Category: Ice Hockey

Everything to know about the Conn Smythe Trophy, awarded to NHL playoff MVP originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Lord Stanley isn’t the only piece of hardware that will be awarded in the Stanley Cup Final.

One player from the Edmonton Oilers or the defending champion Florida Panthers will be honored as the most valuable player in the 2025 NHL playoffs with the Conn Smythe Trophy. And the rare Cup Final rematch could see a repeat award winner.

Oilers star Connor McDavid earned the 2024 Conn Smythe in a losing Cup Final effort, and the three-time Hart Trophy winner enters this year’s NHL championship round with a playoff-high 26 points (6 goals, 20 assists). McDavid’s co-star, Leon Draisaitl, is also a Conn Smythe Trophy contender as he sits second in points with 25 (7 goals, 18 assists).

The one-time champion Panthers, meanwhile, could have their first Conn Smythe Trophy winner in franchise history. Captain Aleksander Barkov (17 points), forward Matthew Tkachuk (16) and center Sam Bennett (16) lead 10 Florida skaters with at least 10 points entering the Cup Final. Goalie Sergei Bobrovsky is putting together a strong Conn Smythe Trophy resume as well, as he sports a 2.11 goals-against average and a .912 save percentage.

So, how is the Conn Smythe Trophy winner determined? And has there ever been a back-to-back winner? Here’s everything to know about the NHL playoff MVP award:

What is the Conn Smythe Trophy and when was it first awarded?

The Conn Smythe Trophy is a postseason award given to the most valuable player in the playoffs. It debuted in the 1965 postseason.

Historically, most Conn Smythe Trophy winners have come from the team that also won the Stanley Cup. Though, there have been a handful of instances where a player who lost in the Cup Final was awarded the trophy.

The award is named after former Toronto Maple Leafs owner, president, general manager and coach Conn Smythe. It was under Smythe’s ownership that the Leafs changed their name from the St. Pats and that the Maple Leaf Gardens arena was constructed. A mini replica of the venue and a Maple Leaf are among the trophy’s features.

How is the Conn Smythe Trophy winner determined?

The Conn Smythe Trophy is voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers Association. Seventeen PHWA members were included in the 2024 vote.

When is the Conn Smythe Trophy winner announced?

The winner is both selected and announced following the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Final.

Who won the first Conn Smythe Trophy?

Hall of Fame center Jean Béliveau won the inaugural Conn Smythe Trophy in 1965. Béliveau tallied eight goals, including four game-winners, and eight assists over 13 games as the Montreal Canadiens won the Stanley Cup.

Who won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2024?

Connor McDavid was a near-unanimous Conn Smythe Trophy winner in 2024 despite Edmonton falling to Florida in the Cup Final. McDavid earned 16 of 17 first-place votes after racking up the most assists (34) and points (42) in the postseason. He was also the leading scorer in the Cup Final with 11 points (3 goals, 8 assists).

McDavid is one of only a handful of players to ever take home the Conn Smythe Trophy without also winning the Stanley Cup.

Who has won the most Conn Smythe Trophies?

Hall of Fame goalie Patrick Roy owns the most Conn Smythe Trophies with three. Roy won two with the Canadiens (1986, 1993) and one with the Colorado Avalanche (2001).

There are five other multi-time Conn Smythe Trophy winners: defenseman Bobby Orr (1970, 1972), goalie Bernie Parent (1974, 1975), center Wayne Gretzky (1985, 1988), center Mario Lemieux (1991, 1992) and center Sidney Crosby (2016, 2017).

Have there been a back-to-back Conn Smythe Trophy winner?

Parent, Lemieux and Crosby were all back-to-back winners, and McDavid has a chance to do the same this year.

How many Conn Smythe Trophy winners have come from the losing team?

There have been six instances where the Conn Smythe Trophy recipient was on the team that lost in the Cup Final.

Who are the Conn Smythe Trophy winners from losing teams?

Four of the six Conn Smythe winners from non-champions were goalies:

• 2024: Connor McDavid, center, Edmonton Oilers
• 2003: Jean-Sebastien Giguere, goalie, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
• 1987: Ron Hextall, goalie, Philadelphia Flyers
• 1976: Reggie Leach, winger, Philadelphia Flyers
• 1968: Glenn Hall, goalie, St. Louis Blues
• 1966: Roger Crozier, goalie, Detroit Red Wings

How many goalies have won the Conn Smythe Trophy?

