Which NHL franchise first won the Presidents’ Trophy?

The Edmonton Oilers were the first NHL franchise to win the Presidents’ Trophy.

Edmonton received the inaugural Presidents’ Trophy after the 1985–86 regular season. The award goes to the team with the best regular-season record, measured by points. The Oilers finished that season with 119 points, ahead of the Philadelphia Flyers, and were led by Wayne Gretzky, Paul Coffey, Jari Kurri, and Mark Messier.

The Presidents’ Trophy was introduced in 1985, making it one of the NHL’s newer major team honors compared with the Stanley Cup. Winning it guarantees home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs, but it does not guarantee a championship. Edmonton is a famous example: after winning the first trophy, the Oilers were eliminated by the Calgary Flames in the 1986 Division Semifinals. The team returned to the top in 1987 and won the Stanley Cup that spring.