Some are dogging McDavid for not coming out to accept the Conn Smythe, bringing up how past winners in a losing effort came out to accept it, and labeling him as disgracing and embarrassing the game.
I went back to take a look at the situation when Giguère won it.
Within 1 minute and 20 seconds after the clock ticked to zero, Giguère seems to be told on camera that he would be awarded the Conn Smythe trophy. Even if he wasn’t, what follows made for a very different build up.
A few minutes pass while the Devils celebrate and the Ducks wait in defeat, for the traditional handshake to ensue.
Immediately after the traditional handshake between the two teams, Bettman announces that Giguère is the winner of the Conn Smythe. I’m talking within seconds of the final handshakes.
Our example from last night sees McDavid skate over to begin shaking hands 2 minutes 3 seconds after the clock hits zero. I saw no evidence last night, or looking through it again today, that he was told he might need to stick around to accept the potential award. The hand shaking and congratulating from the Oilers goes on for at least another two minutes.
More minutes pass before Bettman finally announces the Conn Smythe winner, long after McDavid and the Oilers have cleared the ice for the new champions.
We just don’t know the behind the scenes or why it took so long for the NHL to get their shit together directly after Florida won. There was a lot more structure then, that’s for sure.