The number of players who have won the Conn Smythe Trophy is few and far between, and Oilers captain Connor McDavid joined the class with his spectacular performance in the 2024 playoffs.
While the Oilers ultimately fell to the Florida Panthers in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals, McDavid got a big nod, becoming the first player since J.S. Giguere to win it in a losing effort.
McDavid racked up eight goals and 34 assists for 42 points, setting an NHL record for assists in a single playoff, passing Wayne Gretzky, while also joining The Great One and Mario Lemieux as the only players in history with over 40 points in a single playoff.
But on June 24th, when the Panthers beat the Oilers 2-1 to win it all, McDavid never went onto the ice to accept the Conn Smythe Trophy — one of the league’s most prestigious awards. It’s something Giguere said the superstar should’ve done.
“I feel for Connor. He played so well and deserved that trophy in my mind,” Giguere said on The Nation Network’s Leafs Morning Take. “I do think that he should’ve gone and accept the trophy at the end of the day. The game is always bigger than the individual, and this is a major trophy for the NHL.
“It would’ve showed kids, I guess, that winning or losing, you still present yourself the right way and accept your faith. Easier said than done, I get it. I think he’s an amazing player, an amazing ambasadoor for the game, so it’s hard to imagine what was going through his mind. I know what it was like, I still would’ve taken the picture and leave, but it’s not easy for sure.”
After the game, a despondent McDavid, who was one of the last Oilers players on the ice before going into the locker room, said “It’s an honour (to win it) with the names on that trophy,” but struggled to find any other words.
Gigure’s Conn Smythe win also came in a losing effort, as his Anaheim Ducks fell to the New Jersey Devils in Game 7 of the 2003 Stanley Cup Finals. He posted a 15-6 record, a .945 save percentage and a 1.62 goals against average.
6/09/2003: Jean-Sebastien Giguere becomes the first #NHLducks player to win the Conn Smythe Trophy. He also becomes the fifth (and most recent) winner from a non-winning team in the Stanley Cup Final. pic.twitter.com/QUXj8VRpu5
— Today in Anaheim Ducks history (@AnaDucksHistory) June 9, 2024
In his appearance on Leafs Morning Take, he spoke about what his experience was like winning the trophy.
“As soon as the game was over, somebody from the NHL came and got me and told me I won the Conn Smythe, and that I should stay on the ice and wait until they gave me the trophy. Honestly, as a player, it’s the last thing you want to do. You just want to shake the other teams hand and leave, especially when you’re on the road. It’s an awkward position to be in, because you’re standing their watching them celebrate, waiting for them to be ready to give you the trophy. As you know, you play that sport with your teammates, you don’t really care about individual trophy, you want the Stanley Cup. My whole youth playing street hockey or going to the park, playing floor hockey and what not, you always dream of winning the Stanley Cup. This is the main goal, this is what you want, and you suffer for two months as a team to lose in Game 7 like that, it’s very heartbreaking. It was a hard moment, for sure. I’m super proud of it today. I think it’s one of my greatest achievements in hockey, and I’m proud I won that trophy, but I’d trade it any day, still today, for another Stanley Cup, there’s no doubt about that. It was really a mixed feeling. I couldn’t wait to go back into the dressing room with our teammates and have our moments together.”
You can listen to Giguere’s appearance below.
Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@thenationnetwork.com.
