Whereas the Presidents’ Trophy has turn out to be one thing of a joke to hockey followers in recent times, it’s nonetheless one thing the Jets, and their followers, ought to take some delight in.
Particularly given the shortage of success all through the franchise’s historical past.
The argument in opposition to the Presidents’ Trophy is that it is not the trophy anyone in hockey desires or is taking part in for. The Stanley Cup is the last word prize and the trophy that’s all the time the main target. And that’s truthful. It’s, in spite of everything, the one largest purpose for each workforce 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 Pink Wings to seek 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.
Though it has been 12 years for the reason that Presidents’ Trophy workforce gained the cup, it is usually value stating 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 occasions. That is more than any other seed in the Nos. 2-16 spots.
However none of that ought to matter whenever you have a look at the accomplishment for what it’s, which is the acknowledgement that you just had been the perfect workforce 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 workforce like Winnipeg that has by no means gained something in its historical past.
The franchise entered the NHL in the course of the 1999-00 season because the Atlanta Thrashers, after which relocated to Winnipeg for the 2011-12 season. In all of that point, by means of each cities, the one form of banner the franchise might ever declare for itself was one Southeast Division title (a division that now not exists) in the course of 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 principally irrelevant and mediocre for two-and-a-half many years.
That is lastly an actual, tangible accomplishment and must be handled as such. You get a trophy for it. It’s banner worthy. It must be celebrated. Even when it isn’t the trophy all people is taking part in for, and even when prior winners of it haven’t all the time discovered playoff success.
