The NHL began handing out the Presidents’ Trophy to the team with the best regular-season record beginning in the 1985-86 campaign. In its history, it has been awarded 37 times to 18 clubs.
Those teams have been anything but a shoo-in to win the Stanley Cup, however. Just two clubs in the salary cap era (since 2005-06) have won the Presidents’ Trophy and hoisted the Stanley Cup: the 2007-08 Detroit Red Wings and the 2012-13 Chicago Blackhawks. Two of the past six Presidents’ Trophy winners have lost in the first round.
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So, that’s the challenge ahead for whomever claims the trophy this season. At this juncture, it appears to have been whittled down to one of two teams: the Winnipeg Jets (with 106 points through 74 games) or the Washington Capitals (103 through 73).
The Capitals will face off against the Boston Bruins on Tuesday (7 p.m. ET, ESPN+), while the Jets will take on the Los Angeles Kings (10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+).
From an overall strength of schedule standpoint, the Jets have a more difficult route. According to Stathletes, the win percentage of their remaining opponents is 51.3%, which is 12th toughest. Compare that to 47.3% — the 28th toughest — for the Capitals.
Despite that, Stathletes gives Winnipeg the edge, projecting the Jets for 115.9 points and the Caps for 114.7. It appears this race will come down to the very end!
There are less than three weeks left until season’s end on April 17, and we’ll help you track it all with the NHL playoff watch. As we traverse the final stretch, we’ll provide details on all the playoff races, along with the teams jockeying for position in the 2025 NHL draft lottery.
Note: Playoff chances are via Stathletes.
Jump ahead:Current playoff matchupsToday’s scheduleYesterday’s scoresExpanded standingsRace for No. 1 pick
Current playoff matchups
Eastern Conference
A1 Toronto Maple Leafs vs. WC1 Ottawa SenatorsA2 Tampa Bay Lightning vs. A3 Florida PanthersM1 Washington Capitals vs. WC2 Montreal CanadiensM2 Carolina Hurricanes vs. M3 New Jersey Devils
Western Conference
C1 Winnipeg Jets vs. WC2 St. Louis BluesC2 Dallas Stars vs. C3 Colorado AvalancheP1 Vegas Golden Knights vs. WC1 Minnesota WildP2 Los Angeles Kings vs. P3 Edmonton Oilers
Tuesday’s games
Note: All times ET. All games not on TNT or NHL Network are available to stream on ESPN+ (local blackout restrictions apply).
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Washington Capitals at Boston Bruins, 7 p.m.Florida Panthers at Montreal Canadiens, 7 p.m.Buffalo Sabres at Ottawa Senators, 7 p.m.Nashville Predators at Columbus Blue Jackets, 7 p.m.Tampa Bay Lightning at New York Islanders, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN+/Hulu/Disney+)Detroit Red Wings at St. Louis Blues, 8 p.m.Calgary Flames at Utah Hockey Club, 9 p.m.Edmonton Oilers at Vegas Golden Knights, 10 p.m.San Jose Sharks at Anaheim Ducks, 10 p.m.Winnipeg Jets at Los Angeles Kings, 10:30 p.m.
Monday’s scoreboard
New Jersey Devils 3, Minnesota Wild 2 (SO)Philadelphia Flyers 2, Nashville Predators 1Calgary Flames 3, Colorado Avalanche 2 (SO)Dallas Stars 3, Seattle Kraken 1
Expanded standings
Atlantic Division
Playoff Hockey Challenge
Pick the winners and crown your Stanley Cup champion! Create A Bracket
Points: 94Regulation wins: 37Playoff position: A1Games left: 8Points pace: 104.2Next game: vs. FLA (Wednesday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 91Regulation wins: 37Playoff position: A2Games left: 9Points pace: 102.2Next game: @ NYI (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 91Regulation wins: 35Playoff position: A3Games left: 9Points pace: 102.2Next game: @ MTL (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 84Regulation wins: 30Playoff position: WC1Games left: 9Points pace: 94.4Next game: vs. BUF (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 99.8%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 77Regulation wins: 25Playoff position: WC2Games left: 9Points pace: 86.5Next game: vs. FLA (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 44%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 74Regulation wins: 26Playoff position: N/AGames left: 9Points pace: 83.1Next game: @ STL (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 2.9%Tragic number: 16
Points: 69Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: N/AGames left: 8Points pace: 76.5Next game: vs. WSH (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 0.1%Tragic number: 9
Points: 68Regulation wins: 25Playoff position: N/AGames left: 9Points pace: 76.4Next game: @ OTT (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 0.1%Tragic number: 10
Metro Division
