimate win and a Stanley Cup.
While the Rangers have since won a Presidents' Trophy, they have yet to win another Stanley Cup.
1994-95 Detroit Red Wings
Regular-season record: 33-11-4 (70 points), first in Central Division
Postseason record: 12-5
Finish: Lost Stanley Cup Final (4-0) versus New Jersey Devils
Coach: Scotty Bowman
Captain: Steve Yzerman
Stats: 180 goals (3rd of 26), 117 goals against (2nd of 26), 1.24 SRS (1st of 26), -0.07 SOS (25th of 26)
Did you know: The first game of the 1994-95 season was not played until January 1995 due to a lockout.
Bottom line: Anyone who follows hockey believed the Red Wings would win this year's Cup. Not everything goes as thought.
Detroit picked up in the playoffs right where it left off at the conclusion of the regular season, but the Red Wings ended up embarrassed and stunned — getting swept by the New Jersey Devils in the Stanley Cup Final and scoring only seven goals in the entire series.
Although the Red Wings weren’t able to get the job done, the Final appearance was the organization’s first since 1966 and gave fans hope for the future.
1995-96 Detroit Red Wings
Regular-season record: 62-13-7 (131 points), first in Central Division
Postseason record: 10-9
Finish: Lost conference finals (4-2) versus Colorado Avalanche
Coach: Scotty Bowman
Captain: Steve Yzerman
Stats: 325 goals (3rd of 26), 181 goals against (1st of 26), 1.64 SRS (1st of 26), -0.11 SOS (25th of 26)
Did you know: The Wings lost to the eventual Stanley Cup champions, the Avalanche, who won their first-ever Cup.
Bottom line: One of the Red Wings' most dominant seasons in the team history produced ample records. But utter regular-season dominance concluded ended in pure disappointment.
Detroit lost a combined five games to the Jets and Blues in the first two rounds, teams that didn’t even accumulate above 80 points in the regular season, and then the Avalanche upset the Wings in six games in the conference finals.
Still, the team's their regular-season performance was unparalleled and worth remembering.
1996-97 Colorado Avalanche
Regular-season record: 49-24-9 (107 points), first in Pacific Division
Postseason record: 10-7
Finish: Lost conference finals (4-2) versus Detroit Red Wings
Coach: Marc Crawford
Captain: Joe Sakic
Stats: 277 goals (2nd of 26), 205 goals against (5th of 26), 0.81 SRS (1st of 26), -0.07 SOS (26th of 26)
Did you know: The Avalanche led the league in power-play goals during the regular season with 83.
Bottom line: After winning the Stanley Cup in dramatic fashion the previous season, the Avalanche surprised no one by winning the Presidents' Trophy in 1997.
Unfortunately for the Avalanche, they faced the Detroit Red Wings in the conference final, the team they robbed of a Stanley Cup opportunity the year before.
The Red Wings got their revenge and ended the Avs' season. While the loss was a hard blow for the Avalanche and their fans, many were still riding their Stanley Cup high.
1997-98 Dallas Stars
Regular-season record: 49-22-11 (109 points), first in Central Division
Postseason record: 10-7
Finish: Lost conference finals (4-2) versus Detroit Red Wings
Coach: Ken Hitchcock
Captain: Derian Hatcher
Stats: 242 goals (3rd of 26), 167 goals against (2nd of 26), 0.88 SRS (1st of 26), -0.03 SOS (21st of 26)
Did you know: The Stars and Red Wings met five times during the regular season, with Dallas losing twice, tying twice and winning just once.
Bottom line: The Dallas Stars used the 1997-98 season — their fifth season in the NHL — to establish themselves as an organization that could dominate the league.
While the team fell short in the conference finals to the Detroit Red Wings, who went on to win their second straight Stanley Cup, the season overall was a success for Dallas.
