Avalanche Win Presidents’ Trophy, Eye Stanley Cup Redemption

The Colorado Avalanche are embracing their status as the NHL’s top team, fresh off their latest Presidents’ Trophy victory. However, they are well aware of the historical challenges that come with this honor. Since 1986, only eight teams have managed to secure the top overall seed and go on to win the Stanley Cup, a statistic that serves as both a reminder and a motivator for the Avalanche.

“I don’t know if history necessarily means anything,” said Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog after their 3-1 victory over Calgary, which clinched the top seed. He emphasized the importance of daily performance, stating, “You’re trying to prove yourself every single day. There have been plenty of people and teams that have done things that nobody’s done before, haven’t been done in a long time. So those things aren’t necessarily something that we’re thinking about much.”

The last time a team captured the Presidents’ Trophy and the Stanley Cup was during the 2012-13 season, when the Chicago Blackhawks achieved the feat in a shortened campaign. The last full-season team to do so was the Detroit Red Wings in 2008. The Avalanche are keenly aware of the significance of securing home ice advantage, especially after last year’s playoff exit against the Stars in a seven-game first-round series.

Defenseman Josh Manson noted, “You want home ice. But you’re going to have to do well home and away if you want to win the Cup. It’s just the way it goes.” This team is no stranger to the pressure that comes with high expectations. The Avalanche previously won the Presidents’ Trophy in 2021, only to fall to the Vegas Golden Knights in the second round after holding a 2-0 series lead. Landeskog reflected on that experience, stating, “That was the lesson for us: You have a chance to step on a team, step on a team.” Last season, they learned from their mistakes, ultimately capturing the Stanley Cup.

Landeskog believes that individual playoff series offer valuable lessons that resonate throughout a player’s career. He remarked, “It had nothing to do with the Presidents’ Trophy that year. It had nothing to do with anything but just some lessons here and there, some things you take from it. I think this group is more experienced than that one, hungrier than that one.” The Avalanche have consistently advanced in the playoffs during their Presidents’ Trophy-winning seasons, with their last deep run in 1996-97 ending in a conference final loss to the eventual Cup champion, Detroit.

As the playoffs approach, Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar is reminding his team that regular-season records mean little once the postseason begins. “This game has a way of humbling you if you don’t play your best hockey,” Bednar cautioned. “If you’re not playing your best and you’re making too many mistakes, or you’re not dialed in as a group of 20-plus, then you can expect it to be a tough road.” The team is nearing full strength with just Nazem Kadri and Cale Makar sidelined due to injuries.

With four games left in the season, Bednar plans to discuss rest and playing time with his players. Nathan MacKinnon is leading the league in goal-scoring with a career-high 52 goals, just three shy of tying Mikko Rantanen for the most in a season in Avalanche history. The team as a whole is also on the brink of a historic season, aiming for their first 120-point campaign. Only 12 teams in NHL history have reached that milestone.

Landeskog concluded, “It fuels us knowing that we’ve won a lot of hockey games in a lot of different ways. That’s important to remember. You’re not winning the Presidents’ Trophy if you haven’t been finding ways to win hockey games.”

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.