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.