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Prince of Wales trophy
Eastern Conference Champions
Since 1924
BEGINNING WITH THE 1993-94 SEASON, THE CLUB WHICH ADVANCES TO THE STANLEY CUP FINALS AS THE WINNER OF THE EASTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP IS PRESENTED WITH THE PRINCE OF WALES TROPHY.
His Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales, donated the trophy to the National Hockey League in 1924. From 1927-28 through 1937-38, the award was presented to the team finishing first in the American Division of the NHL. (The team finishing first in the Canadian Division received the O'Brien Trophy during these years.) From 1938-39, when the NHL reverted to one section, to 1966-67, it was presented to the team winning the NHL regular-season championship. With expansion in 1967-68, it again became a divisional trophy, awarded to the regular-season champions of the East Division through to the end of the 1973-74 season. Beginning in 1974-75, it was awarded to the regular-season winner of the conference bearing the name of the trophy. From 1981-82 to 1992-93 the trophy was presented to the playoff champion in the Wales Conference. Since 1993-94, the trophy has been presented to the playoff champion in the Eastern Conference.
