Ranking Every Conn Smythe Trophy Winner Since 1990
Although there is no such thing as a poor Conn Smythe Trophy performance as MVP of the playoffs, some runs are more impressive than others. Sometimes, a player simply wins by virtue of having the best performance on the team despite putting up a performance that wasn’t extraordinary, often seen on very deep teams where no one player needed to do heavy lifting. Other times, we see a magnificent performance where one player truly dominated and dictated whether their team was going to be successful or not.
This list will look back to the 1990 playoffs as an approximate benchmark to begin the modern era to rank each winner, taking into account basic stats, such as goals, points, and save percentage, as well as additional context, such as game winning goals or specific storylines. It is important to note that plus/minus will be mentioned throughout as a minor factor when looking at how impressive a run is. While plus/minus is largely considered to be a sometimes misleading and unimportant statistic, it is much more valuable in a shorter sample size and in a playoff environment, where most, if not all teams are “good”, and thereby the plus/minus of players are usually not inflated like they can be in the regular season. Tiers will also be included, as players ranked within a tier could easily be switched around with the right argument. Because this article is lengthy, a summary table will be left at the bottom of the page for those who are only interested in the rankings.
Tier 1 - Good Playoff Performance, but Below Conn Smythe Expectations
34. 2016 - Sidney Crosby (F)
Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins won the 2016 Conn Smythe Trophy with six goals and 19 points in 24 games played. Additionally, Crosby recorded three game winning goals in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Tampa Bay Lightning. However, as important as Crosby was to the 2016 Stanley Cup win, mainly in his two-way play that is not always reflected on the stat sheet, Crosby’s baseline stats are much lower than what is typically seen of a Conn Smythe Trophy winner. Crosby finished sixth in points league wide in the post-season, and second on the team behind Phil Kessel, who was only three voting points shy of winning the Conn Smythe himself. Crosby’s 19 points in 24 games played is the lowest points per game of a Conn Smythe winning forward, and his minus two is the worst plus/minus of any Conn Smythe winner of all positions since the trophy was introduced in 1965. Although this entry may seem like an insult to 2016 Crosby, it is simultaneously a compliment to depth of the 2016 Pittsburgh Penguins. It is important to clarify that Crosby was not a poor choice for the 2016 Conn Smythe winner. While some said Kessel deserved it more, these two were the only legitimate candidates, as from top to bottom, the 2016 Penguins are one of the deepest teams of all time and didn’t need one individual player to do any heavy lifting.
33. 2007 - Scott Niedermayer (D)
Scott Niedermayer of the Anaheim Ducks won the 2007 Conn Smythe Trophy with three goals, two of which were game winners, and 11 points in 21 games played. As both the captain of the team and the only player on the roster who had won a Stanley Cup before, Scott Niedermayer played a significant leadership role in helping the Ducks achieve their first Stanley Cup in franchise history. Additionally, Niedermayer was a key player on their number one penalty killing unit that resulted in an impressive 86.8% penalty kill. Niedermayer also averaged 29:51 of ice time per game, which is the ninth most in NHL history for players who played in at least 10 playoff games in a single post-season, although was surprisingly still third on his team, with Beauchemin and Pronger averaging more ice time. Niedermayer was a plus two, which is tied for the lowest of any Conn Smythe winning defenceman. Niedermayer’s 11 points put him at 20th in the 2007 playoffs, third among defencemen, and eighth on the team. Goaltender Jean-Sebastian Giguere was excellent, however, his .922 save percentage didn’t quite justify the fact that he missed the majority of the first round of the playoffs. The leading scorer on the team was Ryan Getzlaf with 17 points, not quite enough to be worthy of a Conn Smythe Trophy. The 2007 Anaheim Ducks were a prime example of a team that wins with depth scoring, similar to the 2016 Penguins, where no single player was necessarily outstanding or needed to be. As a result, Scott Niedermayer was a relatively unimpressive Conn Smythe Trophy winner despite being what was probably the best choice on the team.
32. 1995 - Claude Lemieux (F)
Claude Lemieux of the New Jersey Devils won the 1995 Conn Smythe Trophy with 13 goals and 16 points in 20 games played. His points per game is only slightly better than 2016 Sidney Crosby, however, all 13 of his goals came at even-strength, including three game winning goals, proving to be an important part of the 1995 Stanley Cup win. However, similar to 2016 Crosby, Lemieux’s baseline stats are not what is typically seen of a Conn Smythe winner. Lemieux finished fourth on the team in points, and eighth in the league. However, his first place ranking in goals and his impressive plus 12 edges him a few ranks ahead of 2016 Sidney Crosby. As a unit, the 1995 Devils were one of the stingiest defensive teams, allowing only 1.70 goals against per game, tied with the 2000 Devils for the second lowest of any finalist since 1990. Although there wasn’t one defencemen in particular worthy of a Conn Smythe, the argument could have been made for Martin Brodeur to win in 1995 due to his impressive .927 save percentage and three shutouts. However, Claude Lemieux was still a good choice, but is once again a testament to the depth of the 1995 Devils.
