NHL playoff watch: Who will win the Presidents’ Trophy?

April 15, 2024 E Jazz Reporter

ESPN staffApr 14, 2024, 08:00 AM ET

As we’ve written previously in this space, the winner of the Presidents’ Trophy is by no means guaranteed a Stanley Cup championship. Since the trophy was first awarded in 1985-86, only eight teams have won the regular-season points race and the Cup in the same campaign, the most recent being the Chicago Blackhawks in the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season.

But it’s nevertheless an impressive accomplishment and guarantees home-ice advantage throughout the postseason to the team that claims the crown.

So who’s winning it this season?

Following wins yesterday, the New York Rangers and Dallas Stars continue to lead the pace. The Rangers are at 112 points and 42 regulation wins through 81 games. They’ll close out their regular season on Monday against the Ottawa Senators, and a win of any kind in that game clinches the Presidents’ Trophy for them.

The Stars have 111 points and 40 regulation wins through 81 games. Dallas will play its final game on Wednesday against the St. Louis Blues, and will know prior to opening puck drop whether it can catch New York.

The Carolina Hurricanes, who skate against the Blackhawks on Sunday (6 p.m. ET, NHL Power Play on ESPN+), have 109 points and 43 regulation wins through 80 games. After Sunday’s matchup against one lottery team, their final game Tuesday is also against a team in the bottom four of the league, the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Canes are also hoping for a Rangers loss to the Sens to make this all interesting.

Finally, the Boston Bruins have 109 points and 36 regulation wins following their win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday night. Much like the other clubs, they’re hoping for the Rangers to lose to Ottawa to make things more interesting; the Bruins skate against the Washington Capitals on Monday, followed by those very same Senators on Tuesday to close out their regular season. Given their regulation wins deficit to all these other teams, the Bruins will need to win out and hope the other teams cap out at 112 or below.

As we traverse the final stretch of the regular season, it’s time to check in on all the playoff races — along with the teams jockeying for position in the 2024 NHL draft lottery.

Note: Playoff chances are via Stathletes.

Jump ahead:
Current playoff matchups
Sunday’s schedule
Saturday’s scores
Expanded standings
Race for No. 1 pick

Current playoff matchups

Eastern Conference

A1 Boston Bruins vs. WC1 Tampa Bay Lightning
A2 Florida Panthers vs. A3 Toronto Maple Leafs
M1 New York Rangers vs. WC2 Washington Capitals
M2 Carolina Hurricanes vs. M3 New York Islanders

Western Conference

C1 Dallas Stars vs. WC2 Vegas Golden Knights
C2 Winnipeg Jets vs. C3 Colorado Avalanche
P1 Vancouver Canucks vs. WC1 Nashville Predators
P2 Edmonton Oilers vs. P3 Los Angeles Kings

Sunday’s games

Note: All times ET. All games not on TNT or NHL Network are available via NHL Power Play, which is included in an ESPN+ subscription (local blackout restrictions apply).

Seattle Kraken at St. Louis Blues, 1 p.m. (TNT)
Colorado Avalanche at Vegas Golden Knights, 3:30 (TNT)
Carolina Hurricanes at Chicago Blackhawks, 6 p.m.
Arizona Coyotes at Calgary Flames, 8 p.m.

Saturday’s scoreboard

New York Rangers 3, New York Islanders 2 (SO)
Dallas Stars 3, Seattle Kraken 1
Winnipeg Jets 7, Colorado Avalanche 0
Florida Panthers 3, Buffalo Sabres 2 (OT)
Philadelphia Flyers 1, New Jersey Devils 0
Washington Capitals 4, Tampa Bay Lightning 2
Detroit Red Wings 5, Toronto Maple Leafs 4 (OT)
Ottawa Senators 5, Montreal Canadiens 4 (SO)
Boston Bruins 6, Pittsburgh Penguins 4
Nashville Predators 6, Columbus Blue Jackets 4
Vancouver Canucks 3, Edmonton Oilers 1
Los Angeles Kings 3, Anaheim Ducks 1
Minnesota Wild 6, San Jose Sharks 2

Expanded standings

Atlantic Division

x – Boston Bruins

Points: 109
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff position: A1
Games left: 2
Points pace: 112
Next game: @ WSH (Monday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

x – Florida Panthers

Points: 108
Regulation wins: 41
Playoff position: A2
Games left: 1
Points pace: 109
Next game: vs. TOR (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

x – Toronto Maple Leafs

Points: 102
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: A3
Games left: 2
Points pace: 105
Next game: @ FLA (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

x – Tampa Bay Lightning

Points: 96
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 2
Points pace: 98
Next game: vs. BUF (Monday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Detroit Red Wings

