Prince of Wales Trophy Award Winners
| Season 1 -- New York Rangers Season 2 -- Hartford Whalers |
The trophy, presented to the NHL by the Prince of Wales in 1924, was awarded to the team finishing first in the American Division of the NHL from 1927-28 to 1937-38. Beginning in the 1938-39 season when the NHL consolidated to one division the trophy was presented to the team that won the regular season championship. In 1967-68 when the NHL expanded the Prince of Wales Trophy became a divisional award that went to the regular season champions of the East division. Starting in 1974-75 the trophy was awarded to the regular season champions of the Wales Conference. In 1981-82 the award was given to the playoff champion from the Wales Conference. Beginning in the 1993-94 season the Prince of Wales trophy goes to the club that advances to the Stanley Cup Finals as the representative of the Eastern Conference.