31. 2013 - Patrick Kane (F)
Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks won the 2013 Conn Smythe Trophy with nine goals and 19 points in 23 games played. Kane’s points per game is only slightly better than 2016 Sidney Crosby, but his nine goals and plus seven makes Kane’s baseline stats slightly more impressive. Patrick Kane performed at his best in crucial games, such as a hat-trick performance in game five against the Kings, where his overtime winner sent the Blackhawks to the Stanley Cup Finals, and his two goal performance in game five against the Bruins in a 3-1 win put the Blackhawks ahead in the finals 3-2. Even still, some argued that goaltender Corey Crawford was more deserving of the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2013, posting a .932 save percentage.
Tier 2 - Excellent Playoff Performance, but Mediocre Conn Smythe Performance
30. 2019 - Ryan O’Reilly (F)
Ryan O’Reilly of the St. Louis Blues won the 2019 Conn Smythe Trophy with eight goals and 23 points in 26 games played. Make no mistake, if this was a list ranking the performance of players in the Stanley Cup Finals, Ryan O’Reilly would be near the top. His five goals and four assists among the seven games played in the finals, scoring in each of the final four games, cemented his status as the 2019 playoff MVP. Heading into the finals, O’Reilly had three goals and 14 points in 19 games, which was inferior to his teammate Jaden Schwartz, who had twelve goals. By the end of the playoffs, O’Reilly was tied for first in points, although Brad Marchand of the Bruins had a better points per game statistic. Ryan O’Reilly was the clear Conn Smythe winner, however, his collective playoff performance was not as impressive as an average Conn Smythe winning forward.
29. 1990 - Bill Ranford (G)
Bill Ranford of the Edmonton Oilers won the 1990 Conn Smythe Trophy with a save percentage of .912, one shutout, and two assists. Although a .912 save percentage would not be Conn Smythe worthy in today’s NHL, in 1990, this was good enough for third best in the playoffs among all goaltenders who played at least four games. Ranford’s most impressive portion of his run came in the Stanley Cup Finals, where he stopped a combined 148 out of 156 shots for a .949 save percentage, allowing no more than two goals in a single game. However, despite this finals performance, it is somewhat surprising that the Conn Smythe Trophy was not awarded to Craig Simpson, who posted 16 goals, including the Stanley Cup winning goal, and 31 points in 22 games played.
28. 2000 - Scott Stevens (D)
Scott Stevens of the New Jersey Devils won the 2000 Conn Smythe Trophy with three goals, two of those being game winning goals, and 11 points in 23 games as a defensive defenceman. Additionally, Stevens was a plus nine, tied for first in the playoffs for plus/minus. For the standards of 2000, these stats are quite impressive for a defensive defenceman. Stevens played an important role on their top pairing defensive unit on a team tied for the second fewest goals against per game of any finalist since 1990, allowing only 1.7 goals per game. Part of this feat includes the fewest shots per game allowed in a single playoff game in the modern era, when the Toronto Maple Leafs only managed six shots on Devils’ goaltender Martin Brodeur in game six of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Stevens was a force to be reckoned with, as his hits against both Tie Domi and Eric Lindros in this playoff run are still talked about in the present day.
27. 1998 - Steve Yzerman
Steve Yzerman of the Detroit Red Wings won the 1998 Conn Smythe Trophy with six goals and 24 points in 22 games, leading the playoffs in points. Steve Yzerman was also a plus 10, had a fantastic face-off winning percentage of 60.2%, and captained his team to back-to-back Stanley Cups. Although he had over a point per game, his six goals is relatively low for a Conn Smythe winning forward. Additionally, teammate Nicklas Lidstrom was debatably a better candidate for the award that post-season. Lidstrom had 19 points as a defencemen, was a plus 12, and led the team in time-on-ice per game with 27:51, almost a minute longer than second on the team, Larry Murphy. Yzerman’s performance in 1998 was still great, but by the standards of Conn Smythe winners, it ranks lower on the list.
