NHL Presidents' Trophy Race Heats Up With Playoffs Looming

NHL Presidents Trophy Race Heats Up With Playoffs Looming...

The race for the NHL's Presidents' Trophy is down to the wire as the regular season concludes this week. The trophy, awarded to the team with the league's best regular-season record, carries playoff implications and home-ice advantage throughout the postseason.

As of Thursday, the New York Rangers and Colorado Avalanche are neck-and-neck with 112 points each. The Florida Panthers trail closely with 110 points, while the Dallas Stars remain in contention at 108. The tight standings have sparked intense fan debates about which team is best positioned for a deep playoff run.

This year's trophy holds extra significance because the last five Presidents' Trophy winners failed to win the Stanley Cup. Hockey analysts are questioning whether the regular-season success curse will continue or if this year's top team can break the trend.

The Rangers' surge has particularly captured attention, with Artemi Panarin's career-high 120-point season fueling their late push. Colorado's Nathan MacKinnon (135 points) and Florida's Matthew Tkachuk (105 points) have also been instrumental in keeping their teams in contention.

NHL Network reported record-breaking viewership for Tuesday's Rangers-Avalanche matchup, which Colorado won 4-3 in overtime. The game's intensity mirrored playoff hockey, offering a preview of potential Stanley Cup Final scenarios.

Teams historically value the trophy less than playoff success, but players acknowledge its importance. "It shows consistency over 82 games," Rangers captain Jacob Trouba told reporters Wednesday. "But we all know what really matters starts next week."

The final regular-season games conclude Saturday, with tiebreakers potentially deciding the winner. The NHL uses regulation wins as the first tiebreaker, where Colorado currently holds an edge over New York (46 to 42).

Hockey fans across social media are divided on whether chasing the trophy is worthwhile. Some argue it creates momentum, while others believe resting stars for playoffs is smarter. This debate has fueled the topic's trending status as the postseason approaches.

The trophy winner will be announced Sunday before playoff matchups are finalized. ESPN will broadcast the announcement during its NHL Tonight special at 7 p.m. ET.