How Does Conn Smythe Trophy Voting Work in the NHL Playoffs? Winners & History

Karl Rasmussen | Jun 7, 2024

Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) with the Conn Smythe Trophy after defeating the San Jose Sharks in game six of the 2016 Stanley Cup Final. / Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports

The Conn Smythe Trophy is awarded annually to the most valuable player of the NHL's Stanley Cup Playoffs. The award gets its name from former Toronto Maple Leafs owner Conn Smythe, who owned the franchise from 1927 to '61.

The trophy has been awarded to a player each season since its inception in 1965. Thus far, there have been 47 players to win the coveted trophy.

The award is doled out based on voting from members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association, and a player's performance throughout the entire postseason—rather than just the Stanley Cup Final—goes into consideration.

Previous Conn Smythe Trophy Winners

The most recent winner was Vegas Golden Knights forward Jonathan Marchessault, who was honored for his contributions to the team's first Stanley Cup victory in 2023.

Here's the full rundown of past Conn Smythe Trophy Winners:

WINNER	SEASON
Jean Beliveau, Montreal Canadiens	1964-65
Roger Crozier, Detroit Red Wings	1965-66
Dave Keon, Toronto Maple Leafs	1966-67
Glenn Hall, St. Louis Blues	1967-68
Serge Savard, Montreal Canadiens	1968-69
Bobby Orr, Boston Bruins	1969-70
Ken Dryden, Montreal Canadiens	1970-71
Bobby Orr, Boston Bruins	1971-72
Yvan Cournoyer, Montreal Canadiens	1972-73
Bernie Parent, Philadephia Flyers	1973-74
Bernie Parent, Philadelphia Flyers	1974-75
Reggie Leach, Philadelphia Flyers	1975-76
Guy Lafleur, Montreal Canadiens	1976-77
Larry Robinson, Montreal Canadiens	1977-78
Bob Gainey, Montreal Canadiens	1978-79
Bryan Trottier, New York Islanders	1979-80
Butch Goring, New York Islanders	1980-81
Mike Bossy, New York Islanders	1981-82
Billy Smith, New York Islanders	1982-83
Mark Messier, Edmonton Oilers	1983-84
Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers	1984-85
Patrick Roy, Montreal Canadiens	1985-86
Ron Hextall, Philadelphia Flyers	1986-87
Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers	1987-88
Al MacInnis, Calgary Flames	1988-89
Bill Ranford, Edmonton Oilers	1989-90
Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins	1990-91
Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins	1991-92
Patrick Roy, Montreal Canadiens	1992-93
Brian Leetch, New York Rangers	1993-94
Claude Lemieux, New Jersey Devils	1994-95
Joe Sakic, Colorado Avalanche	1995-96
Mike Vernon, Detroit Red Wings	1996-97
Steve Yzerman, Detroit Red Wings	1997-98
Joe Nieuwendyk, Dallas Stars	1998-99
Scott Stevens, New Jersey Devils	1999-2000
Patrick Roy, Colorado Avalanche	2000-01
Nicklas Lidstrom, Detroit Red Wings	2001-02
Jean-Sebastian Giguere, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim	2002-03
Brad Richards, Tampa Bay Lightning	2003-04
Cam Ward, Carolina Hurricanes	2005-06
Scott Niedemayer, Anaheim Ducks	2006-07
Henrik Zetterberg, Detroit Red Wings	2007-08
Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins	2008-09
Jonathan Toews, Chicago Blackhawks	2009-10
Tim Thomas, Boston Bruins	2010-11
Jonathan Quick, Los Angeles Kings	2011-12
Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks	2012-13
Justin Williams, Los Angeles Kings	2013-14
Duncan Keith, Chicago Blackhawks	2014-15
Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins	2015-16
Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins	2016-17
Alexander Ovechkin, Washington Capitals	2017-18
Ryan O'Reilly, St. Louis Blues	2018-19
Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay Lightning	2019-20
Andrei Vasilevskiy, Tampa Bay Lightning	2020-21
Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche	2021-22
Jonathan Marchessault, Vegas Golden Knights	2022-23

Throughout history, centers have most frequently been named winner of the Conn Smythe, with 19 centers taking home the award. Seventeen goaltenders have won the trophy, as well as 12 defenders and 10 wingers.

Patrick Roy is the only three-time winner of the award, and only five players in league history have won the Conn Smythe two or more times: Roy, Mario Lemieux, Sidney Crosby, Wayne Gretzky and Bobby Orr.

On five occasions, voters have awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy to a member of the losing team in the Stanley Cup Final, though the award has never been given to a player on a team that didn't advance to the Final.