2026 Conn Smythe Winner is: Jordan Staal

[All Mod Cons]

So not Marner? Lol.

I don't think any of the hockey writer's respect him or how he goes about his business.

 

[Maplebeasts]

Great now refer to the rest of the playoffs

Again Marner was great the first 3 rounds and then terrible in the last half of this series. I personally would have given the Smythe to either Slavin or Blake.

 

[Ogrezilla]

Love to see it. I loved Staal in Pittsburgh and the Canes have been my #2 team ever since he went there.

 

[Artanis]

Staal: 6 goals in the Final.
Eichel, Marner, Barbashev, Hertl combined: 5 goals.

"STaAl DiDN't DesERvE iT!!!!"

You do know the award is for the entire playoffs right?

 

[Luigi Lemieux]

The lowest point total for a Conn Smythe winning forward, and by a lot.

The guy does so much more than points. Physical beast, elite defensively, and face-off monster. Not to mention their captain and leader. In the true sense of the word he was Carolina's most valuable player. Glad to see this type of player get rewarded with a major trophy like this.

 

[Big Daddy Cane]

There’s more to hockey than just goals and assists. The voters taking an opportunity to acknowledge that indirectly is a good thing.

 

[kevsh]

You do know the award is for the entire playoffs right?

Yes, but clearly there is - and should be - a heavy bias towards the final series.
And Jordan shone.

As for Mitch, 0 points and -3 in the final game of the playoffs on the losing team. That's the guy that was "robbed" of the Conn Smythe? Ha ha ha, please.

 

[Ogrezilla]

There’s more to hockey than just goals and assists. The voters taking an opportunity to acknowledge that indirectly is a good thing.

and hey, 6 finals goals is pretty cool too.

 

[banks]

Do people really want to stick it to Leafs fans so much that they'll cry about Marner losing the Smythe?

Dude was a on the ice for all 3 goals against in a 3-0 Cup-deciding loss. One point in 3 consecutive losses for games 4,5,and6.

 

[syz]

The writers were so desperate for a narrative once Marner didn't win that the backup plan was to just give the trophy to someone they can call old for an article or two.

 

[IPS]

LMAO @ all the crying thinking Mitch should have won it

Yeah you don't win a Conn Smythe completely disappearing in the most important part of the playoffs

 

[Ogrezilla]

Yes, but clearly there is - and should be - a heavy bias towards the final series.
And Jordan shone.

As for Mitch, 0 points and -3 in the final game of the playoffs on the losing team. That's the guy that was "robbed" of the Conn Smythe? Ha ha ha, please.

and a forward has to be so ridiculously better than everyone else to win the conn smythe on the losing team. Like just fully dictating the game like McDavid does. Sorry but Marner just wasn't that these playoffs and especially these finals.

 

[Montreal Shadow]

Leafs fans right now:

 

[Jocke1]

If it was an award for just the Final, sure. But it's not, so it should have been Marner without question.

But Marner only played 3 out of six games in the finals. Staal played every game.

 

[BraveCanadian]

Extremely weak Conn Smythe.

Staal did the savvy veteran thing the whole way and got hot for the right 5 games but oof that is a weak one.

 

[cptjeff]

I would have voted for Stankoven or Hall based on the whole of the playoffs, but Staal was nuts in the finals, and no offense to the other teams we played, but this was by far the toughest series to win, and he pulled the team back into games when it mattered.

 

[I Hate Blake Coleman]

6 goals in 6 games, 5/6 games with a goal.

 

[Divine]

So not Marner? Lol.

The writers were begging to give it to Marner but he showed them up.

Went the final 3 games with 1 secondary assist, -5, and 4 shots on goal. Vegas was outscored the final 3 games every time Marner was on the ice. This was the kind of choke they needed to take it away from Marner.

 

[IPS]

Extremely weak Conn Smythe.

Staal did the savvy veteran thing the whole way and got hot for the right 5 games but oof that is a weak one.

Guess we won't be seeing you on the Leafs board for awhile, eh?!

 

[Stephen]

The picture of perseverance and loyalty and excellence. Long seasons on one team through thick and thin and finally rewarded with the Stanley Cup and recognition for his greatness. Let him be a counter point to all those who want to run away and chase cups.

 

[Deranged Oreo]

LMAO @ all the crying thinking Mitch should have won it

Yeah you don't win a Conn Smythe completely disappearing in the most important part of the playoffs

A recent CS winner won recently while doing just that. The issue here is people not realizing everything else Staal was doing.

Marner would’ve been a fine choice, but Staal was also a decent choice

 

[Ogrezilla]

The writers were begging to give it to Marner but he showed them up.

Went the final 3 games with 1 secondary assist, -5, and 4 shots on goal. Vegas was outscored the final 3 games every time Marner was on the ice. This was the kind of choke they needed to take it away from Marner.

yeah you simply can't win a Conn Smythe with those as your last three games in a finals loss.

 

[Slayer97]

Again Marner was great the first 3 rounds and then terrible in the last half of this series. I personally would have given the Smythe to either Slavin or Blake.

3 games of the Finals dismisses the rest 3 rounds and first half?

 

[IPS]

A recent CS winner won recently while doing just that. The issue here is people not realizing everything else Staal was doing.

Marner would’ve been a fine choice, but Staal was also a decent choice

Oh right - cause Mitch was totally doing McDavid things out there creating offense out of thin air with zero supporting cast.

Lol. Lmao even.

 

[Ogrezilla]

3 games of the Finals dismisses the rest 3 rounds and first half?

when you are a forward on the losing team? Yes. You need to be head and shoulders better than the next guy to win as a losing forward and he wasn't.