Conn Smythe Trophy: What It Is + Every Winner

History and Significance

Maple Leaf Gardens Limited introduced the Conn Smythe Trophy in 1964 to honor one of hockey's most influential builders. Conn Smythe constructed Maple Leaf Gardens, managed the Maple Leafs to multiple championships, and earned induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame for his contributions to the sport's growth.

The trophy itself features a stylized silver replica of Maple Leaf Gardens (the arena that served as the Leafs' home from 1931 to 1999) backed by a botanically accurate maple leaf, all set atop a wooden foundation bearing a dedication plaque.

Jean Beliveau of the Montreal Canadiens became the first recipient in 1965, establishing a tradition that would come to define playoff excellence. The trophy's base has been expanded twice over the decades to accommodate additional winner inscriptions, a testament to its enduring importance in hockey culture.

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Voting Process and Criteria

At the conclusion of the final game of the Stanley Cup Final, members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association (PHWA) cast their ballots to determine the winner. The NHL Commissioner then presents the trophy before the Stanley Cup itself, with only the winner announced—a departure from most NHL awards, which name three finalists at a separate ceremony.

Beginning in 2017, the NHL began releasing vote tallies, providing transparency to a process that had previously remained confidential. Voters employ a 5-3-1 scoring format:

• First-place votes worth 5 points
• Second-place votes worth 3 points
• Third-place votes worth 1 point

The PHWA comprises approximately 300 dues-paying members who cover hockey for newspapers, magazines, and online media, bringing diverse perspectives to the evaluation.

Unlike the Super Bowl MVP, NBA Finals MVP, or World Series MVP (which focus on championship series performance), the Conn Smythe Trophy considers a player's entire playoff body of work. This comprehensive assessment means a dominant run through the first three rounds can carry as much weight as Finals performance, rewarding sustained excellence over two months of playoff hockey.

Record Holders and Notable Achievements

Patrick Roy holds the distinction of being the only three-time winner, capturing the trophy in 1986 and 1993 with the Montreal Canadiens and in 2001 with the Colorado Avalanche.

Roy's achievements include:

• Youngest Conn Smythe winner in history (age 20, 1986)
• Led Montreal to record 10 overtime victories in 1993 playoffs
• Posted .930 save percentage and 1.97 GAA during 1993 run
• Only player to win Conn Smythe with two different teams

Five players have won the award twice:

• Bobby Orr (1970, 1972)
• Bernie Parent (1974, 1975)
• Wayne Gretzky (1985, 1988)
• Mario Lemieux (1991, 1992)
• Sidney Crosby (2016, 2017)

Only three players achieved consecutive wins: Parent, Lemieux, and Crosby.

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The Losing Team Exception

One of the Conn Smythe Trophy's most intriguing aspects is that players from the Stanley Cup runner-up can win, though this rare occurrence has happened only six times:

Roger Crozier (Detroit Red Wings, 1966) Became the first player from a losing team to win in the trophy's second year of existence. Despite Detroit falling to Montreal in six games, Crozier's goaltending nearly propelled an underdog Red Wings squad to an upset victory.

Glenn Hall (St. Louis Blues, 1968) Earned the honor despite being swept by Montreal in the Finals, demonstrating that exceptional individual performance can transcend team results.

Reggie Leach (Philadelphia Flyers, 1976) Set a playoff record with 19 goals that still stands today (tied only by Jari Kurri in 1985), yet watched Montreal sweep the Finals.

Ron Hextall (Philadelphia Flyers, 1987) Won as a rookie goaltender, posting a 15-11 record with two shutouts before falling to Wayne Gretzky's Edmonton Oilers.

Jean-Sebastien Giguere (Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, 2003) Delivered one of the most dominant goaltending performances in playoff history, finishing with a .945 save percentage and 1.62 goals-against average, though New Jersey won the Cup.

Connor McDavid (Edmonton Oilers, 2024) Produced one of the greatest single-season playoff performances ever with 42 points in 25 games, breaking Wayne Gretzky's assist record for most in a playoff year. Despite rallying from a 3-0 series deficit to force Game 7, the Oilers fell to the Florida Panthers.

McDavid became only the second skater after Leach to win the trophy without hoisting the Cup.

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Positional Distribution

Goaltenders have claimed 19 Conn Smythe Trophies, reflecting their ability to single-handedly determine playoff outcomes. The award has gone to players across all positions:

• Centers and wingers dominate with most wins
• Defensemen have won sparingly but memorably
• Goaltenders account for roughly one-third of all winners

Only three defensemen have won both the Conn Smythe and Norris Trophy (awarded to the league's best defenseman) in the same season:

• Bobby Orr (1970, 1972)
• Nicklas Lidstrom (2002)
• Cale Makar (2022)

This rare double achievement underscores the exceptional two-way excellence required to dominate both regular season and playoff competition from the blue line.

