"Give it back. It's a damn curse" - Boston Bruins fans fear the worst after clinching Presidents' Trophy

The Boston Bruins (58-12-5) are the winners of the 2023 Presidents' Trophy for having the best team record of the season. They won the award after defeating the Columbus Blue Jackets 2-1 on Thursday.

The Presidents' Trophy is considered one of the most prestigious in the sport of hockey. While the Bruins have locked up the Trophy to their name, many fans consider it a curse rather than a blessing.

Here's how the Boston Bruins fans reacted to their team winning the Presidents' Trophy:

How many times have the Boston Bruins won the Presidents' Trophy?

The Boston Bruins have won the Presidents' Trophy four times in their franchise history. The team first won the trophy back in 1990, their second came in 2014, while they won their third and fourth trophies in 2020 and 2023.

A total of eighteen teams have been honored with the coveted Presidents' Trophy, and the Detroit Red Wings have won the coveted prize the most times with six.

The trophy has a bad reputation in the NHL and there are numerous theories and stats to back this up. Most of the best regular-season teams honored with the trophy have struggled in the postseason, failing to advance past the first round.

Considering all the facts and theories behind the curse, the Boston Bruins will need to come out fully prepared in the playoffs to break it.

The NHL's Presidents' Trophy curse

The first team to fall victim to the Presidents' Trophy curse was the 1986 Edmonton Oilers.

Led by legendary players like Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier and Paul Coffey, the Oilers were dominant in the regular season, winning the trophy by 17 points. However, they were upset by the Calgary Flames in the first round of the playoffs.

In 1991, the Chicago Blackhawks won the Presidents' Trophy but were swept in the first round by the Minnesota North Stars. The 1993 Pittsburgh Penguins, led by Mario Lemieux, lost in the second round after winning the trophy. The 1995 Detroit Red Wings suffered the same fate, losing in the second round to the San Jose Sharks.

The most recent team to suffer the Presidents' Trophy curse was the 2022 Florida Panthers last season. The Panthers lost in the second round to hated rivals the Tampa Bay Lightning in a four-game sweep.

The last team to win both the Presidents’ Trophy and the Stanley Cup was the 2013 Chicago Blackhawks. It is now the Boston Bruins' turn to fight the curse.

About the author

Abhishek is an NHL writer at Sportskeeda with over 2 years of sports reporting experience and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Delhi. He became a fan of ice hockey after watching NHL fight videos on YouTube, which led to him professionally writing about the sport and his continued interest in all things hockey.

A fan of the Boston Bruins, Abhishek considers their incredible comeback win against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2013 playoffs as the most iconic moment in the NHL. His admiration for the six-time Stanley Cup winners also comes from the team’s storied history, distinctive black and gold uniform and their success in the sport. His all-time favorite NHL players are Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid, for their ability to perform at the highest level consistently.

Abhishek ensures his reporting is fair and balanced by being well-researched in his details, which he expects to be relevant, up-to-date and in line with ethical standards. His specialties are doing detailed match analysis and covering fan reactions.

Abhishek enjoys music, traveling and going on walks with his three German Shepherds in his free time, along with learning about horticulture.

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