The Winnipeg Jets certainly have the potential to break the so-called Presidents' Trophy curse, which refers to the trend where the team with the best regular-season record often fails to win the Stanley Cup. As of March 17, 2025, the Jets are performing exceptionally well, leading the NHL standings with a strong record. Helle, is a standout, widely favored to win the Vezina Trophy again, and the team tops the league in key metrics like goals for, goals against, and goal differential. This dominance suggests they’re in the running for the Presidents' Trophy this season.
Historically, the curse isn’t as absolute as it’s sometimes made out to be. Since the trophy’s introduction in 1985-86, 8 out of 37 winners (about 22%) have gone on to win the Stanley Cup, with the last being the Chicago Blackhawks in 2012-13. While that’s not a high success rate, it’s better than the odds for any other single playoff team, given the field of 16. The narrative of a "curse" often overlooks this—it’s more about the unpredictability of playoff hockey, where factors like injuries, matchups, and momentum can overshadow regular-season performance. The Jets’ current form, bolstered by Helles elite play and a balanced roster, positions them as well as any team to defy this trend.
That said, playoff success isn’t guaranteed. The Jets have had strong regular seasons before—like in 2017-18, when they reached the Conference Finals—but haven’t yet lifted the Cup. Their ability to break the curse will hinge on staying healthy, adapting to playoff intensity, and getting some luck along the way. They’ve got the tools, but hockey’s chaos factor means it’s anyone’s game once April rolls around. Can they do it? Absolutely. Will they? That’s the part no one can predict.
