Carolina Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal added another milestone to his remarkable career by capturing the 2026 Conn Smythe Trophy, awarded to the most valuable player of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The honor came after Carolina sealed its championship run with a 3-0 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final on Sunday night.
At 37 years old, Staal delivered one of the most memorable playoff performances in recent NHL history. Entering the decisive game, he had already scored in five consecutive Stanley Cup Final contests, matching a record that had stood untouched for seven decades. He finished the championship series with six goals and contributed a total of 12 playoff points, adding four assists to his scoring tally.