Bruce Bennett/Getty Photographs
For the primary time since 2003, the Conn Smythe Trophy has been awarded to a member of the shedding group.
After the Florida Panthers defeated the Edmonton Oilers to win the Stanley Cup on Monday, Oilers star Conor McDavid was given the award for an impressive efficiency within the playoffs.
McDavid completed the postseason with 42 factors—eight targets and 34 assists—throughout 25 video games performed.
In entrance of a Panthers crowd, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman was met with a rain of boos from the gang after he introduced McDavid had received the coveted award. McDavid didn’t come out to the ice to simply accept the award.
It was a bit shocking for McDavid to win the trophy given the rarity of a member of the shedding group successful it. The final winner from a shedding group was Jean-Sebastien Giguere of the Anaheim Mighty Geese in 2003.
Whereas Florida followers had been disenchanted to see McDavid win the award over Sergei Bobrovsky or one other member of the Panthers take dwelling the Conn Smythe, it is exhausting to disclaim that McDavid was essentially the most spectacular participant all through the playoffs.
His 42 factors within the postseason had been the fourth most in NHL historical past, trailing solely Wayne Gretzky (43, 47) and Mario Lemieux (44).
The Athletic @TheAthletic
Connor McDavid takes dwelling the Conn Smythe after recording the fourth most factors in a single NHL postseason in league historical past:
47 — Wayne Gretzky (1984-85)
44 — Mario Lemieux (1990-91)
43 — Wayne Gretzky (1987-88)
42 — Connor McDavid (2023-24)
40 — Wayne Gretzky (1992-93)… pic.twitter.com/V5KkeAc0JK
After McDavid was awarded the Conn Smythe, there have been blended reactions from followers on social media.
Josh Yohe @JoshYohe_PGH
Many will disagree. However I’ve an actual drawback with the MVP vote.
McDavid is likely one of the greatest gamers of all time. He was good. However he had no factors within the final two video games, was significantly quiet in maybe the largest NHL recreation of this century, and…his group misplaced.
Being awarded the Conn Smythe is a pleasant increase to McDavid’s resume, however the star doubtless would have somewhat walked away with the Stanley Cup Trophy. The Oilers put collectively a formidable stretch of video games to come back again from a 3-0 deficit, however they did not have sufficient to finish the historic comeback.
McDavid has now skilled his first Stanley Cup Finals and even was named the most effective participant of the postseason, however he’ll be seeking to come again subsequent season and win all of it.