Could the Presidents` Trophy curse strike again this year?
For the last 11 NHL seasons, the team winning the Presidents` Trophy – awarded to the team with the most regular-season points – has failed to win the Stanley Cup. Furthermore, none of the last 11 Presidents` Trophy winners have even reached the Stanley Cup Final.
In total, only eight teams out of the 38 Presidents` Trophy winners have also lifted the Stanley Cup. With the Winnipeg Jets` first-round playoff series against the St. Louis Blues currently tied at two games each, the curse might be a significant concern.
Here is a look at the eight teams the Jets will be hoping to emulate that successfully defied the curse:
Chicago Blackhawks, 2012-13
This team is the most recent to win both the Presidents` Trophy and the Stanley Cup. The Blackhawks secured the top regular-season spot in a season delayed until January by a lockout. Patrick Kane was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy, having recorded nine goals (tied second on the team) and 10 assists (third) during the playoffs.
Detroit Red Wings, 2007-08
Dominating the Central Division by a remarkable 24 points, the Red Wings boasted the league`s best goals-against record and finished the regular season with an impressive 115 points. Henrik Zetterberg, their leading scorer in the regular season, earned the Conn Smythe award after accumulating 27 points in the postseason.
Detroit Red Wings, 2001-02
Not to be overshadowed by their 2008 counterparts, the Red Wings of 2001-02 had a regular season that saw them not only win the Central Division by 18 points but also lead the entire league standings by a significant 15-point margin. Hall of Fame defenseman Nicklas Lidström received the Conn Smythe Trophy, marking his third Stanley Cup victory with Detroit.
Colorado Avalanche, 2000-01
Following the Avalanche`s victory and the Red Wings` subsequent win, these two seasons represent the only time in league history that teams won both the Presidents` Trophy and the Stanley Cup in consecutive years. Goaltender Patrick Roy claimed his third Conn Smythe Trophy, a record that remains unbroken.
Dallas Stars, 1998-99
Dallas finished first in the league for fewest goals allowed, a defensive strength that continued throughout the playoffs. The team conceded more than two goals in only one of their 12 postseason wins. Centers drove the offense – Mike Modano`s 81 regular-season points led the team significantly, and Joe Nieuwendyk was awarded the Conn Smythe.
New York Rangers, 1993-94
After beating local rivals the New Jersey Devils for both the Atlantic Division title and the Presidents` Trophy in the regular season, the Rangers` playoff run also featured intense rivalry. They faced New Jersey again in the Eastern Conference finals, winning a seven-game series that included three double-overtime games. New York`s subsequent Stanley Cup Final against the Vancouver Canucks also went seven games, with Conn Smythe winner Brian Leetch scoring the opening goal in the deciding game.
Calgary Flames, 1988-89
The 1988-89 NHL season was dominated by Calgary and the Montreal Canadiens, who posted 117 and 115 points respectively in the regular season – no other team exceeded 92 points. Appropriately, these two teams met in the Stanley Cup Final, where the Presidents` Trophy-winning Flames defeated Montreal in six games. Defenseman Al MacInnis recorded 24 assists in the postseason, earning the Conn Smythe trophy.
Edmonton Oilers, 1986-87
Led by Wayne Gretzky at the peak of his career, Edmonton surged to a 106-point regular season. Gretzky led the NHL in goals, assists, and plus/minus, earning his eighth Hart Trophy. Predictably, Gretzky was a key player in the Oilers` playoff march, totaling 29 assists as Edmonton secured their third Stanley Cup in what became a streak of four Cups in five years for the franchise.
