NHL: The Presidents' Trophy is not the trophy to chase

NHL: The Presidents’ Trophy is not the trophy to chase

By Jim Lynch | Dec 19, 2019

NASHVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 9: The Nashville Predators pose with the Presidents' Trophy during the banner raising ceremony prior to an NHL game against the Calgary Flames at Bridgestone Arena on October 9, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images) /

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Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images /

2011-12 Vancouver Canucks

51-22-9 111 points

Stanley Cup Champ – Los Angeles Kings

After a relatively successful playoff run in the 2010-11 season, Vancouver returned to compete in the playoffs the following year. The Canucks managed to win the Presidents’ Trophy again. This time around Vancouver relied heavily on depth scoring to make it to the playoffs. Everyone in their lineup was making a difference.

Winning back to back Presidents’ Trophies is awesome, but that is not the trophy to chase, you want a Stanley Cup in the locker room, not a Presidents’ Trophy. Vancouver might have got caught looking too far ahead in the first round of the playoffs.

Vancouver lost to the eventual Stanley Cup Champions in 2011-12, they lost in a Game 5 at home to the Los Angeles Kings. That playoff series featured no wins at home for the Canucks, all that hard work to win the Presidents’ Trophy wasted in just 5 games.

Los Angeles went on an incredible run in 2011-12, and honestly, I don’t know if you can blame the Canucks for losing to such a hot team like LA. LA had been playing meaningful hockey all year as they compete for a playoff spot, whereas Vancouver had their position locked for a long time. Sometimes the playoffs are all about who is trending at the right time.

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