Whereas the Presidents’ Trophy has change into one thing of a joke to hockey followers lately, it’s nonetheless one thing the Jets, and their followers, ought to take some pleasure in.
Particularly given the dearth of success all through the franchise’s historical past.
The argument towards the Presidents’ Trophy is that it isn’t the trophy anyone in hockey desires or is taking part in for. The Stanley Cup is the final word prize and the trophy that’s all the time the main target. And that’s truthful. It’s, in spite of everything, the only greatest objective for each staff and participant.
The Presidents’ Trophy has additionally not produced a Stanley Cup winner for the reason that 2012-13 Chicago Blackhawks, and that got here in a lockout shortened 48-game season. You need to return to the 2007-08 season with the Detroit Crimson Wings to search out the final time a daily season champion truly gained the Stanley Cup. These are the one two situations of it occurring within the wage cap period.
So there’s some poor historical past there over the previous twenty years.
Although it has been 12 years for the reason that Presidents’ Trophy staff gained the cup, it is usually value declaring that within the 37 years the NHL has handed out the award groups which have gained it have gone on to win the Stanley Cup eight instances. That is more than any other seed in the Nos. 2-16 spots.
However none of that ought to matter if you take a look at the accomplishment for what it’s, which is the acknowledgement that you simply have been the very best staff within the league over a full 82-game schedule. There’s a lot to be stated for that, and it should not be a joke or one thing that’s simply tossed apart.
Particularly for a staff like Winnipeg that has by no means gained something in its historical past.
The franchise entered the NHL throughout the 1999-00 season because the Atlanta Thrashers, after which relocated to Winnipeg for the 2011-12 season. In all of that point, by each cities, the one type of banner the franchise might ever declare for itself was one Southeast Division title (a division that not exists) throughout the 2006-07 season.
That’s it. There has by no means been a convention championship and no Stanley Cup Last look. No championships. No prior Presidents’ Trophy. Nothing.
The franchise has been largely irrelevant and mediocre for two-and-a-half a long time.
That is lastly an actual, tangible accomplishment and needs to be handled as such. You get a trophy for it. It’s banner worthy. It needs to be celebrated. Even when it’s not the trophy everyone is taking part in for, and even when prior winners of it haven’t all the time discovered playoff success.