Tier 3 - Average or Good Conn Smythe Performance
26. 2006 - Cam Ward (G)
Cam Ward of the Carolina Hurricanes won the 2006 Conn Smythe Trophy with a .920 save percentage, two shutouts, and 15 wins, one shy of the full 16. Cam Ward also had a 4-2 record in overtime. Although his baseline stats are below average of a Conn Smythe winning goaltender, this is a case where the context is more important. At the time, Cam Ward was a 22 year old rookie goaltender who had played 28 regular season games in his career. He was the backup goaltender behind Martin Gerber, however, Ward replaced Gerber as the starter after the Hurricanes unexpectedly dropped their first two games against a much lower seeded Montreal Canadiens. In game three, Ward took over as the starter, and won seven consecutive games. Gerber would briefly return in the Eastern Conference Finals against Buffalo before Ward earned his net back after a shaky game five from Gerber. Ward went on to have a stellar performance in the finals, including a game saving stop towards the end of game seven that kept the score 2-1 in favour of the Hurricanes. Cam Ward’s run is extra impressive due to his responsibility in turning the team around as a 22 year old rookie, however, his baseline stats prevents him from being further ahead of other Conn Smythe winners.
25. 2010 - Jonathan Toews (F)
Jonathan Toews of the Chicago Blackhawks won the 2010 Conn Smythe Trophy with seven goals and 29 points in 23 games played. Although seven goals is on the low side of a Conn Smythe winning forward, three of his goals were game winning goals. Toews would finish second in the post-season in points, only one shy of Danny Briere on the Flyers, although Toews had a slightly better points per game stat. Jonathan Toews was also consistent, with the only slowdown being his three assists among six games in the Stanley Cup Finals. Toews also dominated the face-off circle, going 60.2% throughout the playoffs. The only notable flaw in Toews’ 2010 run is his minus one, which is the second lowest plus/minus after 2016 Crosby for any Conn Smythe winner. Overall, Toews’ performance in 2010 was good, but didn’t have many incredible storylines that would propel it higher on the list.
24. 2017 - Sidney Crosby (F)
Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins won the 2017 Conn Smythe Trophy with eight goals and 27 points in 24 games played. After his 2017 Conn Smythe win, Crosby joined Bernie Parent and Mario Lemieux as the only players to win this trophy in back-to-back seasons. Although Crosby’s 2016 Conn Smythe win was ranked at the bottom of this list, his 2017 Conn Smythe win was much more impressive and falls more towards the expectations of a typical Conn Smythe winner. Crosby finished second in points, only one behind teammate Evgeni Malkin, but with one less game played. Although Crosby was a plus four and did not have any game winning goals, his consistency was invaluable to his team, as his “worst” series in terms of points production was against the Ottawa Senators in the Eastern Conference Finals, where he still posted six points in seven games, including a primary assist on the double overtime goal to send the Penguins to the Stanley Cup Finals. Crosby’s 2017 post-season is a perfect example of when baseline stats do tell the story, as his consistent production led the Penguins to back-to-back Stanley Cup victories.
Players to win back-to-back Conn Smythe Trophies
23. 1997 - Mike Vernon (G)
Mike Vernon of the Detroit Red Wings won the 1997 Conn Smythe Trophy with a .927 save percentage, one shutout, and one assist. The highest number of goals allowed by Mike Vernon in a single game during the 1997 playoffs was four, and it only occurred twice. Despite a couple of off-nights, Vernon was consistently putting up impressive numbers, and was also cool under pressure, going 3-0 in overtime. In the Stanley Cup Finals, Vernon allowed just six total goals in their sweep over the Flyers, stopping 96 of 102 shots for a .941 save percentage. Overall, the 1997 Detroit Red Wings were a fantastic team and would only lose four games in the playoffs. Due to the defensive support Mike Vernon received, suppressing shots on goal to just 25.8 per game, the ninth fewest among all finalists since 1990, Mike Vernon’s run ranks lower than some of the other Conn Smythe goaltending performances.
22. 1999 - Joe Nieuwendyk (F)
Joe Nieuwendyk of the Dallas Stars won the 1999 Conn Smythe Trophy with 11 goals and 21 points in 23 games played. While on the surface these stats seem mediocre for a Conn Smythe winner, the impressive part of Nieuwendyk’s 1999 run comes from his game winning goals, tying the record at the time with six, including two overtime goals. Nieuwendyk’s most impressive series was in the Western Conference finals against the Colorado Avalanche, where he had a point in all games excluding game one, and finished with three goals and six assits in seven games, including two game winning goals. Nieuwendyk would finish first in goals, third in points, and posted an impressive plus seven.
21. 2023 - Jonathan Marchessault (F)
Jonathan Marchessault of the Vegas Golden Knights won the 2023 Conn Smythe Trophy with 13 goals and 25 points in 22 games. He also led the post-season in plus/minus, with a plus 17, three more than second place. What makes Marchessault’s performance impressive beyond the stats was his ability to show up in important games. Marchessault posted a hat-trick and the game winning goal in game six against the Oilers, the series clinching game against arguably their toughest opponent during their playoff run. Additionally, Marchessault had four goals and four assists in five games in the Stanley Cup Finals, recording at least one point in each game.
