- Every year, the Conn Smythe Trophy is awarded to the Most Valuable Player in the NHL postseason.
- Typically, the award goes to a player on the Stanley Cup-winning team, but on six occasions since 1965, the award has gone to a player on the losing team.
- The award is named after Conn Smythe, a military veteran who served in WWI and II, and bought the Toronto Maple Leafs, initiating their greatest dynasty from 1942 to 1951.
At Ozoon Sportsbook, Conn Smythe betting markets make it possible to wager on who will win this coveted award any time of year.
What Is the Conn Smythe Trophy in NHL Trophies?
Unlike the Hart Memorial Trophy, which is awarded to the regular season MVP, the Conn Smythe is based on playoff performance. It goes to the player who steps up and reaches an elite level when it matters most in the postseason and is usually the reason a team raises the Stanley Cup at the end of the playoffs.
When is the Conn Smythe Awarded?
- The trophy is awarded right after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals and typically goes to the most valuable player in the NHL playoffs.
How is the Conn Smythe Determined?
- During the second intermission of the last game in the Stanley Cup Finals, the PHWA (Professional Hockey Writers’ Association) votes on who will win the Conn Smythe.
It is possible for a player to receive both the Conn Smythe for their invaluable playoff performance, and the Art Ross. The latter award is given to the player who leads the league in points at the end of the regular season.
Who Was Conn Smythe and Why Is the Trophy Named After Him?
Conn Smythe (short for Constantine Falkland Cary Smythe), was a highly-skilled amateur hockey player at the collegiate level, who served in both World Wars for Canada as an artillery officer, aviator and Major. Upon returning, he bought the Toronto St. Patricks, whom he renamed the Maple Leafs.
What Did Conn Smythe Do for the NHL?
As the principal owner of the Maple Leafs from 1927 to 1961, he spearheaded the construction of the Maple Leaf Gardens. During his tenure, the Maple Leafs reached unprecedented success, winning the Stanley Cup seven times. This contributed to what was arguably Canada’s most dominant stretch of Stanley Cup glory.
Why Does His Legacy Matter Today?
Smythe had a fiery personality that prioritized grit and determination over pure skill, and that set a tone in the NHL. His influence helped shape many Maple Leafs teams, getting them to a level that has since been unmatched. Players who embraced his philosophy would go on to become the league’s most tenacious forwards, and includes the likes of Brad Marchand and Sam Bennet.
How Is the Conn Smythe Trophy Winner Decided?
As mentioned, a panel of 18 hockey writers (PHWA) vote to determine the winner of the Conn Smythe, and since 2017, the votes became public. Although this is one of the more subjective awards, there are some consistencies in the selections.
What Criteria Do Voters Use?
Time on Ice
Keep an eye on ice time when casting your vote because the recipients typically log 20+ minutes for forwards and 25+ minutes for defencemen.
Clutch Performance
Although the Conn Smythe doesn’t usually just go to the player who scored the most goals, it does often go to a player who has scored clutch game-winning goals.
Position
Most of the time, the Conn Smythe goes to a forward or a goalie. When it goes to a goalie, he is usually in the top statistical quadrants for the playoffs, including save percentage and goals against average.
Leadership/Reputation
One last consideration is that sometimes the Conn Smythe will simply go to a player who has league-wide reputation for excellence, such as Sydney Crosby and Connor McDavid.
Can a Player Win Without Winning the Stanley Cup?
On six occasions, a player from a non-winning team won the Conn Smythe. When this happens, the winning team typically has a balanced roster, while the losing team has a player that truly went above and beyond. The most recent time it happened was in 2024 when league darling, Connor McDavid gave Edmonton a real chance at Stanley Cup glory, racking up 42 points in 25 games. Other players include:
- Jean-Sebastien Giguere (Anaheim) 2003
- Ron Hextall (Philadelphia) 1987
- Reggie Leach (Philadelphia) 1976
- Glenn Hall (St. Louis) 1968
- Roger Crozier (Detroit) 1966
Keep an eye out for these rare opportunities to cash in on an underdog in our NHL Awards betting page.
What Makes the Conn Smythe Trophy Unique Among NHL Trophies?