Complete List of Winners (1965-2026)

1960s: Foundation Years

1965: Jean Beliveau (Montreal Canadiens, F) The inaugural winner scored 16 points in 13 playoff games, leading Montreal to the Cup.

1966: Roger Crozier† (Detroit Red Wings, G) First losing team winner despite Detroit falling to Montreal in six games.

1967: Dave Keon (Toronto Maple Leafs, F) Keon's two-way excellence led Toronto to their last Cup victory.

1968: Glenn Hall† (St. Louis Blues, G) Won despite St. Louis being swept in the Finals by Montreal.

1969: Serge Savard (Montreal Canadiens, D) Savard's defensive prowess anchored Montreal's championship run.

1970s: Orr, Parent, and Montreal Dominance

1970: Bobby Orr (Boston Bruins, D)* Orr's flying Cup-clinching goal became hockey's most iconic image, scoring 9 goals and 20 points.

1971: Ken Dryden (Montreal Canadiens, G) Won as a rookie, posting a 1.65 GAA in 20 playoff games.

1972: Bobby Orr (Boston Bruins, D)* Second Conn Smythe with 24 points leading all playoff scorers.

1973: Yvan Cournoyer (Montreal Canadiens, F) "The Roadrunner" scored 15 goals in 17 playoff games.

1974: Bernie Parent (Philadelphia Flyers, G)* Posted a 1.89 GAA during Philadelphia's first Cup run.

1975: Bernie Parent (Philadelphia Flyers, G)* Back-to-back Conn Smythes with another dominant playoff performance.

1976: Reggie Leach† (Philadelphia Flyers, F) Scored playoff-record 19 goals despite Montreal sweeping the Finals.

1977: Guy Lafleur (Montreal Canadiens, F) Lafleur's 26 points in 14 games led Montreal's dynasty.

1978: Larry Robinson (Montreal Canadiens, D) Robinson's offensive defenseman play drove Montreal's success.

1979: Bob Gainey (Montreal Canadiens, F) The defensive forward won for shutdown play and leadership.

Read more: NHL Injury Report Heading Into the 2025-2026 Season

1980s: Islanders Dynasty and Gretzky's Oilers

1980: Bryan Trottier (New York Islanders, F) Trottier's 29 points began the Islanders' four-Cup run.

1981: Butch Goring (New York Islanders, F) Goring's two-way play anchored the Islanders' second Cup.

1982: Mike Bossy (New York Islanders, F) Bossy scored 17 goals during the third consecutive championship.

1983: Billy Smith (New York Islanders, G) Smith's goaltending completed the four-Cup dynasty.

1984: Mark Messier (Edmonton Oilers, F) Messier's physical dominance led Edmonton's first Cup.

1985: Wayne Gretzky (Edmonton Oilers, F)* First of two Conn Smythes with 47 points in 18 games.

1986: Patrick Roy‡ (Montreal Canadiens, G) Youngest winner at age 20, leading Montreal's upset Cup run.

1987: Ron Hextall† (Philadelphia Flyers, G) Rookie goalie won despite losing to Edmonton in Finals.

1988: Wayne Gretzky (Edmonton Oilers, F)* Second Conn Smythe with 43 points in 19 games.

1989: Al MacInnis (Calgary Flames, D) MacInnis' power-play quarterbacking drove Calgary's only Cup.

1990s: Lemieux, Roy Return, and New Champions

1990: Bill Ranford (Edmonton Oilers, G) Ranford posted a .913 save percentage in Edmonton's fifth Cup.

1991: Mario Lemieux (Pittsburgh Penguins, F)* First of consecutive Conn Smythes with 44 points in 23 games.

1992: Mario Lemieux (Pittsburgh Penguins, F)* Back-to-back wins with 34 points in 15 games.

1993: Patrick Roy‡ (Montreal Canadiens, G) Second Conn Smythe leading Montreal to 10 overtime victories.

1994: Brian Leetch (New York Rangers, D) Leetch's 34 points from defense ended the Rangers' 54-year drought.

1995: Claude Lemieux (New Jersey Devils, F) Lemieux scored clutch goals throughout New Jersey's first Cup.

1996: Joe Sakic (Colorado Avalanche, F) Sakic's 34 points led Colorado's first championship after relocation.

1997: Mike Vernon (Detroit Red Wings, G) Vernon's goaltending ended Detroit's 42-year Cup drought.