1998-99 Dallas Stars
Regular-season record: 51-19-12 (114 points), first in Pacific Division
Postseason record: 16-7
Finish: Won Stanley Cup Final (4-2) versus Buffalo Sabres
Coach: Ken Hitchcock
Captain: Derian Hatcher
Stats: 236 goals (8th of 27), 168 goals against (1st of 27), 0.76 SRS (1st of 27), -0.07 SOS (26th of 27)
Did you know: This season was the Dallas Stars’ first and only Stanley Cup win.
Bottom line: If at first you don't succeed, try again. After winning the Presidents' Trophy and falling short to the Red Wings a year before, the Dallas Stars won their second consecutive Presidents' Trophy and the Stanley Cup.
The win came at the hand of a controversial overtime goal, which sparked the now infamous "no goal" ruling. If you’ve been looking for someone to point the finger at when that call doesn’t go your way, look no further than the 1998-99 Stars to blame.
1999-2000 St. Louis Blues
Regular-season record: 51-19-11-1 (114 points), first in Central Division
Postseason record: 3-4
Finish: Lost conference quarterfinals (4-3) versus San Jose Sharks
Coach: Joel Quenneville
Captain: Chris Pronger
Stats: 248 goals (3rd of 28), 165 goals against (1st of 28), 1.08 SRS (1st of 28), 0.07 SOS (11th of 28)
Did you know: The Blues’ head coach, Joel Quenneville, has won three Stanley Cups in his coaching career, each coming with the Chicago Blackhawks.
Bottom line: For 21 consecutive seasons, the St. Louis Blues qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs. The 21st appearance was unique in that for the first time, St. Louis entered the playoffs as the top seed after winning the Presidents’ Trophy and the Central Division.
The Blues' exit came quicker than most expected after losing Game 7 of the quarterfinals to the Sharks.
While the ending was unpleasant for Blues fans, the season wasn’t a total loss. St. Louis allowed the fewest goals (165) during the regular season, had the most shutouts (9), and tied the Capitals for the fewest shorthanded goals (3).
2000-01 Colorado Avalanche
Regular-season record: 52-16-10-4 (118 points), first in Northwest Division
Postseason record: 16-7
Finish: Won Stanley Cup Final (4-3) versus New Jersey Devils
Coach: Bob Harley
Captain: Joe Sakic
Stats: 270 goals (4th of 30), 192 goals against (3rd of 30), 0.95 SRS (2nd of 30), 0.00 SOS (16th of 30)
Did you know: The league averaged just 86 points this season while Colorado finished with 118, 32 points above average.
Bottom line: While the Colorado Avalanche aren’t an Original Six team and sometimes get overlooked as a team with great tradition, the 2000-01 season should put any questions about their compete level to bed.
Not only did the Avs win their second Presidents’ Trophy, but the team won its second Stanley Cup, becoming just the fifth team to win both a trophy and a cup.
The Avalanche have not dominated in the same way since, but they remain one of the few clubs that have won both a Presidents’ Trophy and Stanley Cup in the same season.
2001-02 Detroit Red Wings
Regular-season record: 51-17-10-4 (116 points), first in Central Division
Postseason record: 16-7
Finish: Won Stanley Cup Final (4-1) versus Carolina Hurricanes
Coach: Scotty Bowman
Captain: Steve Yzerman
Stats: 251 goals (2nd of 30), 187 goals against (3rd of 30), 0.83 SRS (1st of 30), 0.05 SOS (14th of 30)
Did you know: This season was the first and only time a Presidents’ Trophy winner has won the Stanley Cup in consecutive years.
Bottom line: The Detroit Red Wings are one of the most elite organizations in NHL history, and the 2001-02 team is one of their best in franchise history.
After winning their third Presidents’ Trophy, the Wings went on to win the Stanley Cup with 10 future Hall of Famers and a Hall of Fame coach, Scotty Bowman.
While today's Red Wings today aren’t what they once were, Detroit fans can reminisce about the dominance of this team when they need a boost.
