blank'/> THE PUCK REPORT: NHL Presidents' Trophy Winners & Playoff Success

Monday, May 1, 2023

NHL Presidents' Trophy Winners & Playoff Success

The Presidents' Trophy is awarded annually to the team with the best NHL regular season record. Since its inaugural offering in 1986, it has been awarded 37 times to 18 different franchises. The recipient is guaranteed home ice advantage for all four rounds of the Stanley Cup playoffs. 

Unfortunately for recipients, regular season success and home-ice advantage does not always translate in postseason success. The chart below shows each Presidents' Trophy winner by year and playoff result.

Year         Presidents' Trophy            Playoff Result
2023 Boston Bruins Lost Preliminary (Florida)
2022 Florida Panthers Lost Quarterfinal (Tampa Bay)
2021 Colorado Avalanche Lost Quarterfinal (Vegas)
2020 Boston Bruins Lost Quarterfinal (Tampa Bay)
2019 Tampa Bay Lightning Lost Preliminary (Columbus)
2018 Nashville Predators Lost Quarterfinal (Winnipeg)
2017 Washington Capitals Lost Quarterfinal (Pittsburgh)
2016 Washington Capitals Lost Quarterfinal (Pittsburgh)
2015 New York Rangers Lost Semifinal (Tampa Bay)
2014 Boston Bruins Lost Quarterfinal (Montreal)
2013 Chicago Blackhawks Won Stanley Cup
2012 Vancouver Canucks Lost Preliminary (Los Angeles)
2011 Vancouver Canucks Lost Final (Boston)
2010 Washington Capitals Lost Preliminary (Montreal)
2009 San Jose Sharks Lost Preliminary (Anaheim)
2008 Detroit Red Wings Won Stanley Cup
2007 Buffalo Sabres Lost Semifinal (Ottawa)
2006 Detroit Red Wings Lost Preliminary (Edmonton)
2004 Detroit Red Wings Lost Quarterfinal (Calgary)
2003 Ottawa Senators Lost Semifinal (New Jersey)
2002 Detroit Red Wings Won Stanley Cup
2001 Colorado Avalanche Won Stanley Cup
2000 St. Louis Blues Lost Preliminary (San Jose)
1999 Dallas Stars Won Stanley Cup
1998 Dallas Stars Lost Semifinal (Detroit)
1997 Colorado Avalanche Lost Semifinal (Detroit)
1996 Detroit Red Wings Lost Semifinal (Colorado)
1995 Detroit Red Wings Lost Final (New Jersey)
1994 New York Rangers Won Stanley Cup
1993 Pittsburgh Penguins Lost Quarterfinal (New York)*
1992 New York Rangers Lost Quarterfinal (Pittsburgh)
1991 Chicago Blackhawks Lost Preliminary (Minnesota)^
1990 Boston Bruins Lost Final (Edmonton)
1989 Calgary Flames Won Stanley Cup
1988 Calgary Flames Lost Quarterfinal (Edmonton)
1987 Edmonton Oilers Won Stanley Cup
1986 Edmonton Oilers Lost Quarterfinal (Calgary)

* New York Islanders
^ Minnesota North Stars

Of the 37 recipients through 2023, eleven (30%) qualified for the Final and eight (22%) won the Stanley Cup (1987, 1989, 1994, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2008, 2013). Of the 26 others, eight (21%) were ousted in the Preliminary round (1991, 2000, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2019, 2023), twelve (32%) were eliminated in the Quarterfinal (1986, 1988, 1992, 1993, 2004, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022), and six (16%) stalled in the Semifinal (1996, 1997, 1998, 2003, 2007, 2015).

Only once in the past eleven seasons has a Presidents' Trophy winner won the Stanley Cup (Chicago 2013). In fact, five teams during the past fifteen years saw their season end in the opening round (San Jose 2009, Washington 2010, Vancouver 2012, Tampa Bay 2019, Boston 2023). Interesting, only three times in the prior 26 seasons did winners suffer such a fate (Chicago 1991, St. Louis 2000, Detroit 2006).

This postseason, the Presidents' Trophy winning Boston Bruins were defeated by the Florida Panthers in the opening round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Despite posting a NHL record for most points in a season, besting their first round opponent by 43 points, they managed to blow a 3-1 series lead and 3-2 third period lead in the final minute of Game 7, marking one of the most spectacular collapses in NHL history.

* See also NHL Playoff First Round Upsets.
* See also NHL Playoff Seeding And Stanley Cup Wins.
* See also Presidents' Winners & Defending Cup Champions.

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