1998: Steve Yzerman (Detroit Red Wings, F) Yzerman finally won the Conn Smythe in Detroit's second straight Cup.

1999: Joe Nieuwendyk (Dallas Stars, F) Nieuwendyk scored 11 goals in Dallas' championship run.

2000s: Brodeur Denied, Multiple Winners

2000: Scott Stevens (New Jersey Devils, D) Stevens' physical defensive play anchored New Jersey's second Cup.

2001: Patrick Roy‡ (Colorado Avalanche, G) Third and final Conn Smythe, the only player with three.

2002: Nicklas Lidstrom (Detroit Red Wings, D) Won Norris and Conn Smythe in same season with elite two-way play.

2003: Jean-Sebastien Giguere† (Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, G) Posted .945 save percentage despite Anaheim losing Finals to New Jersey.

2004: Brad Richards (Tampa Bay Lightning, F) Richards' 26 points led Tampa's first Cup.

2005: (Lockout, no winner)

2006: Cam Ward (Carolina Hurricanes, G) Rookie goalie posted a .920 save percentage in Carolina's Cup run.

2007: Scott Niedermayer (Anaheim Ducks, D) Niedermayer's leadership and skating drove Anaheim's championship.

2008: Henrik Zetterberg (Detroit Red Wings, F) Zetterberg's 27 points led Detroit's fourth Cup.

2009: Evgeni Malkin (Pittsburgh Penguins, F) Malkin's 36 points in 24 games carried Pittsburgh to the Cup.

2010s-2020s: Modern Playoff Excellence

2010: Jonathan Toews (Chicago Blackhawks, F) Toews' two-way dominance began Chicago's dynasty.

2011: Tim Thomas (Boston Bruins, G) Thomas posted a .940 save percentage in Boston's Cup run.

2012: Jonathan Quick (Los Angeles Kings, G) Quick's .946 save percentage carried the 8th-seed Kings.

2013: Patrick Kane (Chicago Blackhawks, F) Kane scored the Cup-winning goal in Game 6.

2014: Justin Williams (Los Angeles Kings, F) "Mr. Game 7" scored 25 points in 26 playoff games.

2015: Duncan Keith (Chicago Blackhawks, D) Keith logged massive minutes during Chicago's third Cup in six years.

2016: Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh Penguins, F)* First of back-to-back Conn Smythes with 19 points.

2017: Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh Penguins, F)* Consecutive wins with 27 points in 24 games.

2018: Alexander Ovechkin (Washington Capitals, F) Ovechkin finally won the Cup with 27 points in 24 games.

2019: Ryan O'Reilly (St. Louis Blues, F) O'Reilly's two-way excellence led St. Louis' first Cup.

2020: Victor Hedman (Tampa Bay Lightning, D) Hedman's 22 points from defense drove Tampa's first Cup in 16 years.

2021: Andrei Vasilevskiy (Tampa Bay Lightning, G) Vasilevskiy posted a .937 save percentage in back-to-back Cup.

2022: Cale Makar (Colorado Avalanche, D) Won Norris and Conn Smythe at age 23 with 29 points.

2023: Jonathan Marchessault (Vegas Golden Knights, F) Marchessault scored 25 points in Vegas' first Cup.

2024: Connor McDavid† (Edmonton Oilers, F) Record 42 points despite losing Finals to Florida in Game 7.

2025: Sam Bennett (Florida Panthers, F) Bennett's physical, offensive game led Florida's first Cup.

2026: [Current season; update when announced]

Notable Trends and Statistics

Only three-time winner: Patrick Roy (1986, 1993, 2001)

Most consecutive wins: Bernie Parent, Mario Lemieux, Sidney Crosby (2 each)

Youngest winner: Patrick Roy (20 years old, 1986)

Most points in Conn Smythe season: Connor McDavid (42 points, 2024)

Losing team winners: 6 total (Crozier, Hall, Leach, Hextall, Giguere, McDavid)

The Ultimate Playoff Achievement

The Conn Smythe Trophy represents more than statistical excellence. It honors leadership, resilience, and the ability to perform under the most intense pressure in professional sports. From Roger Crozier's valiant effort in a losing cause to Patrick Roy's unprecedented three victories, from Bobby Orr's flying goal to Connor McDavid's record-breaking playoff run, each winner has contributed to the trophy's rich tapestry of hockey history.

As the playoffs remain the ultimate test of hockey greatness, the Conn Smythe Trophy continues to define playoff excellence, celebrating those rare performers who transcend team results and individual statistics to deliver when everything is on the line.

Read more: NHL Betting: The Ultimate Guide for the 2025/2026 Hockey Season

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