Points: 103Regulation wins: 40Playoff position: M1Games left: 9Points pace: 115.7Next game: @ BOS (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 100%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 94Regulation wins: 40Playoff position: M2Games left: 9Points pace: 105.6Next game: vs. WSH (Wednesday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 87Regulation wins: 35Playoff position: M3Games left: 6Points pace: 93.9Next game: vs. NYR (Saturday)Playoff chances: 99.6%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 77Regulation wins: 32Playoff position: N/AGames left: 8Points pace: 85.3Next game: vs. MIN (Wednesday)Playoff chances: 27.8%Tragic number: 17
Points: 75Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: N/AGames left: 10Points pace: 85.4Next game: vs. NSH (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 17.1%Tragic number: 19
Points: 74Regulation wins: 25Playoff position: N/AGames left: 9Points pace: 83.1Next game: vs. TB (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 8.7%Tragic number: 16
Points: 71Regulation wins: 20Playoff position: N/AGames left: 7Points pace: 77.6Next game: @ STL (Thursday)Playoff chances: 0.1%Tragic number: 9
Points: 71Regulation wins: 20Playoff position: N/AGames left: 6Points pace: 76.6Next game: @ MTL (Saturday)Playoff chances: ~0%Tragic number: 7
Central Division
Points: 106Regulation wins: 40Playoff position: C1Games left: 8Points pace: 117.5Next game: @ LA (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 100%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 102Regulation wins: 40Playoff position: C2Games left: 8Points pace: 113.0Next game: vs. NSH (Thursday)Playoff chances: 100%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 94Regulation wins: 38Playoff position: C3Games left: 7Points pace: 102.8Next game: @ CHI (Wednesday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 88Regulation wins: 33Playoff position: WC1Games left: 7Points pace: 96.2Next game: @ NYR (Wednesday)Playoff chances: 93.4%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 87Regulation wins: 30Playoff position: WC2Games left: 7Points pace: 95.1Next game: vs. DET (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 95.5%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 78Regulation wins: 25Playoff position: N/AGames left: 8Points pace: 86.4Next game: vs. CGY (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 0.5%Tragic number: 8
Points: 62Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: N/AGames left: 8Points pace: 68.7Next game: @ CBJ (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 0%Tragic number: E
Points: 51Regulation wins: 18Playoff position: N/AGames left: 8Points pace: 56.5Next game: vs. COL (Wednesday)Playoff chances: 0%Tragic number: E
Pacific Division
Points: 98Regulation wins: 42Playoff position: P1Games left: 9Points pace: 110.1Next game: vs. EDM (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 91Regulation wins: 36Playoff position: P3Games left: 9Points pace: 102.2Next game: vs. WPG (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 89Regulation wins: 30Playoff position: P2Games left: 9Points pace: 100.0Next game: @ VGK (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 99.5%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 82Regulation wins: 26Playoff position: N/AGames left: 9Points pace: 92.1Next game: @ UTA (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 7.9%Tragic number: 14
Points: 81Regulation wins: 26Playoff position: N/AGames left: 8Points pace: 89.8Next game: vs. SEA (Wednesday)Playoff chances: 3.3%Tragic number: 11
Points: 72Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: N/AGames left: 9Points pace: 80.9Next game: vs. SJ (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 0%Tragic number: 4
Points: 68Regulation wins: 25Playoff position: N/AGames left: 7Points pace: 74.4Next game: @ VAN (Wednesday)Playoff chances: 0%Tragic number: E
Points: 49Regulation wins: 14Playoff position: N/AGames left: 9Points pace: 55.0Next game: @ ANA (TuesdayPlayoff chances: 0%Tragic number: E
Note: An “x” means that the team has clinched a playoff berth. An “e” means that the team has been eliminated from playoff contention.
Race for the No. 1 pick
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The NHL uses a draft lottery to determine the order of the first round, so the team that finishes in last place is not guaranteed the No. 1 selection. As of 2021, a team can move up a maximum of 10 spots if it wins the lottery, so only 11 teams are eligible for the No. 1 pick. Full details on the process are here. Matthew Schaefer, a defenseman for the OHL’s Erie Otters, is No. 1 on the draft board.
Points: 49Regulation wins: 14
Points: 51Regulation wins: 18
Points: 62Regulation wins: 23
Points: 68Regulation wins: 25
Points: 68Regulation wins: 25
Points: 69Regulation wins: 23
Points: 71Regulation wins: 20
Points: 71Regulation wins: 20
Points: 72Regulation wins: 23
Points: 74Regulation wins: 25
Points: 74Regulation wins: 26
Points: 75Regulation wins: 23
Points: 77Regulation wins: 32
Points: 78Regulation wins: 25
Points: 81Regulation wins: 26
Points: 82Regulation wins: 26
