Who Will Win the NHL Presidents’ Trophy? Playoff Standings Update

Since the 1985-86 season, the NHL has awarded the Presidents` Trophy to the team with the best record in the regular season. Throughout history, this trophy has been awarded 37 times to 18 different teams.

However, winning the Presidents` Trophy is not a guarantee of Stanley Cup success. In the salary cap era (since 2005-06), only two teams have managed to win both the Presidents` Trophy and the Stanley Cup: the Detroit Red Wings in 2007-08 and the Chicago Blackhawks in 2012-13. Notably, recently, two of the last six Presidents` Trophy winners were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs.

This year, the challenge of the Presidents` Trophy is upon us once again. Currently, the race seems to be between two teams: the Winnipeg Jets, with 106 points in 74 games, and the Washington Capitals, with 103 points in 73 games.

The Capitals are scheduled to play against the Boston Bruins on Tuesday, while the Jets will compete against the Los Angeles Kings on the same day.

Analyzing the remaining schedule difficulty, the Winnipeg Jets face a slightly tougher path. According to Stathletes, their remaining opponents have a win percentage of 51.3%, ranking as the 12th toughest schedule. In contrast, the Washington Capitals` remaining opponents have a win percentage of 47.3%, which is the 28th toughest.

Despite the schedule difference, Stathletes predicts the Winnipeg Jets to finish with 115.9 points and the Washington Capitals with 114.7 points. The race for the Presidents` Trophy is expected to be very close until the end of the season.

With less than three weeks remaining in the season, ending on April 17th, we are closely following the NHL playoff picture. We will provide updates on the playoff races and the teams in contention for the 2025 NHL draft lottery as we approach the final stretch.

Current Playoff Matchups

Eastern Conference

• A1 Toronto Maple Leafs vs. WC1 Ottawa Senators
• A2 Tampa Bay Lightning vs. A3 Florida Panthers
• M1 Washington Capitals vs. WC2 Montreal Canadiens
• M2 Carolina Hurricanes vs. M3 New Jersey Devils

Western Conference

• C1 Winnipeg Jets vs. WC2 St. Louis Blues
• C2 Dallas Stars vs. C3 Colorado Avalanche
• P1 Vegas Golden Knights vs. WC1 Minnesota Wild
• P2 Los Angeles Kings vs. P3 Edmonton Oilers

Clinching Scenarios

The Carolina Hurricanes and Toronto Maple Leafs will both secure a playoff spot if either of these conditions are met:

• The Montreal Canadiens lose to the Florida Panthers in any game situation.
• The Columbus Blue Jackets lose to the Nashville Predators in any game situation.

The Tampa Bay Lightning will clinch a playoff berth if they beat the New York Islanders and both of these happen:

• The Canadiens lose to the Panthers in regulation time.
• The Blue Jackets lose to the Predators in regulation time.

The Panthers will clinch a playoff spot if they defeat the Canadiens in regulation time AND the Blue Jackets lose to the Predators in regulation time.

The Vegas Golden Knights will clinch a playoff berth if they defeat the Edmonton Oilers, OR if they lose in overtime or a shootout to the Oilers and either:

• The Calgary Flames lose to the Utah Hockey Club in any game situation.
• The St. Louis Blues lose to the Detroit Red Wings in regulation time.

The Golden Knights will also clinch a playoff spot regardless of their game outcome if the Flames lose to the Hockey Club in regulation time.

Tuesday`s Games

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.
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 1
Calgary Flames 3, Colorado Avalanche 2 (SO)
Dallas Stars 3, Seattle Kraken 1

Expanded Standings

Atlantic Division

Metro Division

Central Division

Pacific Division

Note: An `x` indicates a clinched playoff berth. An `e` indicates elimination from playoff contention.

Race for the No. 1 Pick

The NHL Draft Lottery determines the first-round order, meaning the last-place team isn`t guaranteed the top pick. Since 2021, teams can move up a maximum of 10 lottery spots, limiting No. 1 pick eligibility to the bottom 11 teams. Details on the process are available. Matthew Schaefer, an OHL Erie Otters defenseman, is currently ranked No. 1.