Connor McDavid, center for the Edmonton Oilers from Richmond Hill, Ontario, won the Conn Smythe Trophy on Monday. The award is given annually to the most valuable player in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
McDavid became the sixth player in NHL history to win the Conn Smythe Trophy on a losing team when his Edmonton Oilers lost Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals to the Florida Panthers 2-1 on Monday night. The other five players to accomplish the feat were all Canadians. 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 for most assists in a Stanley Cup playoff season in 2024 with 34 assists. In 25 games, he scored eight goals and 34 assists for 42 points. McDavid was a +12 with 10 penalty minutes, two power play goals, a game-winning goal, 75 shots on goal, 145 faceoffs won, 16 blocked shots, 43 hits, 25 turnovers and 16 turnovers.
McDavid’s 42 points in a Stanley Cup playoff are the fourth-most points ever. Oilers center Wayne Gretzky, of Brantford, Ontario, had 47 points in 1985 and 43 in 1988. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh Penguins center Mario Lemieux, of Montreal, Quebec, had 44 points in 1991.
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