The Conn Smythe Trophy has gone to a goalie 17 total times,with Andrei Vasilevskiy of the Tampa Bay Lightning being the position’s most recent winner in 2021.

List of Conn Smythe Trophy winners by year

Here’s a full look at every Conn Smythe Trophy winner:

• 2024: Connor McDavid, center, Edmonton Oilers*
• 2023: Jonathan Marchessault, center, Vegas Golden Knights
• 2022: Cale Makar, defenseman, Colorado Avalanche
• 2021: Andrei Vasilevskiy, goalie, Tampa Bay Lightning
• 2020: Victor Hedman, defenseman, Tampa Bay Lightning
• 2019: Ryan O’Reilly, center, St. Louis Blues
• 2018: Alex Ovechkin, winger, Washington Capitals
• 2017: Sidney Crosby, center, Pittsburgh Penguins
• 2016: Sidney Crosby, center, Pittsburgh Penguins
• 2015: Duncan Keith, defenseman, Chicago Blackhawks
• 2014: Justin Williams, winger, Los Angeles Kings
• 2013: Patrick Kane, winger, Chicago Blackhawks
• 2012: Jonathan Quick, goalie, Los Angeles Kings
• 2011: Tim Thomas, goalie, Boston Bruins
• 2010: Jonathan Toews, center, Chicago Blackhawks
• 2009: Evgeni Malkin, center, Pittsburgh Penguins
• 2008: Henrik Zetterberg, center, Detroit Red Wings
• 2007: Scott Niedermayer, defenseman, Anaheim Ducks
• 2006: Cam Ward, goalie, Carolina Hurricanes
• 2004: Brad Richards, center, Tampa Bay Lightning
• 2003: Jean-Sebastien Giguere, goalie, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
• 2002: Nicklas Lidstrom, defenseman, Detroit Red Wings
• 2001: Patrick Roy, goalie, Colorado Avalanche
• 2000: Scott Stevens, defenseman, New Jersey Devils
• 1999: Joe Nieuwendyk, center, Dallas Stars
• 1998: Steve Yzerman, center, Detroit Red Wings
• 1997: Mike Vernon, goalie, Detroit Red Wings
• 1996: Joe Sakic, center, Colorado Avalanche
• 1995: Claude Lemieux, winger, New Jersey Devils
• 1994: Brian Leetch, defenseman, New York Rangers
• 1993: Patrick Roy, goalie, Montreal Canadiens
• 1992: Mario Lemieux, center, Pittsburgh Penguins
• 1991: Mario Lemieux, center, Pittsburgh Penguins
• 1990: Bill Ranford, goalie, Edmonton Oilers
• 1989: Al MacInnis, defenseman, Calgary Flames
• 1988: Wayne Gretzky, center, Edmonton Oilers
• 1987: Ron Hextall, goalie, Philadelphia Flyers
• 1986: Patrick Roy, goalie, Montreal Canadiens
• 1985: Wayne Gretzky, center, Edmonton Oilers
• 1984: Mark Messier, winger/center, Edmonton Oilers
• 1983: Billy Smith, goalie, New York Islanders
• 1982: Mike Bossy, winger, New York Islanders
• 1981: Butch Goring, center, New York Islanders
• 1980: Bryan Trottier, center, New York Islanders
• 1979: Bob Gainey, winger, Montreal Canadiens
• 1978: Larry Robinson, defenseman, Montreal Canadiens
• 1977: Guy Lafleur, winger, Montreal Canadiens
• 1976: Reggie Leach, winger, Philadelphia Flyers
• 1975: Bernie Parent, goalie, Philadelphia Flyers
• 1974: Bernie Parent, goalie, Philadelphia Flyers
• 1973: Yvan Cournoyer, winger, Montreal Canadiens
• 1972: Bobby Orr, defenseman, Boston Bruins
• 1971: Ken Dryden, goalie, Montreal Canadiens
• 1970: Bobby Orr, defenseman, Boston Bruins
• 1969: Serge Savard, defenseman, Montreal Canadiens
• 1968: Glenn Hall, goalie, St. Louis Blues
• 1967: Dave Keon, center, Toronto Maple Leafs
• 1966: Roger Crozier, goalie, Detroit Red Wings
• 1965: Jean Beliveau, center, Montreal Canadiens

Everything to know about the Conn Smythe Trophy, awarded to NHL playoff MVP originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Lord Stanley isn’t the only piece of hardware that will be awarded in the Stanley Cup Final.

