by Vegas Writer
Monday, Dec 29, 2025Every year the NHL's 32 teams play 82 games each to fight for a place in the 16-team postseason playoffs.
Before the postseason, however, there's the matter of handing out the Presidents' Trophy to the team that scores the highest points in the regular season.
Problem is, the last 12 Presidents' Trophy winners haven't won the Stanley Cup, and the last team that did - the Chicago Blackhawks - comes with an asterisk, as the season was shortened with a 48-game regular season for each team.
Since the official introduction of the Presidents' Trophy in the 1985-86 season, only eight teams have been able to follow the Presidents' Trophy with a Stanley Cup hoist.
Thus, there is the matter of the Presidents' Trophy curse.
As we approach the turn of the calendar year, however, the current league-leading Colorado Avalanche have a very strong case to be the first Presidents' Trophy and Stanley Cup winner in 13 seasons.
Heading into Monday's home game against the Los Angeles Kings, the Avalanche had just two regulation losses, sitting at 28-2-7.
At +320 to win the Stanley Cup (at DraftKings), you could be looking at the best price you could ask for before the Olympic break in February.
To wit (with all stats before Monday's game):
Before the postseason, however, there's the matter of handing out the Presidents' Trophy to the team that scores the highest points in the regular season.
Problem is, the last 12 Presidents' Trophy winners haven't won the Stanley Cup, and the last team that did - the Chicago Blackhawks - comes with an asterisk, as the season was shortened with a 48-game regular season for each team.
Since the official introduction of the Presidents' Trophy in the 1985-86 season, only eight teams have been able to follow the Presidents' Trophy with a Stanley Cup hoist.
Thus, there is the matter of the Presidents' Trophy curse.
As we approach the turn of the calendar year, however, the current league-leading Colorado Avalanche have a very strong case to be the first Presidents' Trophy and Stanley Cup winner in 13 seasons.
Heading into Monday's home game against the Los Angeles Kings, the Avalanche had just two regulation losses, sitting at 28-2-7.
At +320 to win the Stanley Cup (at DraftKings), you could be looking at the best price you could ask for before the Olympic break in February.
To wit (with all stats before Monday's game):
- Colorado earned points in 27 of its previous 28 games, going 23-1-4 during this stretch.
- The Avalanche were 15-0-2 at Ball Arena, tied for the second-longest home point streak in franchise history.
- The Avs head into 2026 with a 9-1-2 mark in their last 12 road matches.
- The Avalanche led the NHL in points (63), wins (28), regulation wins (25), points percentage (.851), goals-per-game (3.97), goals-against per game (2.19) and goal differential (+63).
- The Avalanche had led 53.3% of the time this season (1201:41 total), by far the highest percentage of any team.
- Colorado had trailed only 17.8% of the time (401:09), also the lowest percentage of any team.
Impressive numbers for a highly impressive team with scoring up and down the lineup and stellar goaltending.
If you're looking to invest in an NHL future, this could be the year we see a team break the Presidents' Trophy curse.
