Conn Smythe: NHL players believe McDavid should win regardless of Final results
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NHL players believe McDavid should win the Conn Smythe even if the Edmonton Oilers don't win the Stanley Cup against the Florida Panthers.
McDavid has been away from the scoresheet at the beginning of the Stanley Cup Finals against the Florida Panthers, but he still had a tremendous playoff run. In 22 games, he scored six goals and 32 assists.
In game 4, with his 32nd assist, he broke Wayne Gretzky's record for most assists in the playoffs:
"McDavid's assist is his 32nd of the playoffs, breaking Wayne Gretzky's record."
With the Oilers once again facing elimination at the hands of the Florida Panthers tonight, the Conn Smythe debates are heating up on social media.
The award given to the most valuable player in the playoffs could go to a member of the losing team, something that hasn't happened often in NHL history.
Many Oilers players opened up about this idea.
Here's what they had to say:
Brett Kulak: "For sure. He's the one guy who consistently brings elite-level play every game for us. Maybe people on the outside looking in might not see everything he's doing, but we feel his contributions and his impact on the team every single night. He always brings that extra gear."
Dylan Holloway: "I think so. I mean, anytime you beat Gretzky's record, it's pretty special. He's been unbelievable so far for us. He's such a great leader. So I think so, yeah."
Zach Hyman: "Any time our team's backs are against the wall, he's the first guy to push back," Hyman said. "For us to come back, he's got to be the best. He seems to always be the best when we're in these situations."
Dylan Holloway: "I think so. I mean, anytime you beat Gretzky's record, it's pretty special. He's been unbelievable so far for us. He's such a great leader. So I think so, yeah."
Zach Hyman: "Any time our team's backs are against the wall, he's the first guy to push back," Hyman said. "For us to come back, he's got to be the best. He seems to always be the best when we're in these situations."
McDavid to win the Conn Smythe Trophy even if the Oilers don't win the Stanley Cup?
A report from ESPN shared interesting details about the Conn Smythe. Greg Wyshynski wrote in a new paper that only five players who lost the Stanley Cup won the Conn Smythe in the 58 times it's been awarded in NHL history.
Four goalies won it: Roger Crozier, in 1966 with the Detroit Red Wings, Glenn Hall, with the St. Louis Blues in 1968, Ron Hextall with the Philadelphia Flyers in 1987, and Jean-Sebastien Giguere, with the Anaheim Ducks in 2003.
Only one forward won the Trophy: Reggie Leach. In 1976, they were swept out of the playoffs by the Montreal Canadiens after winning back-to-back Stanley Cups, but he still received the Conn Smythe.
This year, McDavid, just like Leach did in 1976, is the scoring leader in the playoffs, he's responsible for a majority of his team's offensive production, received credit from his teammates for their comebacks, and is the top candidate despite the Florida Panthers having multiple candidates (Aleksander Barkov and Sergei Bobrovsky). On top of that, he broke a record held by Wayne Gretzky.
There's definitely a case to be made for McDavid to win the Conn Smythe even if the Oilers don't win the Stanley Cup.
Do you agree with the NHL players who believe Connor McDavid should win the Conn Smythe Trophy regardless of the Stanley Cup Finals' results?
| POLL | ||
18 JUIN | 120 ANSWERS Conn Smythe: NHL players believe McDavid should win regardless of Final results Do you agree with the NHL players who believe Connor McDavid should win the Conn Smythe Trophy regardless of the Stanley Cup Finals' results? | ||
| Yes | 102 | 85 % |
| No | 18 | 15 % |
| List of polls | ||
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