20. 2018 - Alex Ovechkin (F)
Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals won the 2018 Conn Smythe Trophy with 15 goals and 27 points in 24 games played. Ovechkin finished second in points, five points behind teammate Evgeni Kusnetsov, and first in goals. Six of Ovechkin’s 15 goals came on the powerplay, which was the third best powerplay among cup winners since 1990. Additionally, Ovechkin scored two game winning goals, one of which came with approximately one minute left against their biggest nemesis, the Pittsburgh Penguins, in a pivotal game three, with the other being the game seven Eastern Conference Finals winning goal to send the Capitals to their first Stanley Cup Finals since 1998. Ovechkin also scored in game five of the finals, the game in which the Capitals would win their first Stanley Cup in franchise history. Overall, Ovechkin had a fantastic playoff performance worthy of a Conn Smythe, although some debate whether Evgeni Kusnetsov was more valuable to their cup win. Ovechkin finished with 80 voting points, while Kuznetsov received 64.
19. 2002 - Nicklas Lidstrom (D)
Nicklas Lidstrom of the Detroit Red Wings won the 2002 Conn Smythe Trophy with five goals and 16 points in 23 games played, good enough for first among all defencemen, but fifth best on the team. For 2002 standards, 16 points as a defenceman in a single post-season was very impressive, and two of his five goals were game winners, which includes game two of the Stanley Cup Finals after the Red Wings had lost game one. Additionally, Lidstrom was largely responsible for turning his team around. Despite winning the Presidents Trophy as the league’s best regular season team, the Red Wings stumbled into the playoffs with just one win in their last 10 games, and then dropped the first two playoff games against the Canucks. With seemingly no momentum on their side, Nick Lidstrom scored a low percentage goal when he took a slapshot from center ice, which was the turning point for the team. Additionally, Lidstrom averaged 31:10 of ice time per game, which is the most of any player in NHL history who played at least 10 playoff games in one post-season.
Players on finalist teams with the most ice time per game in NHL history
Tier 4 - Great Conn Smythe Performance
18. 2015 - Duncan Keith (D)
Duncan Keith of the Chicago Blackhawks won the 2015 Conn Smythe Trophy with three goals and 21 points in 23 games played. Keith’s run was very similar to that of 2002 Nicklas Lidstrom, as Keith placed second all time in time on ice per game under the same conditions, averaging 31:07 per game, just three seconds less than Lidstrom in 2002. Keith had three different game where he played over 40 minutes, and one other game where he played 39:51. Although Keith’s three goals seem low, all three of them were game winning goals, including a double-overtime winner, and the Stanley Cup winning goal. The 2015 Blackhawks faced just two elimination games, both against the Anaheim Ducks when they were down 3-2 in the Western Conference Finals. In these two games, when it mattered most, Duncan Keith posted five assists and was a plus five. Keith would finish the playoffs with a league leading plus 16, five more than second place, and nine more than Marian Hossa who was second place on the Blackhawks. Keith also led all defencemen in points, and was tied for first in assists among all players.
17. 2014 - Justin Williams (F)
Justin Williams of the Los Angeles Kings won the 2014 Conn Smythe Trophy with nine goals and 25 points in 26 games played. This put Justin Williams at second in points for the playoffs, tied for third in goals, and first in plus minus at plus 13, three ahead of teammate Willie Mitchell for second place in the league. While these baseline stats are good, the context is what makes Justin Williams’ 2014 performance great. The 2014 Kings went 7-0 in elimination games, and in these must-win games, Justin Williams had six goals and five assists for 12 points. In game sevens specifically, Williams recorded two goals and three assists for five points in three games, improving his lifetime record to 7-0 in game sevens, earning the nickname “Mr. Game 7”. Williams also scored the opening goal to game five in the Stanley Cup Finals, where the Kings would win the 2014 Stanley Cup. Justin Williams showed up to just about every important game during their 2014 run.
Justin Williams' career game seven stats
16. 2008 - Henrik Zetterberg (F)
Henrik Zetterberg of the Detroit Red Wings won the 2008 Conn Smythe Trophy with 13 goals and 27 points in 22 games. This tied Sidney Crosby for most points in the playoffs, although Crosby did have a better points per game statistic. Zetterberg also led the playoffs in plus minus as a plus 16. Beyond the baseline stats, Zetterberg was a complete 200-foot player, with his 27 points being split up into 12 at even-strength, 10 on the powerplay, and five shorthanded, which includes two shorthanded goals. At the time, only Wayne Gretzky and Jari Kurri had more shorthanded points in a single post-season, when they had eight and six respectively in 1983. Dustin Brown in 2012 is the only other player since 1990 to put up five shorthanded points in one post-season. To top it off, Zetterberg had an impressive four game winning goals, which includes the Stanley Cup winning goal.
