Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid was selected the 2024 Conn Smythe Trophy winner after breaking Wayne Gretzky’s NHL record for assists in one playoff year, joining Gretzky and Mario Lemieux as the only players in League history with 40-plus points in a postseason and posting the highest point total in the Stanley Cup Final since 2010 (3-8—11, including an NHL record 3-5—8 while facing elimination in the Final). Awarded to “the most valuable player for his team in the playoffs,” McDavid was selected the winner in a vote by a panel of the Professional Hockey Writers Association.
Full list of Conn Smythe Trophy winners(first presented in 1965)
McDavid’s record-breaking playoff run helped the Oilers reach the Final for the first time in 18 years and win a franchise-record five games while facing elimination this postseason. After the club fell behind 3-0 in the series, McDavid responded by becoming the first player in NHL history with consecutive four-point games in the Final – in the process setting the League record for points while facing elimination in a single championship series (3-5—8 in 4 GP).
McDavid’s overall playoff run included a League-leading 8-34—42 in 25 games, breaking Gretzky’s record for assists in one postseason (31 in 1988) and challenging for his all-time points record by finishing with the fourth-highest total in Stanley Cup Playoffs history. McDavid’s point total was 20 more than the highest scoring player from any other team (Aleksander Barkov: 8-14—22 and Matthew Tkachuk: 6-16—22, both in 24 GP), the largest such difference in playoff history.
McDavid became the first captain to secure the Conn Smythe since a string of three straight years from 2016 to 2018 when Sidney Crosby (2x) and Alex Ovechkin received the honor with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals, respectively. McDavid, Crosby and Ovechkin are the only active players to claim the Conn Smythe Trophy as captain of their team.
In securing playoff MVP honors despite not winning the Cup, McDavid followed in the footsteps of goaltenders Jean-Sebastien Giguere (2003 Ducks), Ron Hextall (1987 Flyers), Glenn Hall (1968 Blues) and Roger Crozier (1966 Red Wings), along with forward Reggie Leach (1976 Flyers).
McDavid adds to a trophy case that includes the Art Ross Trophy (5x), Ted Lindsay Award (4x), Hart Memorial Trophy (3x) and Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy (1x). His 14 individual NHL Awards trail only Gretzky (31), Ovechkin (18), Lemieux (17) and Bobby Orr (17) for the most in League history. He is one of three players to win each of those five awards and one of six in League history to win the Conn Smythe, Art Ross, Ted Lindsay, Hart and lead the League in goals (for which there was no award until 1998-99).
REMINDER: McDavid is a Hart Memorial Trophy finalist for the sixth time in his nine NHL seasons. The Hart, along with the winners of four other awards will be presented live at Fontainebleau Las Vegas on Thursday (7 p.m. ET on ESPN, SN).
More from McDavid’s performance in the 2024 Stanley Cup Final…
* Most total points in a single Final by an active player (11), two back of the NHL record set by Wayne Gretzky in 1988 (13).
* First player in NHL history with consecutive four-point games at any point in the Stanley Cup Final.
* McDavid twice matched the modern-era record for points in a game while facing elimination in the Stanley Cup Final (four points in Game 4 and Game 5).
More from McDavid’s performance in the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs…
* Set Stanley Cup Playoffs records for assists (19) and points (23) after a loss, breaking marks previously held by Doug Gilmour (4-16—20 in 1993 w/ TOR).
* Tied Stanley Cup Playoffs records for assists (8) and points (11) while facing elimination.
* Became the first player in more than 25 years to record five assists in a playoff game (0-5—5 in Game 1 of R1).
