Conn Smythe Trophy

Conn Smythe Trophy
T3h wookiee · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Award name	Conn Smythe Trophy
Sport	Ice hockey
League	National Hockey League
Given for	Most valuable player in the Stanley Cup playoffs
First award	1965
Most wins	Patrick Roy (3)

Conn Smythe Trophy. Awarded annually to the most valuable player for his team in the Stanley Cup playoffs, it is one of the most prestigious individual honors in the National Hockey League. The trophy is named after Conn Smythe, the longtime owner, general manager, and coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs. First presented at the conclusion of the 1965 Stanley Cup playoffs, the winner is selected by a panel of Professional Hockey Writers' Association members.

History

The trophy was donated by the Maple Leaf Gardens board of directors in 1964 to honor Conn Smythe, a Hall of Fame builder who constructed Maple Leaf Gardens and built the Toronto Maple Leafs into a dynasty. The first recipient was Jean Béliveau of the Montreal Canadiens following their Stanley Cup victory in 1965. While typically awarded to a player on the championship team, it has been given to a member of the losing Stanley Cup Finals team on five occasions, first to Roger Crozier of the Detroit Red Wings in 1966. The physical trophy is crafted from Tiffany & Co. and features a stylized maple leaf design.

Selection process

At the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals, members of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association who have covered the series submit ballots for the award. Voting is conducted immediately after the final game, and the winner is announced before the Stanley Cup presentation ceremony. The criteria focus on a player's overall performance and value throughout the entire Stanley Cup playoffs, not just the final series. In the event of a tie, the award is shared, though this has never occurred in its history.

Winners

Winners have included many of the greatest players in NHL history, representing a wide array of positions and teams. Legendary goaltenders like Patrick Roy, Ken Dryden, and Bernie Parent have won, as have dominant defensemen such as Bobby Orr, Larry Robinson, and Nicklas Lidström. Celebrated forwards who have earned the honor include Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Mark Messier, and Sidney Crosby. The Montreal Canadiens have produced the most winners, followed by the Edmonton Oilers and Philadelphia Flyers. Recent winners include Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche and Jonathan Marchessault of the Vegas Golden Knights.

Multiple winners

Only five players have won the award more than once. Goaltender Patrick Roy holds the record with three victories, winning with the Montreal Canadiens in 1986 and 1993, and with the Colorado Avalanche in 2001. The others to win twice are centers Wayne Gretzky (1985, 1988), Mario Lemieux (1991, 1992), and Sidney Crosby (2016, 2017), and defenseman Bobby Orr (1970, 1972). No player has ever won the award in consecutive years with different teams.

Trivia and records

Goaltender Ron Hextall of the Philadelphia Flyers in 1987 remains the only rookie to win. The youngest winner is Patrick Roy (20 years old in 1986), while the oldest is Sergei Fedorov (34 years old in 2002 with the Detroit Red Wings). In 2003, Jean-Sébastien Giguère of the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim became the fifth and most recent player from a losing team to win. Brothers have won the award, with Brent Burns and Patrice Bergeron both earning the honor. The award has never been won by a European-trained player on a losing team. Category:National Hockey League trophies and awards Category:Ice hockey trophies and awards