The NHL began handing out presidential trophies to teams with the best regular season records starting with the 1985-86 campaign. It has been awarded 37 times to 18 clubs in its history.
However, these teams were nothing more than Shu-in to win the Stanley Cup. Two clubs in the salary cap era (2005-06 onwards) won the presidential trophy, engaging the 2007-08 Detroit Red Wings and the 2012-13 Chicago Blackhawks. Two of the past six presidential trophy winners lost in the first round.
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So that’s a challenge for anyone claiming this season’s trophy. At this point it appears that he was Whitted by one of two teams, the Winnipeg Jets (106 points to 74 games) or the Washington Capitals (103-73).
The capital will face off against the Boston Bruins on Tuesday (7pm ET, ESPN+), with the Jets facing the Los Angeles Kings (10:30pm, ESPN+).
Due to the overall strength of the schedule, the Jets have a more difficult route. According to StaThreat, the remaining opponents have a 51.3% win rate, which is the 12th toughest. For the capital, compare it to 47.3% (the toughest 28th toughest).
Nevertheless, Stasleet gives Winnipeg an edge, projecting the jet at 115.9 points and the cap at 114.7. It seems that this race will return to the end!
It will take less than three weeks for the season to end on April 17th. We’ll help you track everything with the NHL Playoff Watch. As you cross the final stretch, we will provide details of all the playoff races along with teams jogging for a position in the 2025 NHL Draft Lottery.
Note: The potential for the playoffs is via Sta Threat.
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Current playoff matchups
Clinch scenario
Today’s schedule
Yesterday’s score
Expanding ranking
No. 1 pick race
Current playoff matchups
Eastern Conference
A1 Toronto Maple Leafs vs WC1 Ottawa Senator
A2 Tampa Bay Lightning vs. A3 Florida Panthers
M1 Washington Capitals vs WC2 Montreal Canadian
M2 Carolina Hurricanes vs. M3 New Jersey Devils
Western Conference
C1 Winnipeg Jets vs WC2 St. Louis Blues
C2 Dallas Star vs C3 Colorado Avalanche
P1 Vegas Golden Knights vs. WC1 Minnesota Wild
P2 Los Angeles Kings vs. P3 Edmonton Oilers
Clinch scenario
The Carolina Hurricanes and the Toronto Maple Leafs will win a playoff berth if any of the following occurs:
The Tampa Bay Lightning will win a playoff berth if they defeat New York Islanders in any way. Both of the following occur:
The Panthers will defeat the Canadians in regulation and earn a playoff berth if the Blue Jacket loses to a regulated predator.
The Vegas Golden Knights will win a playoff berth if they defeat the Edmonton Oilers in any way.
They lose in OT/shootout to the Oilers: either
The Golden Knights will also close the playoff spot regardless of their outcome if the flames lose to the hockey club due to restrictions.
Tuesday’s Game
Note: All Times et. All games that are not on a TNT or NHL network can be streamed on ESPN+ (local blackout restrictions apply).
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Washington Capitals at Boston Bruins at 7pm
Montreal Canadiens Florida Panthers at 7pm
Ottawa Senator Buffalo Sabres, 7pm
Nashville Predator in Columbus Blue Jacket, 7pm
New York Islanders Tampa Bay Lightning, 7:30pm (ESPN+/Hulu/Disney+)
St. Louis Blues Detroit Red Wings at 8pm
Utah Hockey Club Calgary Frame, 9pm
Vegas Golden Knights Edmonton Oilers at 10pm
Anaheim Duck San Jose Shark, 10pm
Los Angeles Kings Winnipeg Jets at 10:30pm
Monday Scoreboard
New Jersey Devils 3, Minnesota Wild 2 (SO)
Philadelphia Flyers 2, Nashville Predators 1
Calgary Flames 3, Colorado Avalanche 2 (SO)
Dallas Star 3, Seattle Kraken 1
Expanding ranking
Atlantic Division
Playoff Hockey Challenge
Choose the winner and win the Stanley Cup champion! Create a bracket
Points: 94
Regulation wins: 37
Playoff position: A1
Left game: 8
Point Pace: 104.2
Next Game: vs. FLA (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: n/a
Points: 91
Regulation wins: 37
Playoff position: A2
Left game: 9
Point Pace: 102.2
Next game: @nyi (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: n/a
Points: 91
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: A3
Left game: 9
Point Pace: 102.2
Next game: @mtl (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: n/a
Points: 84
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: WC1
Left game: 9
Point Pace: 94.4
Next Game: vs. BUF (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 99.8%
Tragic number: n/a
Points: 77
Regulation victory: 25
Playoff position: WC2
Left game: 9
Point Pace: 86.5
Next Game: vs. FLA (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 44%
Tragic number: n/a
Points: 74
Regulation victory: 26
Playoff position: n/a
Left game: 9
Point Pace: 83.1
Next game: @STL (Tuesday)
Playoff chance: 2.9%
Tragic number: 16
Points: 69
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: n/a
Left game: 8
Point Pace: 76.5
Next Game: vs. WSH (Tuesday)
Playoff chance: 0.1%
Tragic number: 9
Points: 68
Regulation victory: 25
Playoff position: n/a
Left game: 9
Point Pace: 76.4
Next game: @ott (Tuesday)
Playoff chance: 0.1%
Tragic number: 10
Metro Division
