2023 Stanley Cup Final: What is the Conn Smythe Trophy?
What is the Conn Smythe Trophy? originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
The Stanley Cup isn’t the only hardware that will be given at the conclusion of the NHL postseason.
Before the winning captain lifts the Cup, the league will hand out the Conn Smythe Trophy. The Florida Panthers and Vegas Golden Knights are both chasing their first Cup, and someone will become the first Conn Smythe winner in their respective franchise’s history.
Before that series gets underway, here’s a glance at some of the history surrounding the Conn Smythe Trophy.
Who is Conn Smythe?
The trophy is named after Conn Smythe, a former coach, manager, president and owner-governor for the Toronto Maple Leafs. He helped turn the St. Pats into the Maple Leafs in 1927 and spent over 30 years with the organization.
What is the Conn Smythe Trophy?
The honor is given to “the most valuable player for his team in the playoffs.” It was first awarded in 1965 and is voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers Association following the last game of the Cup Final.
The trophy differs from individual awards handed out in the NFL, NBA and MLB playoffs. Those honor the best player in the respective league’s championship round or game as opposed to the playoffs as a whole.
Which NHL player has the most Conn Smythe Trophies?
Goaltender Patrick Roy is the only three-time Conn Smythe winner. He’s also the youngest player in league history to win the award, doing so at 20 years old in 1986. His next came in 1993 and he earned his third in 2001.
Bobby Orr, Bernie Parent, Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux and Sidney Crosby are two-time recipients of the trophy.
Has a player ever won the Conn Smythe Trophy but not the Stanley Cup?
Five players have earned the Conn Smythe Trophy despite not winning the Stanley Cup.
Jean-Sebastien Giguere is the most recent player to do so, receiving the honor with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim after falling to the New Jersey Devils in the 2003 Stanley Cup Final. Roger Crozier (1966), Glenn Hall (1968), Reggie Leach (1976) and Ron Hextall (1987) are the other players to pull off the feat.
Every Conn Smythe Trophy winner
Here is every winner dating back to 1965:
2022: Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche
2020: Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay Lightning
2019: Ryan O'Reilly, St. Louis Blues
2017: Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins
2016: Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins
2013: Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks
2012: Jonathan Quick, Los Angeles Kings
2010: Jonathan Toews, Chicago Blackhawks
2009: Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins
2008: Henrik Zetterberg, Detroit Red Wings
2007: Scott Niedermayer, Anaheim Ducks
2006: Cam Ward, Carolina Hurricanes
2004: Brad Richards, Tampa Bay Lightning
2003: Jean-Sebastien Giguere, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
2002: Nicklas Lidstrom, Detroit Red Wings
2001: Patrick Roy, Colorado Avalanche
2000: Scott Stevens, New Jersey Devils
1999: Joe Nieuwendyk, Dallas Stars
1998: Steve Yzerman, Detroit Red Wings
1997: Mike Vernon, Detroit Red Wings
1996: Joe Sakic, Colorado Avalanche
1995: Claude Lemieux, New Jersey Devils
1993: Patrick Roy, Montreal Canadiens
1992: Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins
1991: Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins
1990: Bill Ranford, Edmonton Oilers
1989: Al MacInnis, Calgary Flames
1988: Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers
1986: Patrick Roy, Montreal Canadiens
1985: Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers
1984: Mark Messier, Edmonton Oilers
1982: Mike Bossy, New York Islanders
1981: Butch Goring, New York Islanders
1980: Bryan Trottier, New York Islanders
1979: Bob Gainey, Montreal Canadiens
1978: Larry Robinson, Montreal Canadiens
1977: Guy Lafleur, Montreal Canadiens
1976: Reggie Leach, Philadelphia Flyers
1975: Bernie Parent, Philadelphia Flyers
1974: Bernie Parent, Philadelphia Flyers
1973: Yvan Cournoyer, Montreal Canadiens
1972: Bobby Orr, Boston Bruins
1971: Ken Dryden, Montreal Canadiens
1970: Bobby Orr, Boston Bruins
1969: Serge Savard, Montreal Canadiens
1968: Glenn Hall, St. Louis Blues
1967: Dave Keon, Toronto Maple Leafs
1966: Roger Crozier, Detroit Red Wings
1965: Jean Beliveau, Montreal Canadiens