Points: 87
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Points pace: 89
Next game: vs. MTL (Monday)
Playoff chances: 65.8%
Tragic number: 4

e – Buffalo Sabres

Points: 82
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Points pace: 83
Next game: @ TB (Monday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

e – Ottawa Senators

Points: 76
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Points pace: 78
Next game: @ NYR (Monday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

e – Montreal Canadiens

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Points pace: 76
Next game: @ DET (Monday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Metropolitan Division

x – New York Rangers

Points: 112
Regulation wins: 42
Playoff position: M1
Games left: 1
Points pace: 113
Next game: vs. OTT (Monday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

x – Carolina Hurricanes

Points: 109
Regulation wins: 43
Playoff position: M2
Games left: 2
Points pace: 112
Next game: @ CHI (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

New York Islanders

Points: 90
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: M3
Games left: 2
Points pace: 92
Next game: @ NJ (Monday)
Playoff chances: 94.5%
Tragic number: N/A

Washington Capitals

Points: 87
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 2
Points pace: 89
Next game: vs. BOS (Monday)
Playoff chances: 21.8%
Tragic number: N/A

Philadelphia Flyers

Points: 87
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Points pace: 88
Next game: vs. WSH (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 6.4%
Tragic number: 3

Pittsburgh Penguins

Points: 86
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Points pace: 88
Next game: vs. NSH (Monday)
Playoff chances: 11.5%
Tragic number: 3

e – New Jersey Devils

Points: 81
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Points pace: 82
Next game: vs. NYI (Monday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

e – Columbus Blue Jackets

Points: 64
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Points pace: 65
Next game: vs. CAR (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Central Division

x – Winnipeg Jets

Points: 106
Regulation wins: 44
Playoff position: C2
Games left: 2
Points pace: 109
Next game: vs. SEA (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

x – Colorado Avalanche

Points: 104
Regulation wins: 41
Playoff position: C3
Games left: 2
Points pace: 107
Next game: @ VGK (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

x – Nashville Predators

Points: 99
Regulation wins: 38
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 1
Points pace: 100
Next game: @ PIT (Monday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

e – St. Louis Blues

Points: 89
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Points pace: 91
Next game: vs. SEA (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

e – Minnesota Wild

Points: 85
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Points pace: 87
Next game: @ LA (Monday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

e – Arizona Coyotes

Points: 75
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Points pace: 77
Next game: @ CGY (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

e – Chicago Blackhawks

Points: 51
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 3
Points pace: 53
Next game: vs. CAR (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Pacific Division

x – Vancouver Canucks

Points: 107
Regulation wins: 43
Playoff position: P1
Games left: 2
Points pace: 110
Next game: vs. CGY (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

x – Edmonton Oilers

Points: 102
Regulation wins: 38
Playoff position: P2
Games left: 3
Points pace: 106
Next game: vs. SJ (Monday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

x – Los Angeles Kings

Points: 97
Regulation wins: 37
Playoff position: P3
Games left: 2
Points pace: 99
Next game: vs. MIN (Monday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

x – Vegas Golden Knights

Points: 94
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 3
Points pace: 98
Next game: vs. COL (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

e – Seattle Kraken

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 3
Points pace: 82
Next game: @ STL (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

e – Calgary Flames

Points: 77
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 3
Points pace: 80
Next game: vs. ARI (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

e – Anaheim Ducks

Points: 57
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Points pace: 58
Next game: @ VGK (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

e – San Jose Sharks

Points: 47
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Points pace: 48
Next game: @ EDM (Monday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

p — clinched Presidents’ Trophy
y — clinched division
x — clinched playoff berth
e — eliminated from playoff contention

Race for the No. 1 pick

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 draw for the No. 1 pick. Full details on the process can be found here. Sitting No. 1 on the draft board for this summer is Macklin Celebrini, a freshman at Boston University.

1. San Jose Sharks

Points: 47
Regulation wins: 14

2. Chicago Blackhawks

Points: 51
Regulation wins: 17

3. Anaheim Ducks

Points: 57
Regulation wins: 20

4. Columbus Blue Jackets

Points: 64
Regulation wins: 20

5. Montreal Canadiens

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 20

6. Arizona Coyotes

Points: 75
Regulation wins: 27

7. Ottawa Senators

Points: 76
Regulation wins: 24

8. Calgary Flames

Points: 77
Regulation wins: 30

9. Seattle Kraken

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 27

10. New Jersey Devils

Points: 81
Regulation wins: 33

11. Buffalo Sabres

Points: 82
Regulation wins: 32

12. Minnesota Wild

Points: 85
Regulation wins: 31

13. Pittsburgh Penguins*

Points: 86
Regulation wins: 31

14. Detroit Red Wings

Points: 87
Regulation wins: 27

15. Philadelphia Flyers

Points: 87
Regulation wins: 30

16. St. Louis Blues

Points: 89
Regulation wins: 30

* The Penguins’ first-round pick was traded to the Sharks as part of the Erik Karlsson trade. However, it is top-10 protected.