Who won the Conn Smythe? Oilers' Connor McDavid wins historic NHL playoff MVP on losing team

Bryan Murphy

Who won the Conn Smythe? Oilers' Connor McDavid wins historic NHL playoff MVP on losing team image

The Oilers and Panthers delivered one of the best Stanley Cup Finals in recent history.

Florida got out to a 3-0 series lead, and seemed destine to win the franchise its first Stanley Cup. However, Edmonton had other plans, winning the next three games and pushing it to a Game 7. 

The winner-take-all contest did not disappoint, with the Panthers hoisting this year's Stanley Cup, the first in franchise history. Despite the effort from Connor McDavid and Co., Florida would not be denied the 2024 title. 

MORE: History of NHL playoff MVPs in losing effort

Which player won the Conn Smythe in 2024? Here's what you need to know.

Who won the Conn Smythe?

Despite losing in the Stanley Cup Final, Connor McDavid was named the Conn Smythe winner for the 2024 NHL playoffs. 

The two knocks — if you could even call them that, — on McDavid's resume were the lack of a Stanley Cup and a Conn Smythe. He already earned five Art Ross trophies, four Ted Lindsay awards, three Hart trophies, a Rocket Richard trophy and seven All-Star selections. 

McDavid did everything in his willpower to change that in 2024. The Edmonton captain quite literally put the team on his back through this postseason run, helping the Oilers to the team's first Stanley Cup Final appearance since 2006. In the process, he cemented his status as one of the all-time great playoff performers, putting together a postseason only seen by the likes of Wayne Gretzky. 

He was unable to come up with the Cup, but he did put himself in rare company by earning playoff MVP in a losing effort. He becomes only the sixth player and second skater ever to win the Conn Smythe, but not the Stanley Cup. 

The recognition is due to McDavid's threat to beat Gretzky's single-postseason points record. McDavid finished with 42 points in the postseason, the fourth-most in a single postseason. Even though Edmonton lost, it felt inevitable that the Oilers captain would take home the honor, given how absurd his performance was in these playoffs. 

Full list of Conn Smythe winners

The Conn Smythe has been awarded to the top playoff performer since 1965. The 2005 season was the only year in which there was not a winner due to the season being canceled due to the NHL lockout.

Here's a look at every Conn Smythe winner.

YearPlayerTeamPosition
2024Connor McDavidEdmonton OilersC
2023Jonathan MarchessaultVegas Golden KnightsRW
2022Cale MakarColorado AvalancheD
2021Andrei VasilevskiyTampa Bay LightningG
2020Victor HedmanTampa Bay LightningD
2019Ryan O'ReillySt. Louis BluesC
2018Alex OvechkinWashington CapitalsLW
2017Sidney CrosbyPittsburgh PenguinsC
2016Sidney CrosbyPittsburgh PenguinsC
2015Duncan KeithChicago BlackhawksD
2014Justin WilliamsLos Angeles KingsRW
2013Patrick KaneChicago BlackhawksRW
2012Jonathan QuickLos Angeles KingsG
2011Tim ThomasBoston BruinsG
2010Jonathan ToewsChicago BlackhawksC
2009Evgeni MalkinPittsburgh PenguinsC
2008Henrik ZetterbergDetroit Red WingsC
2007Scott NiedermayerAnaheim DucksD
2006Cam WardCarolina HurricanesG
2005N/AN/AN/A
2004Brad RichardsTampa Bay LightningC
2003Jean-Sebastien GiguereMighty Ducks of AnaheimG
2002Nicklas LidstromDetroit Red WingsD
2001Patrick RoyColorado AvalancheG
2000Scott StevensNew Jersey DevilsD
1999Joe NieuwendykDallas StarsC
1998Steve YzermanDetroit Red WingsC
1997Mike VernonDetroit Red WingsG
1996Joe SakicColorado AvalancheC
1995Claude LemieuxNew Jersey DevilsRW
1994Brian LeetchNew York RangersD
1993Patrick RoyMontreal CanadiensG
1992Mario LemieuxPittsburgh PenguinsC
1991Mario LemieuxPittsburgh PenguinsC
1990Bill RanfordEdmonton OilersG
1989Al MacInnisCalgary FlamesD
1988Wayne GretzkyEdmonton OilersC
1987Ron HextallPhiladelphia FlyersG
1986Patrick RoyMontreal CanadiensG
1985Wayne GretzkyEdmonton OilersC
1984Mark MessierEdmonton OilersC
1983Billy SmithNew York IslandersG
1982Mike BossyNew York IslandersRW
1981Butch GoringNew York IslandersC
1980Bryan TrottierNew York IslandersC
1979Bob GaineyMontreal CanadiensLW
1978Larry RobinsonMontreal CanadiensD
1977Guy LafleurMontreal CanadiensRW
1976Reggie LeachPhiladelphia FlyersRW
1975Bernie ParentPhiladelphia FlyersG
1974Bernie ParentPhiladelphia FlyersG
1973Yvan CournoyerMontreal CanadiensRW
1972Bobby OrrBoston BruinsD
1971Ken DrydenMontreal CanadiensG
1970Bobby OrrBoston BruinsD
1969Serge SavardMontreal CanadiensD
1968Glenn HallSt. Louis BluesG
1967Dave KeonToronto Maple LeafsC
1966Roger CrozierDetroit Red WingsG
1965Jean BeliveauMontreal CanadiensC

Bryan Murphy

Bryan Murphy Photo

Bryan Murphy joined The Sporting News in 2022 as the NHL/Canada content producer. Previously he worked for NBC Sports on their national news desk reporting on breaking news for the NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL, in addition to covering the 2020 and 2022 Olympic Games. A graduate of Quinnipiac University, he spent time in college as a beat reporter covering the men’s ice hockey team.