Providing context on the different situation between McDavid and Giguère winning the Conn Smythe

[Satans Hockey]

If you give it to the losing team on the road hand it out later on cause the home fans don't wanna see the visitor get it anyway. If the winner is on the home team but loses the cup like if Florida had won the cup in Edmonton then hand it out. "Problem" solved.

 

[SeanMoneyHands]

"He should have went out on the ice... Gary [Bettman] has to be pissed today." Kris Versteeg

I agree with Kris.

 

[Nogatco Rd]

Probably an unpopular opinion here but I think he should’ve just gone out and got it.

Kids wanna be like their heroes and there’s already enough poor sportsmanship out there. Not as bad as leaving before shaking hands (LeBron) or throwing a silver medal in the stands (numerous WJC) but still a poor example to set.

 

[SeanMoneyHands]

Probably an unpopular opinion here but I think he should’ve just gone out and got it.

Kids wanna be like their heroes and there’s already enough poor sportsmanship out there. Not as bad as leaving before shaking hands (LeBron) or throwing a silver medal in the stands (numerous WJC) but still a poor example to set.

Exactly it's called showing some class. If this was on Edmonton ice and they lost, McDavid 100% comes out for his fans.

 

[TheSuperElite]

Respect to McDavid, he did the right thing, as always. Cut from the same cloth as the classiest athletes in history.

 

[theMajor]

No excuses need to be made for McDavid.
He just lost game 7 by one goal and had no points in two games.
He's under no obligation to skate out there in the middle of the Panthers' celebration to accept a personal accolade and get a pat on the back from Bettman.

I'd think that he would be under obligation but I guess not? guys have to do media all the time, I was pretty surprised he didnt come out to accept it

 

[Deep Blue Metallic]

Much ado about nothing.

 

[SEALBound]

I don't have an issue with it, especially when it's Florida celebrating at home. I probably wouldn't go out either. Now if was in Edmonton, maybe he would have went out, picked it up, and waived.

I don't have an issue with this though. This is just like Wings fans when they made a huge stink about Sid in 09 and the handshake line.

 

[yeaher]

I respect him more that he didn’t stick around to accept it. He doesn’t give af about it, so why should he pretend to.

exactly why I don't think much of his playoffs played twice as many games as 99

 

[Garbageyuk]

exactly why I don't think much of his playoffs played twice as many games as 99

Try making sense next time.

 

[Guttersniped]

Probably an unpopular opinion here but I think he should’ve just gone out and got it.

Kids wanna be like their heroes and there’s already enough poor sportsmanship out there. Not as bad as leaving before shaking hands (LeBron) or throwing a silver medal in the stands (numerous WJC) but still a poor example to set.

I unhappily watched an unhappy Giguere get handed the Conn Smythe while a bunch of temporarily unhappy fans booed him. It didn’t go well.

I assumed Bettman and the NHL learned their lesson in 2003.

It was dumb when they did it to Giguere and it would have been way way way dumber to do it again with McDavid.

McDavid definitely made the right choice if they were dumb enough to try to make this happen again and he refused. Then he basically saved the NHL from itself.

“Good sportsmanship” is the handshake line, it isn’t extra random pained awkwardness for a photo op.

They have an NHL Award show that’s perfect for things like giving a player an individual award and McDavid was always planning to be there anyway.

 

[Grifter3511]

"He should have went out on the ice... Gary [Bettman] has to be pissed today." Kris Versteeg

I agree with Kris.

Upsetting Bettman seems like a great reason to do (or not do) something. I may actually kind of like McDavid now.

 

[Video Nasty]

exactly why I don't think much of his playoffs played twice as many games as 99

He played six more games than Gretzky, so it’s 0.3x as many games, not 2x.

Worth noting that GPG was 7.86 in the 1988 playoffs, compared to 6.20 in 2024. Scoring is 26.8% lower today.

2024 Oilers scored the most goals in the playoffs with 86 in 25 games. Florida was second with 73 in 24 games. One other team topped 50.

1988 Oilers scored the most goals in the playoffs with 87 in 19 games. Boston was second with 85 in 23 games. The two Conference finalist losers almost hit 70.

Subtracting the goals that each player scored, McDavid assisted on 43.6% of his team’s goals. Gretzky assisted on 41.3% of his team’s goals.

All things considered, in a vacuum, McDavid was slightly more impressive. However, it was his 5th SCF in 6 seasons, so deep run after deep run should also be accounted for, but as isolated postseason runs, 2024 McDavid was slightly more impressive than 1988 Gretzky.

 

[Voight]

 

[Hank Plank]

I assumed Bettman and the NHL learned their lesson in 2003.

Gary doesn't learn lessons he delivers them.

 

[12ozPapa]

to me, it just reinforces my opinion of him being a soft baby.

 

[kickback256]

Who the f*** cares?

The outrage culture is out of control. No matter what McDavid does someone will have their sensitive soul hurt.

For a sport with players and fans that are proud of "f*** your feelings," people sure cling to a lot of overly sensitive feelings over things that really just don't matter.

 

[Grifter3511]

to me, it just reinforces my opinion of him being a soft baby.

Well yeah. This is hfboards. Once people have made a decision on someone or something it's set in stone and nothing will change their minds.

 

[12ozPapa]

Well yeah. This is hfboards. Once people have made a decision on someone or something it's set in stone and nothing will change their minds.

I’d change my mind for sure. I changed my mind on Ovi and Sid

 

[MetalheadPenguinsFan]

Didn’t Crosby miss the handshake line against the Wings he was too busy?

AFAIK, he had ran back to the locker room to tell the guys who were watching in the locker room to come on out and celebrate, IIRC.

 

[Szechwan]

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In case anyone was wondering whether their take was correct, always go inverse-Cherry. Dude is the Jim Cramer of hockey takes.