Edmonton Oilers centre Connor McDavid of Richmond Hill, Ontario won the Conn Smythe Trophy on Monday. The award is presented annually to the most valuable player in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
McDavid becomes the sixth player in NHL history to win the Conn Smythe Trophy on a losing team as his Edmonton Oilers lost game seven of the Stanley Cup Finals on Monday night by a score of 2-1 to the Florida Panthers. The other five players to accomplish the feat were all Canadian. They were Detroit Red Wings goaltender Roger Crozier of Bracebridge, Ontario (1966), St. Louis Blues goaltender Glenn Hall of Humboldt, Saskatchewan (1968), Philadelphia Flyers right winger Reggie Leach of Riverton, Manitoba (1976), Flyers goaltender Ron Hextall of Brandon, Manitoba (1987), and Mighty Ducks of Anaheim goaltender Jean Sebastien-Giguere of Montreal, Quebec (2003).
McDavid set the NHL record in 2024 for most assists in one Stanley Cup Playoff season with 34. In 25 games, he had eight goals and 34 assists for 42 points. McDavid was a +12 with 10 penalty minutes, two power-play goals, one game-winning goal, 75 shots on goal, 145 faceoff wins, 16 blocked shots, 43 hits, 25 takeaways, and 16 giveaways.
McDavid’s 42 points in a Stanley Cup Playoff are the fourth most points ever. Oilers centre Wayne Gretzky of Brantford, Ontario had 47 points in 1985 and 43 points in 1988. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh Penguins centre Mario Lemieux of Montreal, Quebec had 44 points in 1991.
