With the 2025-26 NHL regular season more than halfway over, one of the questions being asked is, which team will end the campaign with the best record? That team will claim the Presidents’ Trophy. That award was established in the 1985-86 season. Since then, 18 different teams have claimed that honor for finishing the regular season with the best overall record.
While the President’s Trophy is an honor, NHL teams might be apprehensive about winning the award. No team that has finished the NHL regular season with the best record has gone on to win the Stanley Cup since the 2012-13 Chicago Blackhawks did so. That year’s Chicago club is also the last Presidents’ Trophy winner to reach the Stanley Cup finals. Last year’s winner, the Winnipeg Jets, were bounced from the NHL playoffs by the Dallas Stars in the second round.
With less than 30 games left in the 82-game 2026 NHL season, five teams are in the hunt for the 2026 Presidents’ Trophy: Colorado Avalanche, Tampa Bay Lightning, Carolina Hurricanes, Dallas Stars, and Minnesota Wild.
Below, we break down the betting favorites to win the 2026 Presidents’ Trophy.
| To Win 2025/26 President's Trophy |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado Avalanche | -400 | -500 | -400 |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | +425 | +450 | +425 |
| Carolina Hurricanes | +1500 | +1800 | +1500 |
| Dallas Stars | +3300 | +4500 | +3300 |
| Minnesota Wild | +6600 | +6600 | +6600 |
The Colorado Avalanche went into the NHL season as the favorites to win the Stanley Cup in 2026. With the team sporting the best record in the league with 55 games played (37-9-9), the Avalanche remain the Stanley Cup betting favorites.
While the Avalanche sit atop the NHL standings, the team’s lead over the other clubs in the Presidents’ Trophy hunt has slimmed. Entering the break for the 2026 Winter Olympics, the Avalanche went 4-5-1 in their 10 games leading into that break. Colorado had eight players in the Olympics, including four on the teams competing for gold.
The Avalanche have the lowest goals against average in the league (2.42) and the highest goals per game average (3.84). Meanwhile, Nathan MacKinnon leads the NHL in goals (40) and plus/minus (+48). MacKinnon is third in the league in assists (53). The Avalanche goaltending tandem of Scott Wedgwood and Mackenzie Blackwood rank No. 3 and No. 5 in goals against in the league at 2.25 and 2.30, while also ranking inside the top 10 in save percentage. Colorado also ranks second in the league in penalty kill at 84.7 percent.
The Avalanche have an amazing home record of 21-3-4. However, two of those home losses have come in their past seven games, dropping contests to the Philadelphia Flyers (7-3) and Detroit Red Wings (2-0).
While the Avalanche are the overwhelming betting favorites to win the Presidents’ Trophy, a look at their recent record does not make them the best value bet.
The Tampa Bay Lightning have one of the best coaches in NHL history in Jon Cooper. Cooper has coached 1,016 games for the Lightning, posting a 609-320-87 record. His winning percentage is the highest of any coach in the league with a minimum of 1,000 games. Meanwhile, his 609 wins are the most by an NHL coach over that time with a single team. This season, Cooper has the Lightning tied for first place in the Eastern Conference with a 37-14-4 record. Tampa Bay entered the Olympic break on a five-game winning streak and with an 8-1-1 record in its past 10 games. The Lightning had eight players in the Olympics and Cooper coached the silver-medal-winning Canadian team.
Cooper has led the Lightning to Cup wins in 2020 and 2021, and the team reached the Cup final in 2015 and 2022. Last year, the Lightning’s season ended in the first round of the playoffs with a five-game loss to the Florida Panthers.
The Lightning had a three-game losing skid between December 13 and 18. The club is 19-2 since then.
The Lightning have the second-best goal differential in the NHL, and first in the Eastern Conference at +59, and the team’s defense is second in the NHL with a goals-against average of 2.51. As for offense, the team is second in the league in goals scored per game with 3.55.
The only thing that might hurt the Lightning down the stretch is injuries.
The Carolina Hurricanes are perennial Stanley Cup favorites under coach Rod Brind’Amour. However, the team has not made the finals since 2006 when they won the Cup. As of late, the team has seemed poised to win the Cup, but has struggled in the playoffs when goals are at a premium. However, since this is the regular season, it must be noted that Carolina has finished first or second in the Metropolitan Division over the past four seasons. Carolina is currently tied for first in the Eastern Conference with 78 points and a 36-15-6 record. The Hurricanes have played two more games than the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Carolina opened 2026 with back-to-back home losses to the Montreal Canadians and New Jersey Devils. Since those setbacks, the club has gone 12-1-3 and is riding a three-game winning streak. The Hurricanes had five players participate in the Olympics.
One thing that might help the Hurricanes down the stretch is the team’s cap space. The club has $16 million available and could look to upgrade its net for the playoffs, as the team is seventh in goals against (2.81) and 22nd in save percentage(.891).
Carolina has nine players with double-digit goals. Seth Jarvis leads the team with 25 markers, and Sebastian Aho is the top point scorer with 57.
While the Colorado Avalanche have been the best team in the NHL, the club seems to be fading a little down the stretch, while the Tampa Bay Lightning are heating up at the right time.
The betting pick is that the Tampa Bay Lightning will win the 2026 Presidents’ Trophy for best record for the 2025-26 NHL regular season.
Before making any bets on the NHL, check out the current NHL online Las Vegas odds. While you’re at it, check out our betting picks to win the 2026 Hart Trophy for the NHL MVP.