15. 2020 - Victor Hedman (D)
Victor Hedman of the Tampa Bay Lightning won the 2020 Conn Smythe Trophy with 10 goals and 22 points in 25 games played, although due to the circumstances of the “bubble”, taking away the qualifying round would slightly adjust Hedman’s stats to 10 goals and 21 points in 22 games played. Hedman finished third in plus minus at an impressive plus 13, and scored three game winning goals, including the double overtime series winner against the Bruins in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Hedman’s 10 goals puts him at third all time among defencemen in a single playoff run, only behind Paul Coffey in 1985 and Brian Leetch in 1994. Of the 16 teams who qualified for the standard playoffs, Victor Hedman finished third in time on ice per game, averaging 26:28 of ice time, and first among any players that played more than five games. With impressive factors in just about every category, Victor Hedman’s 2020 performance finds itself on the top half of the Conn Smythe runs list.
14. 2004 - Brad Richards (F)
Brad Richards of the Tampa Bay Lightning won the 2004 Conn Smythe Trophy with 12 goals and 26 points in 23 games, leading the post-season in points, and finishing second in goals. While these baseline stats seem “good” but not “great” for a Conn Smythe winner, Richards’ record setting seven game winning goals amplifies his performance higher. Richards’ game winners were spread out among the playoffs, with one in the first round and two in each of the latter three rounds. Of these seven goals, one was an overtime winning goal. Additionally, Brad Richards showed up when it mattered most. In game seven of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Flyers, Brad Richards assisted on both goals that were scored in their 2-1 win. In game four against the Flames in the Stanley Cup Finals, Brad Richards posted the only goal in a 1-0 win to tie the series at 2-2. In game six when the Lightning were down 3-2 in the Stanley Cup Finals, Brad Richards scored the only two goals in regulation, and would assist on the game winning double overtime goal. He would add one more assist in the game seven that secured Tampa Bay the 2004 Stanley Cup, resulting in two goals and six points in a combined three elimination games.
Most game winning goals in a single post-season. Note that Nazem Kadri's five game-winning goals in 2020 is not included due to the inclusion of the play-in round.
13. 2001 - Patrick Roy (G)
Patrick Roy of the Colorado Avalanche won the 2001 Conn Smythe Trophy with a .934 save percentage, four shutouts, and one assist. This would be Roy’s third Conn Smythe Trophy win, a record that is yet to be matched. While his baseline stats are impressive, Roy’s consistency and ability to perform when his team needed him the most is what made his 2001 run special. After an up and down first round and a shaky game one against the Kings in the second round, Roy would allow only six goals in the remaining six games of that second round, which includes two shutouts and three games of allowing just one goal. As strong as the Presidents Trophy winning 2001 Avalanche were, their offensive depth was one of the few questionable aspects of their roster. After Peter Forsberg was out of the playoffs due to injury after the seven game series with the Kings, the Avalanche depth became even shallower. Despite this, Roy gave his team confidence, as in the remaining 12 games of their playoff run, game five against the Devils would be the only game where Roy would have a save percentage of under .900. Down 3-2 in the Stanley Cup Finals, Roy would allow only one more goal as the Avalanche took out the Devils in seven games.
12. 2022 - Cale Makar (D)
Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche won the 2022 Conn Smythe Trophy with eight goals and 29 points in 20 games played as a defenceman. Makar’s 29 points was third in the post-season behind McDavid and Draisaitl of the Oilers, but Makar placed first on his team. Additionally, Makar finished with the fifth most points in a single post-season among defencemen in NHL history. Although Makar’s plus seven was 16th in the league and sixth on the Avalanche, Makar was tasked with the toughest defensive matchups throughout the playoffs, most noticeably in helping contain Connor McDavid to seven points in four games, which was below his total playoff points per game. Makar was also vital to the Avalanche’s special teams, posting 12 powerplay points and quarterbacking the best playoff powerplay of all time among finalists, as well as providing a shorthanded goal. To top it off, Makar also scored an overtime goal.