One player from the Edmonton Oilers or the defending champion Florida Panthers will be honored as the most valuable player in the 2025 NHL playoffs with the Conn Smythe Trophy. And the rare Cup Final rematch could see a repeat award winner.

Oilers star Connor McDavid earned the 2024 Conn Smythe in a losing Cup Final effort, and the three-time Hart Trophy winner enters this year’s NHL championship round with a playoff-high 26 points (6 goals, 20 assists). McDavid’s co-star, Leon Draisaitl, is also a Conn Smythe Trophy contender as he sits second in points with 25 (7 goals, 18 assists).

The one-time champion Panthers, meanwhile, could have their first Conn Smythe Trophy winner in franchise history. Captain Aleksander Barkov (17 points), forward Matthew Tkachuk (16) and center Sam Bennett (16) lead 10 Florida skaters with at least 10 points entering the Cup Final. Goalie Sergei Bobrovsky is putting together a strong Conn Smythe Trophy resume as well, as he sports a 2.11 goals-against average and a .912 save percentage.

So, how is the Conn Smythe Trophy winner determined? And has there ever been a back-to-back winner? Here’s everything to know about the NHL playoff MVP award:

What is the Conn Smythe Trophy and when was it first awarded?

The Conn Smythe Trophy is a postseason award given to the most valuable player in the playoffs. It debuted in the 1965 postseason.

Historically, most Conn Smythe Trophy winners have come from the team that also won the Stanley Cup. Though, there have been a handful of instances where a player who lost in the Cup Final was awarded the trophy.

The award is named after former Toronto Maple Leafs owner, president, general manager and coach Conn Smythe. It was under Smythe’s ownership that the Leafs changed their name from the St. Pats and that the Maple Leaf Gardens arena was constructed. A mini replica of the venue and a Maple Leaf are among the trophy’s features.

How is the Conn Smythe Trophy winner determined?

The Conn Smythe Trophy is voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers Association. Seventeen PHWA members were included in the 2024 vote.

When is the Conn Smythe Trophy winner announced?

The winner is both selected and announced following the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Final.

Who won the first Conn Smythe Trophy?

Hall of Fame center Jean Béliveau won the inaugural Conn Smythe Trophy in 1965. Béliveau tallied eight goals, including four game-winners, and eight assists over 13 games as the Montreal Canadiens won the Stanley Cup.

Who won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2024?

Connor McDavid was a near-unanimous Conn Smythe Trophy winner in 2024 despite Edmonton falling to Florida in the Cup Final. McDavid earned 16 of 17 first-place votes after racking up the most assists (34) and points (42) in the postseason. He was also the leading scorer in the Cup Final with 11 points (3 goals, 8 assists).

McDavid is one of only a handful of players to ever take home the Conn Smythe Trophy without also winning the Stanley Cup.

Who has won the most Conn Smythe Trophies?

Hall of Fame goalie Patrick Roy owns the most Conn Smythe Trophies with three. Roy won two with the Canadiens (1986, 1993) and one with the Colorado Avalanche (2001).

There are five other multi-time Conn Smythe Trophy winners: defenseman Bobby Orr (1970, 1972), goalie Bernie Parent (1974, 1975), center Wayne Gretzky (1985, 1988), center Mario Lemieux (1991, 1992) and center Sidney Crosby (2016, 2017).

Have there been a back-to-back Conn Smythe Trophy winner?

Parent, Lemieux and Crosby were all back-to-back winners, and McDavid has a chance to do the same this year.

How many Conn Smythe Trophy winners have come from the losing team?

There have been six instances where the Conn Smythe Trophy recipient was on the team that lost in the Cup Final.

Who are the Conn Smythe Trophy winners from losing teams?

Four of the six Conn Smythe winners from non-champions were goalies:

• 2024: Connor McDavid, center, Edmonton Oilers
• 2003: Jean-Sebastien Giguere, goalie, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
• 1987: Ron Hextall, goalie, Philadelphia Flyers
• 1976: Reggie Leach, winger, Philadelphia Flyers
• 1968: Glenn Hall, goalie, St. Louis Blues
• 1966: Roger Crozier, goalie, Detroit Red Wings

How many goalies have won the Conn Smythe Trophy?