The Conn Smythe is truly a unique trophy because it’s the only individual player award for postseason play. Players who thrive in the high-pressure games that come in the playoffs are the perfect candidates for this award, and nothing defines clutch playoff performance quite like overtime goals.
Goalies, who are relied on heavily for playoff success, get greater consideration with the Conn Smythe, and win way more often than they do the Hart Memorial (MVP for regular season). This could be because goalies have the Vezina for regular season awards, freeing up the Hart for forwards and defensemen.
Throughout the award’s 60-year span:
- Goalies have won 17 times
- Left wingers have won 3 times (Mark Messier was considered LW/C)
- Right wingers have won 7 times
- Centres have won 21 times
- Defencemen have won 12 times
Take note of who the top centremen is on the team you think will win; they win nearly a third of the time.
Who Are the Most Famous Conn Smythe Trophy Winners?
From Bobby Orr’s reign in the ‘70s to Wayne Gretzky’s a decade later, many famous hockey players have claimed the Conn Smythe—some multiple times.
Which Players Have Won It Multiple Times?
Since its inception in 1965, six players have won the Conn Smythe more than once.
- Patrick Roy: 1986, 1993 and 2001
- Sidney Crosby: 2016 and 2017
- Wayne Gretzky: 1985 and 1988
- Mario Lemieux: 1991 and 1992
- Bobby Orr: 1970 and 1972
- Bernie Parent: 1974 and 1975
What Are the Most Surprising Winners?
Some could argue that Justin Williams winning the Conn Smythe in 2014 was a bit of a surprise. Anze Kopitar led the team in postseason assists, and Marian Gaborik and Jeff Carter were the top 1 and 2 goal scorers for the Kings that year. This is an example of a player who exhibited consistent clutch play and provided a veteran presence when it mattered most. In the Kings’ three Game 7s, Williams, who became known as Mr. Game 7, scored two goals and tallied three assists. He led the team in points in the Finals series against the New York Rangers with two goals and five assists, and scored the OT winner in Game 1. It goes to show that it’s not always a flashy superstar who wins the Conn Smythe.
How Does the Conn Smythe Trophy Impact NHL Betting?
Tracking odds on the Conn Smythe futures market is an excellent way to lock in value.
Can You Bet on Conn Smythe Trophy Winners?
The Awards page in our NHL futures market has odds for all of the top NHL trophies, including the Conn Smythe. You can bet on the winner before the playoffs begin or mid-postseason. The odds will fluctuate based on star players’ performances, but once you place a bet, the odds registered are locked in.
What Betting Strategies Work Best?
Once the Stanley Cup Finals matchup is established, the Conn Smythe odds on the star players tighten. If you can place some more speculative bets earlier on, the value will be better. Think about which team is favoured to win the Stanley Cup, and who their star players are. If you’re unable to bet beforehand, you could look for value with goalies and potential underdog scenarios instead of going with the top pick on the Conn Smythe odds board. Hedging your bets with multiple picks can also help when you venture out beyond the favourites.
Why Do Canadian Fans Care So Much About the Conn Smythe Trophy?
The Conn Smythe was created in Canada to honour a Canadian hockey icon who helped bring the Toronto Maple Leafs to the forefront of the NHL for decades. Designed to replicate Maple Leaf Gardens, an iconic hockey venue in Toronto dubbed the “Cathedral” of hockey, it is a point of pride for Canadian hockey players to be singled out for their tenacious team-first mentality, which is why the Conn Smythe resonates so deeply with fans of the most popular NHL teams in Canada.
In 2025, the award went to Holland Landing, Ontario native Sam Bennett, Florida’s leading goal scorer, who scored five goals during the Panthers’ Stanley Cup Finals series. Florida fans were no doubt cheering the Panthers after Game 6, but people from Bennett’s small hockey town would have been proud to hear him named MVP.
FAQs About the Conn Smythe Trophy
Goalies have won the Conn Smythe 17 times.
With a total of nine recipients, the Montreal Canadiens have produced the most Conn Smythe winners.
The first Conn Smythe trophy was awarded at the 1965 Stanley Cup Finals, going to Montreal centreman Jean Beliveau.
Four rookies have won the Conn Smythe, and all were goaltenders (Ken Dryden, Patrick Roy, Ron Hextall and Cam Ward).
Centre wins the Conn Smythe most often.