Presidents' Trophy | |
Established | 1985-86 NHL season |
Current holder | Boston Bruins |
Awarded to the | National Hockey League team with the most points in the regular season. |
The Presidents' Trophy is an award presented by the National Hockey League (NHL) to the team which finishes with the most points in the league during the regular season. If two teams tie each other with the most points, then the trophy goes to whichever team accumulated the most wi has been awarded 21 times to 12 different teams since its beginnings in 1985. [1]
History
The trophy was introduced at the start of the 1985-86 NHL season by the league's Board of Governors. Prior to 1986, the best team in the league during the regular season was allowed to hang a banner stating "NHL League Champions", even though all Stanley Cup winners since 1947 were technically the NHL champions.[2] The winning team is also awarded 350,000 Canadian dollars, to be shared between the team and its players.[1] While only six of all the Presidents' Trophy winners have gone on to win the Stanley Cup in their respective years, it remains the most likely position to produce the cup winner, because the Presidents' Trophy winner is guaranteed home-ice advantage in all four rounds of the Stanley Cup playoffs, provided the team advances that far.
From 1937 to 1968, the same criterion now observed for winning the Presidents' Trophy was used to award the Prince of Wales Trophy.[3] With the Modern Era expansion in the 1967-68 season and the creation of the West Division, the Wales Trophy was awarded to the team that finished in first place in the East Division during the regular season.[3] However, no trophy was awarded to the team that finished with the best overall record in the entire league during this period, and no trophy at all was awarded based on the results of the regular season from the 1981-82 season through the 1984-85 season; the Wales and Campbell trophies were transferred to the playoff champions of those conferences in 1981-82. A cash bonus was given to each player on the team with the league's best regular-season record during these years, to which the Presidents' Trophy was added in 1985-86.[1]
The only team to have won the Presidents' Trophy more than twice is the Detroit Red Wings, with 5. However, the Montreal Canadiens have finished first overall 21 times, the most times in league history, although they have yet to win the Presidents' Trophy. Detroit is second with 17 first-overall finishes.[4]
Winners

Niklas Lidstrom of the Detroit Red Wings has been part of five Presidents' Trophy winning teams.

Chris Drury played for the 2000-01 Colorado Avalanche and the 2006-07 Buffalo Sabres.
Team won the Stanley Cup. Team lost in the Stanley Cup Finals. Team lost in the first round of the playoffs.[nb 1] Bold Team with the most points ever accumulated in a season during the trophy's existence.
Year | Winner | Points | Margin | Win # | Playoff Result |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1985–86 | Edmonton Oilers | 119 | 9 | 1 | Lost Division Finals (CGY) |
1986–87 | Edmonton Oilers | 106 | 6 | 2 | Won Stanley Cup (PHI) |
1987–88 | Calgary Flames | 105 | 2 | 1 | Lost Division Finals (EDM) |
1988–89 | Calgary Flames | 117 | 2 | 2 | Won Stanley Cup (MTL) |
1989–90 | Boston Bruins | 101 | 2 | 1 | Lost Stanley Cup Finals (EDM) |
1990–91 | Chicago Blackhawks | 106 | 1 | 1 | Lost Division Semifinals (MNS) |
1991–92 | New York Rangers | 105 | 7 | 1 | Lost Division Finals (PIT) |
1992–93 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 119 | 10 | 1 | Lost Division Finals (NYI) |
1993–94 | New York Rangers | 112 | 6 | 2 | Won Stanley Cup (VAN) |
1994–95 | Detroit Red Wings | [nb 2] | 705 | 1 | Lost Stanley Cup Finals (NJD) |
1995–96 | Detroit Red Wings | 131 | 27 | 2 | Lost Conference Finals (COL) |