11. 2009 - Evgeni Malkin (F)
Evgeni Malkin of the Pittsburgh Penguins won the 2009 conn Smythe Trophy with 14 goals and 36 points in 24 games played. His 36 points was first in the post-season, five ahead of teammate Sidney Crosby. Before Connor McDavid raised the bar in terms of points and points per game expectations starting in 2022, Malkin’s performance in 2009 set a new record for most points among any player not named Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, or Paul Coffey. In other words, Malkin’s run stood out as having far more points than anyone else in the low scoring era of the 21st century, and even more points than those who played in the higher scoring early 90s. Malkin was consistent throughout the playoffs, recording nine points in six games in the first round, 10 points in seven games in the second round, nine points in four games in the Eastern Conference Finals, including six goals and a hat-trick, and eight points in seven games in the Stanley Cup Finals. Malkin defined consistency, achieving more than a point per game in every series. To top it off, Malkin had three game winning goals, including an overtime winner.
Tier 5 - Excellent Conn Smythe Performances
10. 1993 - Patrick Roy (G)
Patrick Roy of the Montreal Canadiens won the 1993 Conn Smythe Trophy with a .929 save percentage and one assist. Although Roy didn’t post a shutout, it is important to keep in mind that scoring was much higher in the 1992-1993 season compared to scoring just a couple of seasons later, and at the time, a .929 save percentage was unheard of for a single post-season. In fact, from 1980 up until this point, only Curtis Joseph in that same 1993 post-season had a better save percentage in a single playoff run among all goalies to play in 10 or more playoff games in one post-season. However, what puts Roy into the category of all time great Conn Smythe runs was his historic overtime record. After dropping an overtime game against the Nordiques in their first game of the playoffs, Roy and the Canadiens would go on to win 10 straight overtime games, which includes two against the Nordqiues, three against the Sabres, two against the Islanders, and three against the Kings. After the first loss, Roy stopped 58 consecutive shots in overtime. When including their one loss, Patrick Roy stopped 65 out of 66 shots for an overtime save percentage of .985, which is even more incredible when considering the pressure of playoff overtime, making these 66 shots more “nerve racking”. Roy played a large part in the 1993 Canadiens’ 11 game post-season winning streak, tying both the Penguins and Blackhawks from the previous year.
9. 2021 - Andrei Vasilevskiy (G)
Andrei Vasilevskiy of the Tampa Bay Lightning won the 2021 Conn Smythe Trophy with a .937 save percentage and five shutouts, four of which came in each series clinching victory. If that wasn’t enough, Vasilveskiy would set the record for the best goals saved above expected since the advanced stat was tracked in 2007, with a GSAA of 26.6. Vasilevskiy had 11 games where he posted a save percentage of .950 or better, and one additional game where he posted a .947 save percentage. Vasilevskiy’s fantastic baseline stats as well as his ability to close out important games makes his 2021 extremely impressive, and even beat out Kucherov by a wide margin in the Conn Smythe voting, despite Kucherov’s 32 point performance, which would usually be worthy of the award. Vasilevskiy had a fantastic performance in their 2020 Stanley Cup win as well, although Victor Hedman was the correct choice. However, the fact that Vasilevskiy played every game in a full post-season less than a year prior due to the circumstances, and then played in every post-season game in 2021 as well makes his already impressive 2021 performance that much better.
Andrei Vasilevskiy's save percentage in each game where the Lightning had an opportunity to advance to the next round.
8. 1996 - Joe Sakic (F)
Joe Sakic of the Colorado Avalanche won the 1996 Conn Smythe Trophy with 18 goals and 34 points in 22 games, good enough for first in goals, assists, and points. Sakic’s 18 goals in a single post-season is also good enough for third best all time, only behind Reggie Leach and Jari Kurri, who each scored 19 goals in 1976 and 1985 respectively. Above Sakic’s baseline stats, which are already impressive, he also set the record at the time with six game winning goals, two of which were in overtime. Sakic scored the overtime goal in the first round against the Canucks in a pivotal game five, and scored his other overtime goal against the Blackhawks in a crucial triple overtime game four that would have seen the Avalanche down 3-1 had they lost. Sakic also had the game six series winning goal in the first round against the Canucks, the game six series winning goal against the Red Wings in the Western Conference Finals, and the game winning goal in game three of the Stanley Cup Finals against the Panthers. To top it off, Sakic was a plus 10, which included being on the ice for the Stanley Cup winning, triple overtime goal in a 1-0 game four win.