2002-03 Ottawa Senators
Regular-season record: 52-21-8-1 (113 points), first in Northeast Division
Postseason record: 11-7
Finish: Lost conference finals (4-3) versus New Jersey Devils
Coach: Jacques Martin
Captain: Daniel Alfredsson
Stats: 263 goals (3rd of 30), 182 goals against (5th of 30), 0.88 SRS (2nd of 30), -0.11 SOS (26th of 30)
Did you know: Marian Hossa led the team in goals with 45, and the next closest was Daniel Alfredsson with 27.
Bottom line: This Senators team fell short of winning the Stanley Cup, but the organization won its first Presidents' Trophy and reached the farthest point in the playoffs in organization history (until the 2006-07 season, when they were Eastern Conference champions).
Ottawa was the first Canadian team to win the trophy since the Flames in 1989 and pushed the New Jersey Devils to seven games in the conference finals before the Devils won everything.
Though the final result wasn't what the Senators wanted, snapping Canada's Presidents' Trophy drought still is enough to count the season as a success.
2003-04 Detroit Red Wings
Regular-season record: 48-21-11-2 (109 points), first in Central Division
Postseason record: 6-6
Finish: Lost conference semifinals (4-2) versus Calgary Flames
Coach: Dave Lewis
Captain: Steve Yzerman
Stats: 255 goals (2nd of 30),189 goals against (8th of 30), 0.72 SRS (2nd of 30), -0.09 SOS (29th of 30)
Did you know: Pavel Datsyuk and Brett Hull led the Red Wings in points with 68 apiece.
Bottom line: The Red Wings faced more adversity than usual due to multiple player injuries, yet still managed to add another chapter of dominance and win their fourth Presidents’ Trophy.
The season ended with goaltender Curtis Joseph being scrutinized for his poor playoff performance, but the offense also disappeared as Detroit got shut out in its final two games of the season.
Nevertheless, many wonder whether Joseph’s performance was enough to even give the Wings a shot at winning in the first place.
2005-06 Detroit Red Wings
Regular-season record: 58-16-8 (124 points), first in Central Division
Postseason record: 2-4
Finish: Lost conference quarterfinals (4-2) versus Edmonton Oilers
Coach: Mike Babcock
Captain: Steve Yzerman
Stats: 305 goals (2nd of 30), 209 goals against (2nd of 30),1.03 SRS (2nd of 30), -0.14 SOS (30th of 30)
Did you know: Three different Red Wings players recorded hat tricks during the season: Jason Williams, Mathieu Schneider, and Brendan Shanahan.
Bottom line: The 2005-06 Detroit Red Wings team recorded 124 points, the second-highest point total in team history, to win the organization’s fifth Presidents’ Trophy. But like the previous season, the Wings' early playoff exit was disappointing.
Although Detroit’s playoff run was less than stellar, the team achieved many regular-season accomplishments, including not being shut out in any of its regular-season games for the first time in a decade.
2006-07 Buffalo Sabres
Regular-season record: 53-22-7 (113 points), first in Northeast Division
Postseason record: 9-7
Finish: Lost conference finals (4-1) versus Ottawa Senators
Coach: Lindy Ruff
Captains: Daniel Briere , Chris Drury
Stats: 308 goals (1st of 30), 242 goals against (13th of 30), 0.64 SRS (6th of 30), -0.16 SOS (28th of 30)
Did you know: Chris Brury led the Sabres throughout the playoffs with eight goals, while Daniel Briere led the team with 15 points.
Bottom line: The Sabres' regular season was one for the books, winning the organization’s first Presidents’ Trophy, but the postseason was a disappointment for the team with the highest point total.
Buffalo was impressive in rounds one and two against the Islanders and Rangers. However, the Senators proved to be too much to handle and knocked out the Sabres in the conference finals in five games.
