In hockey, the best team in the regular season does not necessarily mean that team will be the one lifting the Stanley Cup.
On Monday night, the New York Rangers clinched the Presidents’ Trophy for the league’s best record for the fourth time in franchise history, with the team going to finish with the most points in the league for the fifth time (the Presidents’ Trophy was introduced in the 1985-86 season).
However, postseason fortunes have not gone by way of the No. 1 seed in the playoffs over the last 36 seasons. Only eight teams have won the Presidents’ Trophy and the Stanley Cup in the same season. The Rangers were one of those teams, accomplishing the feat in 1994.
However, the other two times the Blueshirts won the Presidents’ Trophy–1992 and 2015–they fell in the conference finals.
The last team to win both awards was the Chicago Blackhawks during the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season.
On Tuesday’s edition of Daily Faceoff LIVE, Frank Seravalli and Colby Cohen discuss whether or not the Rangers have what it takes to break the Presidents’ Trophy’s infamous trend.
Colby Cohen: I think they can make a legitimate Cup run. I hear a lot of people saying the Rangers are frauds, but I don’t particularly see that. I see how they play in the neutral zone, I see the way K’Andre Miller defends the rush. I know the physicality Jacob Trouba brings. On top of that, they have Igor Shesterkin. So, by no means do I see them losing in the first round of the playoffs.
Frank Seravalli: I don’t see one part about the New York Rangers as being frauds this year.
You can watch the entire segment, and full episode here…
More must-reads: