Do players keep the conn smythe trophy?

Conn Smythe Trophy is an annual award presented to the Most Valuable Player (MVP) during playoffs. The award is introduced in honor of Conn Smythe.

It can be confused with the Hart Memorial Trophy, which is presented to the MVP of the regular season that has been able to carry the team to the playoffs.

Unlike the Hart Trophy, the Conn Smythe is awarded either to the player who contributed the most for their team or to the one who had a few clutch moments during the playoffs.

The Conn Smythe seems more prestigious from the player's perspective. The player has to win the cup or at least push the team to the finals.

Conn Smythe Trophy Winners By Year: Cale Makar (2022), Andrei Vasilevskiy (2021), Victor Hedman (2020), and more. The trophy has been presented to the players since 1965, except in 2005 due to the lockout.

Jean Beliveau is the first player to win the Conn Smythe Trophy. Beliveau was the center forward of the Montreal Canadiens.

Till now, the number of center players to win the Conn Smyth Trophy is 19. Goaltenders of the NHL have won it 17 times.

Twelve defensemen have shown themself as the most valuable player to approach the Stanley Cup. The number of wingers to win the Conn Smythe is nine. 

The first ten players to win the Conn Smythe Trophy are displayed in the table below.

Since 1965, five players have shown outstanding performances in the playoff, so they were selected for the award even though their team lost the finals.

They are Roger Crozier (1966), Glenn Hall (1968), Reggie Leach (1967), Ron Hextall (1987), Jean-Sebastien Giguere (2003).

Conn Smythe Trophy Winners by year are:

• 2022: Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche
• 2021: Andrei Vasilevskiy, Tampa Bay Lightning
• 2020: Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay Lightning
• 2019: Ryan O'Reilly, St. Louis Blues
• 2018: Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
• 2017: Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins (2)
• 2016: Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins
• 2015: Duncan Keith, Chicago Blackhawks
• 2014: Justin Williams, Los Angeles Kings
• 2013: Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks
• 2012: Jonathan Quick, Los Angeles Kings
• 2011: Tim Thomas, Boston Bruins
• 2010: Jonathan Toews, Chicago Blackhawks
• 2009: Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins
• 2008: Henrik Zetterberg, Detroit Red Wings
• 2007: Scott Niedermayer, Anaheim Ducks
• 2006: Cam Ward, Carolina Hurricanes
• 2004: Brad Richards, Tampa Bay Lightning
• 2003: Jean-Sebastien Giguere, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
• 2002: Nicklas Lidstrom, Detroit Red Wings
• 2001: Patrick Roy, Colorado Avalanche (3)
• 2000: Scott Stevens, New Jersey Devils
• 1999: Joe Nieuwendyk, Dallas Stars
• 1998: Steve Yzerman, Detroit Red Wings
• 1997: Mike Vernon, Detroit Red Wings
• 1996: Joe Sakic, Colorado Avalanche
• 1995: Claude Lemieux, New Jersey Devils
• 1994: Brian Leetch, New York Rangers
• 1993: Patrick Roy, Montreal Canadiens (2)
• 1992: Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins (2)
• 1991: Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins
• 1990: Bill Ranford, Edmonton Oilers
• 1989: Al MacInnis, Calgary Flames
• 1988: Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers (2)
• 1987: Ron Hextall, Philadelphia Flyers
• 1986: Patrick Roy, Montreal Canadiens
• 1985: Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers
• 1984: Mark Messier, Edmonton Oilers
• 1983: Billy Smith, New York Islanders
• 1982: Mike Bossy, New York Islanders
• 1981: Butch Goring, New York Islanders
• 1980: Bryan Trottier, New York Islanders
• 1979: Bob Gainey, Montreal Canadiens
• 1978: Larry Robinson, Montreal Canadiens
• 1977: Guy Lafleur, Montreal Canadiens
• 1976: Reggie Leach, Philadelphia Flyers
• 1975: Bernie Parent, Philadelphia Flyers (2)
• 1974: Bernie Parent, Philadelphia Flyers
• 1973: Yvan Cournoyer, Montreal Canadiens
• 1972: Bobby Orr, Boston Bruins (2)
• 1971: Ken Dryden, Montreal Canadiens
• 1970: Bobby Orr, Boston Bruins
• 1969: Serge Savard, Montreal Canadiens
• 1968: Glenn Hall, St. Louis Blues
• 1967: Dave Keon, Toronto Maple Leafs
• 1966: Roger Crozier, Detroit Red Wings
• 1965: Jean Beliveau, Montreal Canadiens

Two Time Conn Smythe Trophy Recipient are Bobby Orr, Bernie Parent, Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Patrick Roy, and Sidney Crosby. In 2001, Roy became the only player to achieve the title for the third time.

