When it comes to playoffs, being seeded number one, or a fan/media favorite; doesn’t mean much.  Hockey is just like any other sport in this scenario.  Looking back through Stanley Cup playoff history over the last ten years, the No.1 seeded team made it to the finals only four times.  That same team has won just three.  While being the league’s worst team won’t even get you a playoff spot, being the best team doesn’t guarantee you a cup either.

Since the beginning of time (when the Stanley Cup started) the end of hockey season has always been entertaining if nothing else; from the challenge format of the late 1800s to our current seeding style.  Stanley Cup winners are fairly stereotypical; the underdog comes back to win it all.  However, at the end of the regular hockey season there is one other important award given, the Presidents’ Trophy.  This particular trophy is awarded prior to the start of playoffs and is solely merit based; the team with the most points for the season receives it.

In 2002 the finals came down to a first and third seed with the Western Conference first seed winning it all.  That was one of two times the Detroit Red Wings have been first seed and won the cup since.  They’ve also made the final game as a second seed, but lost.  The Red Wings also won the Presidents’ Trophy in 2002 as well as 2004, 2006, and 2008; the most amount of times in the past decade.  2002 was also a good year for competitive playoff hockey as there were no series sweeps and 25 shutout games.

There have only been a few other years where closely-seeded teams have ended up in the final series.  In general over the past decade though, the teams’ seeds have been pretty widespread; or in the case of last year, two bottom-seeded teams.  The 2012 Stanley Cup playoffs started with the Western Conference first seed losing in round one against the eighth seed Los Angeles Kings, who ultimately won the cup.  The Eastern Conference first seed faired a little better making it to the conference finals before losing to sixth seed New Jersey.  Nevertheless, the number one team generally has lost in the first or second round in the last ten years.

Although Blackhawks fans can start looking for that Presidents’ Trophy, history doesn’t bode well for bringing home another Stanley Cup.  Statistically speaking, if the season were to end right now, the final series would be a matchup between the Bruins and St. Louis.  Seems unlikely, but interesting.