Colorado Claims Presidents' Trophy and Secures Home Ice

Spoiler: Colorado is the best team it the NHL this season... which means nothing.

It’s not over, but it feels like it is.

The regular season, that is.

With an entertaining (kinda) 3-1 win Thursday night against the visiting Flames, the Colorado Avalanche secured the fourth Presidents’ Trophy in franchise history.

Division. Conference. League. The Avs own them all this season.

After two straight years of opening every playoff series on the road, that won’t be the case in 2026. Anyone with Cup aspirations will have to come through the Mile High City, only to then host the NHL’s best road team for Games 3 and 4. If Colorado can rediscover its early-season dominance at home while maintaining its road form, this could be a very fun spring.

It’s fitting that the captain, Gabriel Landeskog, opened the scoring in the game that clinched home ice throughout the postseason. His return has been the catalyst for this remarkable season. His presence in the locker room brings a calm, steady leadership, a balance of responsibility and accountability that was noticeably absent over the last three years.