7. 2011 - Tim Thomas (G)
Tim Thomas of the Boston Bruins won the 2011 Conn Smythe Trophy with a save percentage of .940, four shutouts, and 9.1 goals saved above expected. Tim Thomas also helped his team win three game sevens, posting two shutouts and a save percentage of .969 in these three game sevens. Despite being outshot by the Canucks in the finals, Tim Thomas allowed just eight goals compared to the 23 that his team scored. As a result, the 2011 Bruins, in large part due to Tim Thomas, set the record for fewest goals against in a seven game series in NHL history. An amazing twelve of Thomas’ 25 games played had him post a save percentage of .950 or better, including once against Montreal, three times against Philadelphia, three times against Tampa Bay, and five times against Vancouver. Thomas was also cool under pressure, helping the Bruins go 4-0 in overtime heading into the finals before their only overtime loss in game two. At 37 years old, Tim Thomas was, and still is, the oldest player to win the Conn Smythe Trophy. He also won the Vezina Trophy in this same season.
6. 1994 - Brian Leetch (D)
Brian Leetch of the New York Rangers won the 1994 Conn Smythe Trophy with 11 goals and 34 points in 23 games played. Despite being a defencemen, Leetch’s 34 points were enough to lead the playoffs, and his 34 points in a single post-season is the second most of all time by a defencemen, only behind Paul Coffey in 1985. Similarly, Leetch’s 11 goals were also second most of all time by a defencemen, again behind only Paul Coffey in 1985. However, Leetch’s four game winning goals is tied for first among defencemen all time, only matched by Slava Voynov in 2013. In addition to these impressive stats, Leetch had a plus/minus of plus 19, which is tied for first among defencemen since 1985, and second when including all skaters, only behind forward Nathan Horton’s plus 20 in 2013. Leetch was on the ice for 61 out of the 81 goals that the Rangers scored in the 1994 post-season, including 19 out of 22 powerplay goals. Leetch was also responsible, taking only six minutes-worth of penalties despite all of his ice time. Leetch also showed up when it mattered most, which includes two assists in their game six elimination game against the Devils in the Eastern Conference Finals, as well as a goal in game seven of that same series, and a goal in game seven of the Stanley Cup Finals.
5. 1992 - Mario Lemieux (F)
Mario Lemieux of the Pittsburgh Penguins won the 1992 Conn Smythe Trophy with 16 goals and 34 points in 15 games played. For all players who played at least 10 games in a single post-season, Lemieux’ run in 1992 places third all time in points per game, only behind Gretzky in 1985 and Gretzky in 1983. Lemieux’ 16 goals in 15 games ranks him as the second best all time in goals per game under the same conditions, behind only Reggie Leach in 1976. Lemieux also had five game winning goals, setting the record at the time until Sakic broke it in 1996. What makes his run even more incredible is the fact that throughout the playoffs, Lemieux missed six games, making him the only Conn Smythe winner to miss over a quarter of his teams’ playoff games. Half of Lemieux’ points came in a six game span against the Capitals in the first round, where he put up seven goals and 17 points, in large part due to a six point performance and a five point performance in two separate games. As a team, the Penguins steamrolled through the playoffs, winning 11 straight games after they were down 2-1 against the Rangers in the second round. The only reason 1992 Lemieux isn’t even higher than his already high ranking is due to the fact that his team lost just one game without him, meaning he doesn’t receive the status of “carrying” his team. His teammates, specifically Kevin Stevens, Ron Francis, and Jaromir Jagr, all had over a point per game, which also implies that Lemieux did not need to do as much heavy lifting as he did anyway. However, it would be completely reasonable to suggest 1992 Mario Lemieux could rank as high as number one on this list depending on how one views the impressiveness of a Conn Smythe run, whether that be sheer dominance versus dominance relative to teammates and team expectations.
4. 2024 - Connor McDavid (F)
Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers won the 2024 Conn Smythe Trophy with eight goals and 42 points, obliterating the record for most assists in a single post-season. McDavid’s performance was so spectacular that he was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy despite being on the losing team, becoming just the sixth player in NHL history to do so. Despite the relatively low eight goals, McDavid scored when it mattered, scoring a magnificent goal in a crucial Western Conference Finals game six against the Dallas Stars, where they were severely outplayed, as well as a third period game tying goal against the Canucks in game two that would have otherwise meant a 2-0 series lead for the Canucks. Despite the consistent performance from McDavid, what he will be remembered most for was his efforts in their historic comeback attempt in the Stanley Cup Finals against the Florida Panthers. Down 3-0 in the series, McDavid recorded three goals and five assists in the next two games, with his game five performance being especially memorable for his assist after splitting through three opposing players. Despite 17 of McDavid’s points coming from their historically good power play which was tied for fifth best among finalists since 1990, McDavid still put up 25 even strength points and finished the playoffs as a plus 12. Although some may have a recency bias and remember his 2024 run for not recording a point in the final two games, the majority of hockey fans will remember him for putting a team on his back that was, on paper, not seen to be as strong as a typical cup contender, especially when Leon Draisaitl appeared to be injured in the latter half of their post-season.
