Interesting stat about playoff scoring leaders and the Conn Smythe

[Varan]

Since 2000, there have been 15 total instances where the playoff scoring leader for that season, did not win the Conn Smythe. The following that won while also leading the playoffs in scoring were:

1. Brad Richards in 2004 with 26 points
2. Henrik Zetterberg in 2008 with 27 points
3. Evgeni Malkin in 2009 with 36 points
4. Ryan O'Reilly in 2019 (tied for 1st with Brad Marchand with 23 points)

Through 19 seasons, the playoff scoring leader has won 27% of the possible Conn Smythes.

Really interesting because usually we paint the Conn Smythe with the best player, and usually that player leads (or should lead) in points, similar to the Art Ross winner during the RS (viewed as the "best" for that season)

Thoughts on this?

 

[sufferer]

It could be that the leading scorers on the winning (better) team dispatches opponents in fewer games and consequently has fewer opportunities to score points.

 

[Hynh]

5 times during that stretch a goalie won it. Another 4 times a defenceman won it. 3 times (2010, 2013 and 2016) the leading scorer was on the losing team which disqualifies you if aren't setting offensive records. Only 2014, 2017 and 2018 don't fall under one of those categories.

 

[daver]

Since 2000, there have been 15 total instances where the playoff scoring leader for that season, did not win the Conn Smythe. The following that won while also leading the playoffs in scoring were:

1. Brad Richards in 2004 with 26 points
2. Henrik Zetterberg in 2008 with 27 points
3. Evgeni Malkin in 2009 with 36 points
4. Ryan O'Reilly in 2019 (tied for 1st with Brad Marchand with 23 points)

Through 19 seasons, the playoff scoring leader has won 27% of the possible Conn Smythes.

Really interesting because usually we paint the Conn Smythe with the best player, and usually that player leads (or should lead) in points, similar to the Art Ross winner during the RS (viewed as the "best" for that season)

Thoughts on this?

It's not really interesting. The Smythe has been won many times by a goalie or d-man and many times where the leading playoff scorer did not play on the Cup winner.

It's not really similar to the Art Ross.

 

[Varan]

It's not really interesting. The Smythe has been won many times by a goalie or d-man and many times where the leading playoff scorer did not play on the Cup winner.

It's not really similar to the Art Ross.

The point is that we should stop associating with the best player as the one who simply scores the most or deserves the Conn Smythe more than someone who's impact isn't shown on the scoresheet, if production is similar b/w forwards especially (because they're the one's who are going to score the most).

Considering that this is the highest level of hockey, it's pretty apparent that it's just not all about points like it is during the RS. When was the last time we actually considered a goalie or a d-man the best player in the world? Karlsson back in 2017? Price in 2015?

 

[Beukeboom]

It's not really interesting. The Smythe has been won many times by a goalie or d-man and many times where the leading playoff scorer did not play on the Cup winner.

It's not really similar to the Art Ross.

On top of this, everyone gets 82 games (unless injured) for the Art. So winning the regular season scoring race is on more even terms. It's obviously a great feat to win the play off race, but half the teams aren't even in there, and one man doesn't take you through to the finals.

 

[daver]

The point is that we should stop associating with the best player as the one who simply scores the most or deserves the Conn Smythe more than someone who's impact isn't shown on the scoresheet, if production is similar b/w forwards especially (because they're the one's who are going to score the most).

Considering that this is the highest level of hockey, it's pretty apparent that it's just not all about points like it is during the RS. When was the last time we actually considered a goalie or a d-man the best player in the world? Karlsson back in 2017? Price in 2015?

Yes, someone like Crosby brings more than just points in comparison to the other top point gettters so I see your point.

Hard to really compare d-men to goalies to forwards but it seems d-men and goalies have to do something really great to outshine forwards historically but it's not like they don't get their due especially in the playoffs where there is one MVP award rather than multiple regular season ones (Hart, Vezina, Norris) which muddies the waters.

 

[Trap Jesus]

Since 2000 the position breakdown is:

10 F
5 G
4 D

Crosby and Ovechkin account for 3 of the 6 non-scoring lead winners which is expected. They weren't even their team's leading scorer but they get it because they've been the face of the league for so long. 2013 Kane was his team's top scorer, they can't give it to Krejci on the losing team. Same thing for Toews vs. Briere in 2010.

The most interesting one to me is Williams in 2014 considering Kopitar led the playoffs in scoring and has that rep as a dominant franchise player. That one is the outlier IMO.