Points: 103
Regulation victory: 40
Playoff position: M1
Left game: 9
Point Pace: 115.7
Next game: @bos (Tuesday)
Playoff chance: 100%
Tragic number: n/a
Points: 94
Regulation victory: 40
Playoff position: M2
Left game: 9
Point Pace: 105.6
Next Game: vs. WSH (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: n/a
Points: 87
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: M3
Left game: 6
Point Pace: 93.9
Next Game: vs. Nyr (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.6%
Tragic number: n/a
Points: 77
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: n/a
Left game: 8
Point Pace: 85.3
Next game: vs. Min (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 27.8%
Tragic number: 17
Points: 75
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: n/a
Left game: 10
Point Pace: 85.4
Next Game: Vs. NSH (Tuesday)
Playoff chance: 17.1%
Tragic number: 19
Points: 74
Regulation victory: 25
Playoff position: n/a
Left game: 9
Point Pace: 83.1
Next game: vs TB (Tuesday)
Playoff chance: 8.7%
Tragic number: 16
Points: 71
Regulation victory: 20
Playoff position: n/a
Left game: 7
Point Pace: 77.6
Next game: @STL (Thursday)
Playoff chance: 0.1%
Tragic number: 9
Points: 71
Regulation victory: 20
Playoff position: n/a
Left game: 6
Point Pace: 76.6
Next game: @mtl (Saturday)
Playoff chance: ~0%
Tragic number: 7
Central part
Points: 106
Regulation victory: 40
Playoff position: C1
Left game: 8
Point Pace: 117.5
Next game: @la (Tuesday)
Playoff chance: 100%
Tragic number: n/a
Points: 102
Regulation victory: 40
Playoff position: C2
Left game: 8
Point Pace: 113.0
Next Game: vs.NSH (Thursday)
Playoff chance: 100%
Tragic number: n/a
Points: 94
Regulation wins: 38
Playoff position: C3
Left game: 7
Point Pace: 102.8
Next game: @chi (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: n/a
Points: 88
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: WC1
Left game: 7
Point Pace: 96.2
Next game: @nyr (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 93.4%
Tragic number: n/a
Points: 87
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: WC2
Left game: 7
Point Pace: 95.1
Next game: vs. DET (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 95.5%
Tragic number: n/a
Points: 78
Regulation victory: 25
Playoff position: n/a
Left game: 8
Point Pace: 86.4
Next Game: vs. CGY (Tuesday)
Playoff chance: 0.5%
Tragic number: 8
Points: 62
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: n/a
Left game: 8
Point Pace: 68.7
Next game: @CBJ (Tuesday)
Playoff chance: 0%
Tragic number: e
Points: 51
Regulation victory: 18
Playoff position: n/a
Left game: 8
Point Pace: 56.5
Next game: vs. col (Wednesday)
Playoff chance: 0%
Tragic number: e
Pacific Sector
Points: 98
Regulation wins: 42
Playoff position: P1
Left game: 9
Point Pace: 110.1
Next Game: vs.EDM (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: n/a
Points: 91
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff position: P3
Left game: 9
Point Pace: 102.2
Next Game: vs. WPG (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: n/a
Points: 89
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: P2
Left game: 9
Point Pace: 100.0
Next game: @VGK (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 99.5%
Tragic number: n/a
Points: 82
Regulation victory: 26
Playoff position: n/a
Left game: 9
Point Pace: 92.1
Next game: @uta (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 7.9%
Tragic number: 14
Points: 81
Regulation victory: 26
Playoff position: n/a
Left game: 8
Point Pace: 89.8
Next Game: vs. Sea (Wednesday)
Playoff chance: 3.3%
Tragic number: 11
Points: 72
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: n/a
Left game: 9
Point Pace: 80.9
Next Game: vs. SJ (Tuesday)
Playoff chance: 0%
Tragic number: 4
Points: 68
Regulation victory: 25
Playoff position: n/a
Left game: 7
Point Pace: 74.4
Next game: @van (Wednesday)
Playoff chance: 0%
Tragic number: e
Points: 49
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff position: n/a
Left game: 9
Point Pace: 55.0
Next game: @ana (Tuesday)
Playoff chance: 0%
Tragic number: e
Note: “X” means that the team has won the playoff berth. “E” means that a team has been removed from playoff competition.
No. 1 pick race
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The NHL uses draft lottery to determine the order of the first round, so teams finishing at the last place are not guaranteed to have a No. 1 selection. As of 2021, teams can raise up to 10 spots if they win the lottery, so only 11 teams are eligible for the first place pick. Click here to learn more about the process. Matthew Schaefer, the defender of OHL’s Erie Otters, is number one on the draft board.
Points: 49
Regulation wins: 14
Points: 51
Regulation victory: 18
Points: 62
Regulation wins: 23
Points: 68
Regulation victory: 25
Points: 68
Regulation victory: 25
Points: 69
Regulation wins: 23
Points: 71
Regulation victory: 20
Points: 71
Regulation victory: 20
Points: 72
Regulation wins: 23
Points: 74
Regulation victory: 25
Points: 74
Regulation victory: 26
Points: 75
Regulation wins: 23
Points: 77
Regulation wins: 32
Points: 78
Regulation victory: 25
Points: 81
Regulation victory: 26
Points: 82
Regulation victory: 26