2007-08 Detroit Red Wings
Regular-season record: 54-21-7 (115 points), first in Central Division
Postseason record: 16-6
Finish: Won Stanley Cup Final (4-2) versus Pittsburgh Penguins
Coach: Mike Babcock
Captain: Nicklas Lidstrom
Stats: 257 goals (3rd of 30), 184 goals against (1st of 30), 0.93 SRS (1st of 30), 0.04 SOS (15th of 30)
Did you know: The Detroit Red Wings made a playoff appearance for 25 straight seasons. That streak was snapped in 2017.
Bottom line: The Red Wings reached their peak of excellence, winning the Presidents’ Trophy and Stanley Cup to become just the seventh team to do both.
With multiple All-Stars and the best goaltending in the league only (allowing 179 goals), this team is in the running for strongest in franchise history. The Cup win was the organization’s fourth in 11 years and 11th overall, but the Red Wings have not won another Cup since.
Little did anyone know the season would be the end of an era.
2008-2009: San Jose Sharks
Regular Season Record: 53-18-11 (117 points), first in Pacific Division
Postseason record: 2-4
Finish: Lost conference quarterfinals (4-2) versus Anaheim Ducks
Coach: Todd McLellan
Captain: Patrick Marleau
Stats: 257 goals (7th of 30), 204 goals against (3rd of 30), 0.60 SRS (3rd of 30), -0.04 SOS (25th of 30)
Did you know: Joe Thornton led the team in both assists (61) and points (86) as no Sharks player broke the 100-point barrier.
Bottom line: This season remains the only Presidents’ Trophy win for the San Jose Sharks, whose 117 point total was the most in Pacific Division history.
Despite the organization’s regular-season dominance (like most Presidents’ Trophy winners), the Sharks became yet another statistic, not even advancing beyond the first round of the postseason.
Turning the page proved to be difficult after the playoff disaster. Questions lingered for a long time about how a brilliant team could miss such a golden opportunity.
2009-2010: Washington Capitals
Regular-season record: 54-15-13 (121 points), first in Southeast Division
Postseason record: 3-4
Finish: Lost conference quarterfinals (4-3) versus Montreal Canadiens
Coach: Bruce Boudreau
Captains: Chris Clark , Alex Ovechkin
Stats: 318 goals (1st of 30), 233 goals against (16th of 30), 0.90 SRS (1st of 30), -0.14 SOS (30th of 30)
Did you know: The Capitals ended the season with a whopping 121 points while the rest of the league averaged just 92.
Bottom line: The Washington Capitals experienced a miserable end to a spectacular season.
With 121 points in the regular season, the Caps became the first non-Original Six team to ever reach the 120-point mark.
It took more than two decades for this to be done, and no one can take that away from this team.
2010-2011: Vancouver Canucks
Regular-season record: 54-19-9 (117 points), first in Northwest Division
Postseason record: 15-10
Finish: Lost Stanley Cup Final (4-3) versus Boston Bruins
Coach: Alain Vigneault
Captain: Henrik Sedin
Stats: 262 goals (1st of 30), 185 goals against (1st of 30), 0.87 SRS (1st of 30), -0.07 SOS (30th of 30)
Did you know: Captain Henrik Sedin led the Canucks with 104 points.
Bottom line: The 2010-11 Canucks did what no other other Vancouver team had done before, win a Presidents’ Trophy.
Many hoped the trophy would be a prelude to the organization's first Stanley Cup, but the Boston Bruins had other ideas.
Although the Canucks' season ended with a heartbreaking loss in Game 7 of the Cup Final, the team's respectable playoff run gave fans hope.
2011-2012: Vancouver Canucks
Regular-season record: 51-22-9 (111 points), first in Northwest Division
Postseason record: 1-4
Finish: Lost conference quarterfinals (4-1) versus Los Angeles Kings
Coach: Alain Vigneault
Captain: Henrik Sedin
Stats: 249 goals (4th of 30), 198 goals against (4th of 30), 0.57 SRS (3rd of 30), -0.05 SOS (29th of 30)
Did you know: The Canucks' 111 point total was 19 more than the league average (92).
