The NHL's Presidents' Trophy, awarded annually to the team with the best regular-season record, is often seen as a predictor of playoff success. However, history tells a different story, one of disappointment and unfulfilled potential, giving rise to the infamous "Presidents' Trophy Curse". The Winnipeg Jets, who captured the trophy in the 2024-25 season with a franchise-best 56-22-4 record and 116 points, became the latest victim, failing to advance beyond the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Since the introduction of the Presidents' Trophy in the 1985-86 season, only eight teams have managed to win both the trophy and the Stanley Cup in the same year. The Detroit Red Wings, who have won the Presidents' Trophy a league-leading six times, are the only team to have accomplished this feat more than once. The "curse" has become increasingly pronounced in recent years. The Chicago Blackhawks were the last team to win both in the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season. Since then, the Presidents' Trophy winner has failed to hoist the Stanley Cup for twelve consecutive years.
Several factors contribute to this perceived "curse." The increased parity in the NHL, thanks to the salary cap, makes it harder for any one team to dominate both the regular season and the playoffs. Playoff hockey is a different beast than the regular season, with a greater emphasis on physicality, tight checking, and goaltending. Teams that rely on skill and offensive firepower during the regular season may struggle against more defensively sound and structured opponents in the playoffs. The pressure of being the top seed can also weigh heavily on players, leading to tight play and costly mistakes.
The "curse" is not simply superstition; it is rooted in statistical reality and psychological factors. Since the introduction of the salary cap, only a small percentage of Presidents' Trophy winners have made it to the Stanley Cup Final. Many have suffered early exits, with some even being upset in the first round. The Tampa Bay Lightning in 2019, who tied the record for most regular-season wins, were swept in the first round by the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Boston Bruins in 2023, after a record-breaking regular season, lost in the first round to the Florida Panthers.
The Winnipeg Jets' failure to make a deep playoff run in 2025 further solidifies the notion of the "Presidents' Trophy Curse". Despite their regular-season dominance and a Vezina-caliber goalie in Connor Hellebuyck, the Jets fell short, losing in six games to the Dallas Stars in the second round. The Jets' experience underscores the difficulty of translating regular-season success into playoff glory, a challenge that has plagued numerous Presidents' Trophy winners over the years.
While the Presidents' Trophy remains a prestigious award recognizing regular-season excellence, its recipients have found it increasingly difficult to avoid the "curse" that seems to accompany it. The Stanley Cup Playoffs are a different tournament altogether, and the team that hoists the Cup is not always the one that dominated the regular season. As the league evolves, the "Presidents' Trophy Curse" serves as a reminder that anything can happen once the playoffs begin.