1996–97 | Colorado Avalanche | 107 | 3 | 1 | Lost Conference Finals (DET) |
1997–98 | Dallas Stars | 109 | 2 | 1 | Lost Conference Finals (DET) |
1998–99 | Dallas Stars | 114 | 9 | 2 | Won Stanley Cup (BUF) |
1999–2000 | St. Louis Blues | 114 | 6 | 1 | Lost Conference Quarterfinals (SJS) |
2000–01 | Colorado Avalanche | 118 | 7 | 2 | Won Stanley Cup (NJD) |
2001–02 | Detroit Red Wings | 116 | 15 | 3 | Won Stanley Cup (CAR) |
2002–03 | Ottawa Senators | 113 | 2 | 1 | Lost Conference Finals (NJD) |
2003–04 | Detroit Red Wings | 109 | 3 | 4 | Lost Conference Semifinals (CGY) |
2004–05 | The Presidents' Trophy was not awarded due to the lockout that canceled the entire season. | ||||
2005–06 | Detroit Red Wings | 124 | 11 | 5 | Lost Conference Quarterfinals (EDM) |
2006–07 | Buffalo Sabres | 113 | 0 | 1 | Lost Conference Finals (OTT) |
2007–08 | Detroit Red Wings | 115 | 7 | 6 | Won Stanley Cup (PIT) |
2008–09 | San Jose Sharks | 117 | 1 | 1 | Lost Conference Quarterfinals (ANA) |
2009–10 | Washington Capitals | 121 | 8 | 1 | Lost Conference Quarterfinals (MTL) |
2010–11 | Vancouver Canucks | 117 | 10 | 1 | Lost Stanley Cup Finals (BOS) |
2011–12 | Vancouver Canucks | 111 | 2 | 2 | Lost Conference Quarterfinals (LAK) |
2012–13 | Chicago Blackhawks | 77[nb 3] | 5 | 2 | Won Stanley Cup (BOS) |
2013–14 | Boston Bruins | 117 | 1 | 2 | Lost Second Round (MTL) |
2014–15 | New York Rangers | 113 | 3 | 3 | Lost Conference Finals (TBL) |
2015–16 | Washington Capitals | 120 | 11 | 2 | Lost Second Round (PIT) |
2016–17 | Washington Capitals | 118 | 7 | 3 | Lost Second Round (PIT) |
2017–18 | Nashville Predators | 117 | 3 | 1 | Lost Second Round (WPG) |
2018–19 | Tampa Bay Lightning | 128 | 21 | 1 | Lost First Round (CBJ) |
2019–20 | Boston Bruins | 100 | 6 | 3 |
References
- General
- Presidents' Trophy history. NHL. Retrieved on 2007-09-15.
- Presidents' Trophy history. LegendsofHockey.net. Retrieved on 2007-09-15.
- Stanley Cup Champions and Finalists. NHL. Retrieved on 2007-09-15.
Specific
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Presidents' Trophy history. NHL.com. Retrieved on 2007-09-05.
- ↑ Presidents Trophy Buffalo Bound. NHL.com. Retrieved on 2007-09-15.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 History of the Prince of Wales Trophy. Legends of Hockey.net. Retrieved on 2007-09-05.
- ↑ Final Standings. NHL.com. Retrieved on 2007-09-15.
See Also
NHL Awards and Trophies | |
---|---|
Team | Stanley Cup · Prince of Wales · Clarence S. Campbell · Presidents' Trophy |
Individual | Adams · Art Ross · Calder · Conn Smythe · Crozier · Hart · Jennings · King Clancy · Lady Byng · Lindsay · Masterton · Messier · NHL Foundation · Norris · Plus/Minus · Rocket Richard · Selke · Vezina · GM of the Year |
Defunct | O'Brien Cup · Man of the Year Award · Conacher Award |
National Hockey League | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Structure | Playoffs (Streaks • Droughts • All-time playoff series) • Conference Finals • Finals |
---|---|
Annual events | Seasons • Stanley Cup (Champions • Winning players • Traditions and anecdotes) • Presidents' Trophy • All-Star Game • Draft • Awards • All-Star Teams |
Players | List of players • Association • Retired jersey numbers • Captains |
History | Lore • Organizational changes :: • Defunct teams • NHA • Original Six • 1967 Expansion • WHA Merger • Lockouts |
Others | Outdoor games (Winter Classic • Heritage Classic • Stadium Series) • Potential expansion • Hall of Fame (Members) • Rivalries • Arenas • Rules • Fighting • Violence : International games • Kraft Hockeyville • Collective bargaining agreement • Television and radio coverage |
Category • 2020–21 Season • 2021–22 Season • 2022–23 Season |
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