Bottom line: The Vancouver Canucks were a fan favorite to win the Stanley Cup in the 2011-12 season. Until the season started.
The Canucks came out the gate struggling, shocking most. Despite their overall lackluster season, the Canucks rode the coattails of stellar goaltending from Roberto Luongo and Cory Schneider to win their second straight Presidents’ Trophy.
Many weren’t surprised by the Canucks' early playoff exit due to their inconsistencies throughout the season.
2012-2013: Chicago Blackhawks
Regular-season record: 36-7-5 (77 points), first in Central Division
Postseason record: 16-7
Finish: Won Stanley Cup Final (4-2) versus Boston Bruins
Coach: Joel Quenneville
Captain: Jonathan Toews
Stats: 155 goals (2nd of 30), 102 goals against (1st of 30), 1.04 SRS (1st of 30), -0.07 SOS (28th of 30)
Did you know: No team has won both the Presidents’ Trophy and Stanley Cup in the same season since 2013.
Bottom Line: While many remember the 2012-13 NHL season because of the lockout, Blackhawks fans remember the season as one of the best and most memorable in franchise history.
Chicago's calling card was stinginess between the pipes. Goaltender Ray Emery became the first NHL goaltender to start a season with 10 straight wins (opening with a streak of 12), and together with Corey Crawford they allowed an NHL-low 102 goals during the season to earn the Jennings Trophy.
The Hawks went on to win the Stanley Cup, just the eighth time in league history a Presidents' Trophy winner became NHL champions and the only time this decade.
2013-2014: Boston Bruins
Regular-season record: 54-19-9 (117 points), first in Atlantic Division
Postseason record: 7-5
Finish: Lost second round (4-3) versus Montreal Canadiens
Coach: Claude Julien
Captain: Zdeno Chara
Stats: 261 goals (3rd of 30), 177 goals against (2nd of 30), 0.92 SRS (1st of 30), -0.11 SOS (30th of 30)
Did you know: Boston head coach Claude Julien led the Bruins to a Stanley Cup in 2011 for the first time since 1972.
Bottom line: After winning the Stanley Cup in 2011, the Bruins believed winning the Presidents’ Trophy would lead to another Cup.
After dominating the Red Wings in the first round of the playoffs (winning in five games), the Canadiens offered a new challenge, one the Bruins couldn’t match.
Boston’s season came to a crushing end in the second round of the playoffs, and the Bruins became another Presidents’ Trophy winner to fall short of glory.
2014-2015: New York Rangers
Regular-season record: 53-22-7 (113 points), first in Metropolitan Division
Postseason record: 11-8
Finish: Lost conference finals (4-3) versus Tampa Bay Lightning
Coach: Alain Vigneault
Captain: Ryan McDonagh
Stats: 252 goals (3rd of 30), 192 goals against (3rd of 30), 0.69 SRS (1st of 30), -0.04 SOS (27th of 30)
Did you know: The Rangers had 19 players with double-digit points.
Bottom Line: The New York Rangers had great expectations entering the playoffs after a regular season filled with team records.
While their franchise-best 113 points were enough for the team’s third Presidents Trophy and eighth division title, the Rangers could not repeat their performance from the 1993-94 season, when they won both the Presidents' Trophy and Stanley Cup.
New York made a decent playoff run, then succumbed to the Lightning in Game 7 of the conference finals.
2015-2016: Washington Capitals
Regular-season record: 56-18-8 (120 points), first in Metropolitan Division
Postseason record: 6-6
Finish: Lost second round (4-2) versus Pittsburgh Penguins
Coach: Barry Trotz
Captain: Alex Ovechkin
Stats: 252 goals (2nd of 30), 193 goals against (2nd of 30), 0.70 SRS (1st of 30), -0.01 SOS (24th of 30)
Did you know: The average age of this Capitals team was 27.9, while the league average was 28.0.
Bottom line: Barry Trotz didn't take long to put his stamp on the Capitals after being fired by the Nashville Predators. In his second season as head coach, Trotz guided the Caps to their second Presidents' Trophy.