It was the first time in 1972 that a player won his second award. Bobby Orr won his first in 1970 and second in 1972.

Bernie Parent with the Philadelphia Flyers won the trophy for two consecutive years. He achieved it for the first time in 1974.

After a decade, Gretzky added the trophy to his record on it again after two years in 1988.

Patric Roy is the only player to win the MVP title of the playoffs three times in 54 years. Roy won the award while playing for the Montreal Canadiens and the Colorado Avalanche.

Mario Lemieux and Sidney Crosby are among the three players to have won the award two consecutive times in NHL history.

After Roy's three-time achievement, the player to win Smythe twice was Sidney Crosby in 15 years.

Conn Smythe Trophy 2023 will be announced on June 26 at the NHL Award show in Nashville. The trophy is awarded before presenting the Stanley Cup.

The trophy will be awarded to players from one of the two finalists: the Panthers and the Golden Knights. 

There is a high chance that Florida will take the trophy. However, the uncertainty and competence of the game can flip the result at any moment.

Still, Panthers' goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky and Winger Matthew Tkachuk is leading the Conns Smythe odds board. 

Jack Eichel and Wiliam Karlsson from the Golden Knights are good contenders for the award. The performance in the Stanley Cup finals will determine who will take the trophy.

Conn Smythe Trophy 2023 odds Leaderboard

Youngest Conn Smythe winner is Patrick Roy in the 1985-86 season. Roy was a 20-year-old rookie in Montreal Canadien.

He played 47 games taking over the starter's role in the 1985-86 season. Roy became unbeatable by the time playoffs arrived.

He played 20 games in the playoffs with 504 saved shots and only 39 goals. He had a save percentage of ".923."

After the win, Roy was dubbed "Saint Patrick" for his games. He won another Stanley Cup with Montreal in 1993 and achieved the Smythe Award for the second time.

Roy was in his prime time in 2001, leading the Avalanche to the Stanley Cup Championship. Roy won the Conn Smythe Award for the third time and became the only player to own three Smythe awards.

He is also the youngest goalie to win the Stanley Cup.

There are 14 goalies to win the Conn Smythe Trophy till now. The list will add one more if the Panthers' Goaltender wins it in 2023.

As of season 2021-22, the goalies in NHL have achieved the feat 17 times. Roy has three trophies in his name, while Bernie Parent has two.

Roger Crozier became the first goalie to win the award in 1966. Crozier finished the season with a record 3.35 GAA.

The last goaltender to win the trophy is Andrei Vasilevskiy. The goalie achieved his first award with the Stanley Cup 2021 for Tampa Bay Lightning.

All of the 14 Goalies who have won the Conn Smythe Trophy are:

1. Roger Crozier: 1966
2. Glenn Hall: 1968
3. Ken Dryden: 1971
4. Bernie Parent: 1974, 1975
5. Billy Smith: 1983
6. Patrick Roy: 1986, 1993, 2001
7. Ron Hextall: 1987
8. Bill Ranford: 1990
9. Mike Vernon: 1997
10. Jean-Sebastien Giguere: 2003
11. Cam Ward: 2006
12. Tim Thomas: 2011
13. Jonathan Quick: 2012
14. Andrei Vasilevskiy: 2021

Professional Hockey Writers Association (PHWA)'s Panel votes for the Conn Smythe Trophy. The association will submit the ballots of votes after the Playoffs.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman will hand over the trophy to the winner in the Award Show. 

PHWA is an association for ice hockey journalists who write for news, magazines, and websites. The association has approximately 180 voting members.