Nashville Predators: March Awards for Predators
By Steve Cook
Most Annoying Argument: Should the Nashville Predators Win The Presidents’ Trophy?
The Predators’ recent success has taken them to the top of the NHL standings. They led the league in points for most of this month. They appear to be in a good spot not only to get the 1 seed in the West, but win the Presidents’ Trophy as the team with the most points at the end of the season.
The Presidents’ Trophy has been given out thirty-one times. Eight teams that received it went on to win Lord Stanley’s Cup. Only two teams have accomplished this feat in the last ten years, the last being the Chicago Blackhawks in the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season. The Washington Capitals won it the last two seasons, only to lose in the playoffs to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Many believe that winning the Presidents’ Cup guarantees failure in the playoffs. These teams exerted too much effort in the regular season. They weren’t able to keep their play going in the playoffs, and fell to the team that got hot at the right time. They feel the Predators would be better off not winning the Trophy.
That’s a fine take, but the fact is that there’s not really much to be done about it. I don’t think people want the Predators to start tanking games, as it’s really tough to start winning again after you stop trying. The issue could take care of itself, as Nashville has a very difficult last week of the regular season.
I’m all for the Predators adding any & all Cups, Trophies & division titles to their resume. I would also be for the Predators having home ice in any playoff series. Rooting for your team to win makes sense to me. Also, if any team should be able to cast regular season accomplishments aside for the playoffs, it’s the Nashville Predators. They won the Western Conference as the 8 seed last year, so they should know not to overlook the 8 seed in the first round.