The good vibes didn't continue in the postseason as Washington got bounced early by Pittsburgh, but Trotz proved to his former team and any other naysayers that he was indeed an elite level coach.
2016-2017: Washington Capitals
Regular-season record: 55-19-8 (118 points), first in Metropolitan Division
Postseason record: 7-6
Finish: Lost second round (4-3) versus Pittsburgh Penguins
Coach: Barry Trotz
Captain: Alex Ovechkin
Stats: 263 goals (3rd of 30), 182 goals against (1st of 30), 0.99 SRS (1st of 30), -0.00 SOS (17th of 30)
Did you know: Capitals head coach Barry Trotz has an overall 810-595-60 record in his NHL career.
Botton line: Another standout season for the Capitals, another early playoff exit.
Barry Trotz and Alex Ovechkin had their shot at redemption and came up short. After winning the Presidents' Trophy for the second straight season, the Capitals lost again in the second round to the Penguins.
But one year later, the Caps did redeem themselves and won the Stanley Cup, making up for those two disappointing finishes.
2017-2018: Nashville Predators
Regular-season record: 53-18-11 (117 points), first in Central Division
Postseason record: 7-6
Finish: Lost second round (4-3) versus Winnipeg Jets
Coach: Peter Laviolette
Captain: Roman Josi
Stats: 267 goals (7th of 31), 211 goals against (2nd of 31), 0.71 SRS (2nd of 31), 0.03 SOS (10th of 31)
Did you know: Nashville Predators fans sometimes throw a catfish onto the ice to show their support for the team.
Bottom line: After losing the 2017 Stanley Cup Final to the Penguins in six games, the Nashville Predators were one of the most talked-about teams in the NHL all season.
Winning the President’s Trophy put a nice little bow on their success and made their second-round departure all the more shocking.
Led by goaltender Pekka Rinne, who won the Vezina Trophy, the Predators did not seize their moment.
Will the team always be remembered as the one that came close but not close enough?
2018-2019: Tampa Bay Lightning
Regular-season record: 62-16-4 (128 points), first in Atlantic Division
Postseason record: 0-4
Finish: Lost first round (4-0) versus Columbus Blue Jackets
Coach: John Cooper
Captain: Steven Stamkos
Stats: 325 goals (1st of 31), 222 goals against (5th of 31), 1.21 SRS (1st of 31), -0.05 SOS (30th of 31)
Did you know: Seven Presidents’ Trophy winners have exited the playoffs in the first round.
Bottom Line: The Tampa Bay Lightning had one of the best regular seasons in NHL history. Only the 1976-77 Montreal Canadiens (132), the 1995-96 Detroit Red Wings (131) and 1977-78 Canadiens (129) had more points than the Lightning's 128.
But NHL legends are made in April, May and June. And the Lightning did the opposite of "bolting" to the finals. Instead, they made their own history — becoming the first team to win the Presidents' Trophy and get swept in the first round of the playoffs.
The ending was one of the worst losses in all of sports history, further making a case that the Presidents' Trophy is cursed.
Conclusion: Curse or No Curse?
If you look at the numbers, the odds are not in a team’s favor to win the Stanley Cup after winning the Presidents' Trophy.
Total Presidents' Trophy awards: 33
Franchises that have won the Presidents' Trophy: 17
Presidents' Trophy winners that have made the Stanley Cup Final: 11
Presidents' Trophy winners that have won the Stanley Cup: 8
Teams that have won the Presidents' Trophy and Stanley Cup more than once: 1 (Detroit Red Wings, 2008 and 2002)
Last team to win the Presidents' Trophy and Stanley Cup: 2012-13 Chicago Blackhawks
Some strong teams have exited the Stanley Cup playoffs early after winning the trophy. Are the disappointing finishes due to a curse? Or is something else to blame like the long NHL season, amount of superb talent and who’s hot when?
That’s up to you to decide.