Postseason success is what every athlete, from middle school to the pros, dreams of. When the stage is biggest, when the lights are brightest, who is able to go above and beyond to secure victory?
That's why one of the most prestigious awards in professional hockey is the Conn Smythe Trophy. It isn't just a symbol of excellence for one game, but rather a monument to an individual who was able to carry his team to success throughout the entirety of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Since its inception in 1965, the Conn Smythe Trophy is awarded to the Stanley Cup Playoffs MVP. It has become one of the most revered individual honors in professional sports—earning its place alongside the Stanley Cup.
Who was Conn Smythe?
Constantine Falkland Cary Smythe is almost a mythological figure in hockey history. He served in both World Wars, was an engineer and businessman, a philanthropist and race horse owner and, most notably, the owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs for 34 years.
Smythe was born on February 1, 1895 in Toronto to two immigrant parents: Albert Smythe (Ireland) and Mary Constantine (England).
Albert and Mary's marriage was rocky at best and the two did not spend much time together. Conn's older sister, Mary, died in 1903. Conn's mother would pass away in 1906, which was likely related to her heavy drinking habits.
As a result, Conn stayed with Albert throughout his adolescence, bouncing from home to home as Albert shifted through employment.
In 1912 Conn began attending Jarvis Collegiate Institute and developed into a spectacular athlete. While there he played hockey, rugby and basketball. But he would leave school early (against Albert's wishes) to become a homesteader at just 17-years-old.
Just a year after leaving, Conn lost his home due to a fire. He left and enrolled in the University of Toronto shortly thereafter. He would become a captain on the school's hockey team and lead them to the Ontario Hockey Association junior championship in 1915.
One week later Smythe and his teammates enlisted in the army to fight in World War I. Two years later he would be shot down by the Germans and taken prisoner. Following his release at the end of the war, Smythe began coaching for the University of Toronto hockey team.
This is what eventually got Smythe on the NHL's radar. After a deal fallen through with the New York Rangers, Smythe was part of the group that purchased the Toronto St. Patrick's in 1927. One of his first official moves was renaming the team the Maple Leafs.
For the next three years Smythe would be the Maple Leafs' general manager, governor and head coach. In 1929 Smythe made the decision to build the team a new arena. In 1931 the team began playing in its new home: the Maple Leaf Gardens.
Smythe served in World War II and then returned at war's end to become the team president. It was at this point that Toronto became a dynasty, winning six Stanley Cups between 1942 and 1951.
Origin of the Conn Smythe Trophy
The NHL created the Conn Smythe Trophy in 1965 in honor of Smythe and awarded it to the Stanley Cup Playoffs MVP.
Unlike other postseason MVP awards, the Conn Smythe Trophy takes the entirety of a team's playoff run into consideration, not just the finals. It's also worth noting that while the recipient is often a Stanley Cup winner, they don't have to be. In fact, six players have won the award while losing.
The first winner was Jean Beliveau of the Montreal Canadiens. Beliveau scored eight goals and tallied eight assists throughout 13 playoff games, leading the Canadiens to the Cup.
The trophy's only three-time winner is Patrick Roy (who is also the only player to win it on multiple teams) and Bernie Parent, Mario Lemieux and Sidney Crosby are the only three players to win the Conn Smythe Trophy in back-to-back years.
Design of the Conn Smythe Trophy
Standing 24 inches tall and weighing in at roughly 35 lbs., the Conn Smythe Trophy is massive. Like its size, its design is also eye-catching. It features at large maple leaf crafted out of silver rising above a semi-stylized version of the Maple Leaf Gardens.
The base is wood and a nameplate for the winner is added each year. The Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto keeps the trophy during the offseason.
Every Conn Smythe Trophy Winner
An asterisk denotes that a player won the award while losing the Finals.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Stanley Cup Finals Conn Smythe Trophy History: Every Player to Win Playoff MVP.
