25 Sep
Annually awarded to a player considered to be the most valuable to his team, the Conn Smythe Trophy was established in 1964. Since the initiation, the Trophy has been awarded 48 times so far to 42 players of the National Hockey League (NHL). During the final games of the Stanley Cup finals, the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association members vote to elect the winner of the trophy. In contrast to other trophy nominations, the Conn Smythe Trophy only announces the name of the winner just prior to the award of much coveted the Stanley Cup.
Here are some interesting facts about the trophy. Only player who won the trophy three times is Patrick Roy of Colorado Avalanche in 1986, 1993 and 2001. Bobby Orr won the trophy twice in 1970 and 1972; Bernie Parent won it two tears in row in 1974 and 1975; Wayne Gretzky in 1985 and 1988; and Mario Lemieux in 1991 and 1992. Canadian players won the trophy every time except for seven times when American players won it. The Montreal Canadiens players won the trophy nine times and the Detroit Red Wings is in the second place with five wins. The latest, 2014 award went to right wing player Justin Williams of the Los Angeles Kings.