The Winnipeg Jets had the best regular season in franchise history in 2024-25, with 116 points, and for the first time they won the Presidents’ Trophy as the team with the league’s top record.
But that’s hard to tell from Stanley Cup odds that are posted at sportsbooks. And it’s hard to shake history, at least in recent years, for Presidents’ Trophy winners.
Here’s a look at how teams have fared when they had the NHL’s best record since 2010:
Team | Record, Points | Playoff Result |
2024-25 Winnipeg Jets | 56-22-4, 116 points | TBD |
2023-24 New York Rangers | 55-23-4, 114 points | Lost East final |
2022-23 Boston Bruins | 65-12-5, 135 points | Lost East Round 1 |
2021-22 Florida Panthers | 58-18-6, 122 points | Lost East Round 2 |
2020-21 Colorado Avalanche* | 39-13-4, 82 points | Lost West Round 2 |
2019-20 Boston Bruins* | 44-14-12, 100 points | Lost East Round 2 |
2018-19 Tampa Bay Lightning | 62-16-4, 128 points | Lost East Round 1 |
2017-18 Nashville Predators | 53-18-11, 117 points | Lost West Round 2 |
2016-17 Washington Capitals | 55-19-8, 118 points | Lost East Round 2 |
2015-16 Washington Capitals | 56-18-8, 120 points | Lost East Round 2 |
2014-15 New York Rangers | 53-22-7, 113 points, | Lost East final |
2013-14 Boston Bruins | 54-19-9, 117 points | Lost East Round 2 |
2012-13 Chicago Blackhawks^ | 36-7-5, 77 points | Won Stanley Cup |
2011-12 Vancouver Canucks | 51-22-9, 111 points | Lost West Round 1 |
2010-11 Vancouver Canucks | 54-19-9, 117 points | Lost Stanley Cup final |
2009-10 Washington Capitals | 54-15-13, 121 points | Lost East Round 1 |
*Season shortened because of COVID-19 protocols
^Season shortened because of a labor lockout
Placing Canada sports betting wagers on the team with the best regular-season record in any sport usually seems like a good idea entering the playoffs. Recent NHL history runs completely counter to this theory. Only the 2012-13 Chicago Blackhawks won both trophies in one season since 2010.
The past 15 Presidents’ Trophy winners have combined to win just 18 playoff series, barely averaging more than one series win per year. Four of those teams lost in the first round and seven more stumbled at the second hurdle.
The Jets are responsible for one of these early flameouts by a Presidents’ Trophy winner. In the 2018 playoffs, Winnipeg took out the Nashville Predators in the second round on their way to the West final.
Keep track of Winnipeg Jets betting odds throughout the playoffs with BetCanada.com.
The Jets broke the franchise record for points with Wednesday’s season-ending 2-1 victory over the visiting Anaheim Ducks. That gave Winnipeg two more points than the 2017-18 squad.
Winnipeg got off to a blistering 15-1 start this season and have been atop the league almost wire to wire. The Jets allowed the fewest goals in the NHL (more about the primary reason later) with 191 and have the best goal differential at plus-86.
The Jets face the St. Louis Blues, the second wild card in the Western Conference, in their best-of-seven Round 1 playoff series. Game 1 is at 5 p.m. Central on Saturday; Canada sportsbook apps have installed Winnipeg as a -210 favorite to win the series.
So why are the Jets still a relative longshot to win four playoff series and claim Lord Stanley’s hardware for the first time?
A glance at the past 15 Presidents’ Trophy winners, listed by their odds before the playoffs began, tells an interesting story.
The Jets are the biggest title longshot entering the playoffs as the Presidents’ Trophy winner since the award was first handed out in 1986. The odds vary depending on the operator. But at some sites accepting wagers on NHL betting odds, Winnipeg is a +1000 moneyline bet to win the Stanley Cup.
Here are the 16 most recent Presidents’ Trophy winners, with Stanley Cup odds just before the playoffs since 2010, according to SportsOddsHistory.com data:
It was even rarer for the Presidents’ Trophy winner to be an underdog to anyone before this era. According to SportsOddsHistory.com, only two of those teams between 1986 and 2009 were not the Cup betting favorite heading into the playoffs, and both were listed second on the board.
Consider why odds are what they are. They are not based on any predictions, or any oddsmaker’s or analyst’s opinions. They are based on action from bettors, designed to equal out as much as possible.
But that raises the question: Is a wager on the Jets to win the Stanley Cup a good value?
The team’s stats this season would seem to indicate that it is. They have the hottest goaltender in the world, Connor Hellebuyck. He has already won the Vezina Trophy twice including last season, and he seems like a lock to repeat after leading the NHL in wins (47), save percentage (.925) and goals-against average (2.00).
We analyzed the fate of Vezina Trophy winners in playoffs recently.
Winnipeg’s offense has been solid with 277 goals, tied for third in the league entering tonight, when a slate of seven games will finish the regular season. Kyle Connor (above) led the team with 97 points (41 goals, 56 assists), one of five Jets skaters with at least 50 points.
But there are some factors working against the Jets, explaining why they don’t hold favorite status in betting. Despite their success this season, they’re still a bit anonymous to many casual sports fans. Rivals such as Dallas and Colorado made splashier moves at the trade deadline – and if the Jets eliminate the Blues, either the Stars or Avalanche will await in the second round.
There’s also history to consider: Winnipeg’s run to the West final in 2018 was the only time since the franchise moved from Atlanta in 2011 that the team won a playoff series (they didn’t win any when they were the Trashers, either).
But if you believe what you see now more than any history lesson, Pinnacle Canada Sportsbook offers Winnipeg at +877 odds to win the Stanley Cup. If the Jets do it, they’ll not only make history among Presidents’ Trophy winners but they’d also end Canada’s 32-year drought without an NHL champion.
That would be an excellent return for those wagering on the team with the league’s best record – after all, any winning bet is good value.
USA Today photo by Kiyoshi Mio
Author
Jim Tomlin is an editor and writer for BetCanada.com specializing in sports, gambling, and the intersection of those industries. He has 30+ years of journalism experience and his work has appeared in the Tampa Bay Times, FanRag, Saturday Down South and Saturday Tradition.
