The Colorado Avalanche officially clinched the Presidents’ Trophy on Thursday night with a 3-1 win over the Calgary Flames.
The win was a gritty one, aided by a smart offside challenge. The disallowed goal had tied the game late in the third period. But the goal was called back, and the Avs won the game.
When the final horn sounded, the Avalanche players on the ice seemed more relieved than excited about the win. It was almost as if a weight had been lifted off their shoulders.
Indeed, that was the case. When a team like this year’s Avalanche goes through a dominant season, nailing down that top spot is a powerful interim step towards a championship. It’s the sort of thing that validates an entire season’s worth of hard work.
It’s also a type of redemption for the hardships faced throughout the season. By locking up the Presidents’ Trophy, the pressure is off the Avs, for now. The final four games of the season will be more of a test run to see how the club will look in the postseason.
It’s not that the games are meaningless. It’s that they don’t carry the same amount of weight. Players like Nathan MacKinnon, Martin Necas, Brock Nelson, and Gabe Landeskog will have a chance to tone it down just a tad. It’s a type of mental reset, if you will.
As for depth guys like Parker Kelly, Jack Drury, and Ross Colton, it’s a chance to continue honing the skills that will be invaluable in the postseason.
Newcomers like Nick Blakenburg, Brett Kulak, Nic Roy, and even Nazem Kadri (assuming he returns in the regular season) will have a chance to continue acclimating to their new team.
All told, the Avalanche have a unique opportunity to play out the season without the stress that comes with trying to prove they’re the best team in the NHL. They’ve already done that.
The real stress test will come once the postseason begins. The Avs will need to prove they’re the real deal by winning the Stanley Cup. Otherwise, the Presidents’ Trophy curse will rear its ugly head once again.
That’s why the 2025-26 Colorado Avalanche will do their best to put the dreaded curse to bed, at least for one season.