Since 1986, the NHL’s team with the most points at the end of the regular season, i.e. the league’s best team, has been awarded the President’s Trophy. Some great NHL clubs have lifted the trophy at the end of the 82-game regular season campaign, but the teams have not always parlayed that regular season success over to the playoffs. The 2020 NHL Playoffs will be rather unique due to the league’s hiatus. Yet, the 2020 President’s Trophy winners, the Boston Bruins, will have the opportunity to lift the Stanley Cup. Bruins fans can visit Betrivers ahead of the Stanley Cup Playoffs to get a bet bonus to wager on the team when it takes to the ice.
Joakim Nordstrom #20 of the Boston Bruins tackles Joel Farabee #49 of the Philadelphia Flyers as Bruins Right Winger Chris Wagner #14 moves in against Flyers Connor Bunnaman #82
So, how important is winning the President’s Trophy and will it lead to the Bruins lifting the Stanley Cup this season? To answer this question, let’s look at the last five Stanley Cup and President’s Trophy winners.
2014-15:
President’s Trophy: New York Rangers
Stanley Cup: Chicago Blackhawks
After finishing as Stanley Cup Finals runners-up in 2013-14, the New York Rangers topped the NHL in points with 113 the following year. The points total was a franchise record. Coach Alain Vigneault took the Rangers through the playoffs to the Eastern Conference Finals where they lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning in seven games.
2015-16:
President’s Trophy: Washington Capitals
Stanley Cup: Pittsburgh Penguins
The Washington Capitals amassed 120 regular season points but went out of the NHL Playoffs in the second round. Who put them out? The Pittsburgh Penguins did it in six games on their way to lifting Lord Stanley’s cup.
2016-17:
President’s Trophy: Washington Capitals
Stanley Cup: Pittsburgh Penguins
Another season but the same result as the Penguins won the Stanley Cup defeating the Nashville Predators in a brilliant six games, 4-2. Once again in the second round, the Penguins defeated the Capitals. This time, Washington, winners of 118 regular season points, were knocked out after a thrilling seven-game series.
2017-18:
President’s Trophy: Nashville Predators
Stanley Cup: Washington Capitals
Having not used up all their energy amassing regular season points, the Washington Capitals won their first-ever Stanley Cup defeating the Vegas Golden Knights. The President’s Trophy winners were the Nashville Predators, the previous season’s Stanley Cup runners-up. The Predators were knocked out in the second round of the playoffs by the Winnipeg Jets.
2018-19:
President’s Trophy: Tampa Bay Lightning
Stanley Cup: St. Louis Blues
The Tampa Bay Lightning lifted their first-ever President’s Trophy in 2018-19 securing 128 points. Their playoff appearance was brief as the Columbus Blue Jackets swept them in four straight games to put out the lightning storm. In the Stanley Cup Finals, the St. Louis Blues played an enthralling series against the Boston Bruins to win their first Stanley Cup championship.
Just to give you a bit of insight, just one team in the last 10 NHL seasons has won both the President’s Trophy and Stanley Cup. That team was the 2013 Chicago Blackhawks. However, that regular season had been shortened due to a player lockout.
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