3. 2003 - Jean - Sebastien Giguere (G)
Jean - Sebastien Giguere, commonly referred to as J.S. Gigeure, of the Anaheim Ducks, referred to as the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim at the time, won the 2003 Conn Smythe Trophy with a save percentage of .945 and five shutouts. If this wasn’t enough, J.S. Giguere is responsible for the fewest goals scored in a single series in NHL history when he kept the Minnesota Wild to only one goal in the 2003 Western Conference Finals. Additionally, J.S. Giguere had one of the most impressive overtime performances of all time, going 7-0 in overtime, which included a quintuple (five) overtime win against Dallas, a triple overtime game against Detroit, a double overtime game against Minnesota, and four other single overtime games. Addiitonally, J.S. Giguere practically put his team on his back, as the Ducks were seen as a relatively mediocre team and finished seventh in the Western Conference. Thanks to Giguere, the Ducks managed to take out the defending champion Red Wings, the first seeded Stars, allow just one goal against the Wild, and give the eventual Stanley Cup champion Devils, who had also won the cup in 2000 and was one win away in 2001, a run for their money. Despite the fact that cup winning goaltender Martin Brodeur had a record setting seven shutouts and a .934 save percentage in the 2003 playoffs, J.S. Giguere still came out as the Conn Smythe winner, becoming the fifth player in NHL history to win the award in a losing effort.
Least amount of goals scored in a playoff series (minimum 4 games)
2. 1991 - Mario Lemieux (F)
Mario Lemieux of the Pittsburgh Penguins won the 1991 Conn Smythe Trophy with 16 goals and 44 points, achieving the feat of the second most points in a single post-season, only behind Wayne Gretzky with 47 points in 1985. Although one could argue that Lemieux deserves the number one spot for having this achievement, the only factor holding him back from being the clear number one, similar to the logic of his 1992 win, are his line mates. The 1990-1991 Pittsburgh Penguins had one of the best forward groups of all time, and occupied the top three points leaders in the 1991 playoffs. Wingers Mark Recchi and Kevin Stevens each had 34 and 33 points respectively, and just in case the top line was shut down, the Pittsburgh Penguins had Ron Francis, Joe Mullen, and Jaromir Jagr on the second line, all of whom had 1000+ point careers and are in the hall of fame. Despite the power of this Penguins’ offense, Lemieux as an individual still deserves the recognition as having one of the best Conn Smythe performances of all time. Despite 19 of his points coming on the powerplay, Lemieux still achieved a plus 14. Surprisingly, none of his 16 goals turned out to be game winning goals.
2012 - Jonathan Quick (G)
Jonathan Quick of the Los Angeles Kings won the 2012 Conn Smythe Trophy, and is crowned as this lists best Conn Smythe winner since 1990, arguably of all time, with a .946 save percentage, three shutouts, and 14.7 goals save above expected. In all 20 games that the Los Angeles Kings played in the 2012 post-season, the highest goals against in a single game was three… and it only happened twice… and one of those instances was an empty net, effectively meaning that Quick allowed three goals once, with all other games allowing two or less. The Los Angeles Kings had a goals against per game of 1.50, which is the best goals against per game record since 1960 when the Montreal Canadiens put up a 1.38 GAA in their Stanley Cup win that year. Only difference is Montreal played eight games, not to mention the league did not have the same credibility as it did in 2012. Three other teams have put up a GAA of 1.50 in a single playoff run, but again, the highest games played of those three is 12, almost half of the 2012 Los Angeles Kings. The worst game Jonathan Quick had based on save percentage was game five against the Devils, with an .895 save percentage, the only time his save percentage was below .900 in a game. Quick was also cool under pressure, going 4-0 in overtime. What makes this even more impressive is that the 2012 Los Angeles Kings were the lowest ranking Western Conference playoff team on the standings that year, winning less than half of their regular season games. Despite this, in the playoffs, not only did they knock off all three division winners and the eventual Eastern Conference finalist New Jersey Devils, becoming the only 8th seed or second wild card team to ever win the Stanley Cup, but they did so by going up 3-0 in all four series, being the only team to ever do so. The Kings’ offense was nothing extraordinary, in fact, of the 68 finalists since 1990, the Los Angeles Kings rank 44th in goals for per game, relatively mediocre. Additionally, their leading scorers Dustin Brown and Anze Kopitar both had 20 points, a relatively low team leading total. As a result, the dominance of the 2012 Kings is largely due to the unbelievable performance of goaltender Jonathan Quick. Not only did he play the largest role in helping his team win the Stanley Cup, but he played the largest roll on one of the most dominant playoff teams of all time.
Ranking summary
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