Conn Smythe Award—Most Valuable Player in the Stanley Cup Playoffs

The Conn Smythe Award is selected by the Professional Hockey Writers Association, and given to the most valuable player of the Stanley Cup playoffs. The trophy is named after the former coach, general manager, president and owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Conn Smythe is perhaps best remembered as the man behind the Toronto Maple Leafs. Not only was he coach, general manager and owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs, he also designed the famous blue and white Maple Leaf Jersey. Conn Smythe was inducted in the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1958, for his years of service to the NHL. In 1964, Maple Leaf Gardens donated a trophy in his name.

The Conn Smythe Trophy was designed to resemble Smythe’s beloved Maple Leaf Gardens, and was first awarded following the 1964-65 playoffs,  to Montreal Canadiens’ captain Jean Beliveau. 

An interesting footnote to the history of the Conn Smythe trophy is that only two non-Canadians have won this award—American Brian Leetch in 1994 as a member of the New York Rangers and Sweden's Nicklas Lidstrom in 2002 with the Detroit Red Wings. 

Three Oilers to date have received Conn Smythe honours, with Mark Messier becoming the first Oiler to win the trophy in 1984. Wayne Gretzky took home the award in 1985 and 1988, and following the Oilers fifth Stanley Cup win, goaltender Bill Ranford won the trophy in 1990. 

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