For the primary time since 2003, the Conn Smythe Trophy has been awarded to a member of the shedding staff.
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 group 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 staff profitable it. The final winner from a shedding staff was Jean-Sebastien Giguere of the Anaheim Mighty Geese in 2003.
Whereas Florida followers have been dissatisfied to see McDavid win the award over Sergei Bobrovsky or one other member of the Panthers take residence the Conn Smythe, it is onerous to disclaim that McDavid was essentially the most spectacular participant all through the playoffs.
His 42 factors within the postseason have been the fourth most in NHL historical past, trailing solely Wayne Gretzky (43, 47) and Mario Lemieux (44).
After McDavid was awarded the Conn Smythe, there have been blended reactions from followers on social media.
Being awarded the Conn Smythe is a pleasant increase to McDavid’s resume, however the star seemingly would have somewhat walked away with the Stanley Cup Trophy. The Oilers put collectively a powerful 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 very best participant of the postseason, however he’ll be trying to come again subsequent season and win all of it.