The Conn Smythe Trophy has gone to a goalie 17 total times,with Andrei Vasilevskiy of the Tampa Bay Lightning being the position’s most recent winner in 2021.

List of Conn Smythe Trophy winners by year

Here’s a full look at every Conn Smythe Trophy winner:

• 2024: Connor McDavid, center, Edmonton Oilers*
• 2023: Jonathan Marchessault, center, Vegas Golden Knights
• 2022: Cale Makar, defenseman, Colorado Avalanche
• 2021: Andrei Vasilevskiy, goalie, Tampa Bay Lightning
• 2020: Victor Hedman, defenseman, Tampa Bay Lightning
• 2019: Ryan O’Reilly, center, St. Louis Blues
• 2018: Alex Ovechkin, winger, Washington Capitals
• 2017: Sidney Crosby, center, Pittsburgh Penguins
• 2016: Sidney Crosby, center, Pittsburgh Penguins
• 2015: Duncan Keith, defenseman, Chicago Blackhawks
• 2014: Justin Williams, winger, Los Angeles Kings
• 2013: Patrick Kane, winger, Chicago Blackhawks
• 2012: Jonathan Quick, goalie, Los Angeles Kings
• 2011: Tim Thomas, goalie, Boston Bruins
• 2010: Jonathan Toews, center, Chicago Blackhawks
• 2009: Evgeni Malkin, center, Pittsburgh Penguins
• 2008: Henrik Zetterberg, center, Detroit Red Wings
• 2007: Scott Niedermayer, defenseman, Anaheim Ducks
• 2006: Cam Ward, goalie, Carolina Hurricanes
• 2004: Brad Richards, center, Tampa Bay Lightning
• 2003: Jean-Sebastien Giguere, goalie, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
• 2002: Nicklas Lidstrom, defenseman, Detroit Red Wings
• 2001: Patrick Roy, goalie, Colorado Avalanche
• 2000: Scott Stevens, defenseman, New Jersey Devils
• 1999: Joe Nieuwendyk, center, Dallas Stars
• 1998: Steve Yzerman, center, Detroit Red Wings
• 1997: Mike Vernon, goalie, Detroit Red Wings
• 1996: Joe Sakic, center, Colorado Avalanche
• 1995: Claude Lemieux, winger, New Jersey Devils
• 1994: Brian Leetch, defenseman, New York Rangers
• 1993: Patrick Roy, goalie, Montreal Canadiens
• 1992: Mario Lemieux, center, Pittsburgh Penguins
• 1991: Mario Lemieux, center, Pittsburgh Penguins
• 1990: Bill Ranford, goalie, Edmonton Oilers
• 1989: Al MacInnis, defenseman, Calgary Flames
• 1988: Wayne Gretzky, center, Edmonton Oilers
• 1987: Ron Hextall, goalie, Philadelphia Flyers
• 1986: Patrick Roy, goalie, Montreal Canadiens
• 1985: Wayne Gretzky, center, Edmonton Oilers
• 1984: Mark Messier, winger/center, Edmonton Oilers
• 1983: Billy Smith, goalie, New York Islanders
• 1982: Mike Bossy, winger, New York Islanders
• 1981: Butch Goring, center, New York Islanders
• 1980: Bryan Trottier, center, New York Islanders
• 1979: Bob Gainey, winger, Montreal Canadiens
• 1978: Larry Robinson, defenseman, Montreal Canadiens
• 1977: Guy Lafleur, winger, Montreal Canadiens
• 1976: Reggie Leach, winger, Philadelphia Flyers
• 1975: Bernie Parent, goalie, Philadelphia Flyers
• 1974: Bernie Parent, goalie, Philadelphia Flyers
• 1973: Yvan Cournoyer, winger, Montreal Canadiens
• 1972: Bobby Orr, defenseman, Boston Bruins
• 1971: Ken Dryden, goalie, Montreal Canadiens
• 1970: Bobby Orr, defenseman, Boston Bruins
• 1969: Serge Savard, defenseman, Montreal Canadiens
• 1968: Glenn Hall, goalie, St. Louis Blues
• 1967: Dave Keon, center, Toronto Maple Leafs
• 1966: Roger Crozier, goalie, Detroit Red Wings
• 1965: Jean Beliveau, center, Montreal Canadiens

It looks like the Vancouver Canucks are beginning to fill out their coaching staff. As reported by Thomas Drance of The Athletic earlier today, it appears that the Canucks will be bringing in former Chicago Blackhawks assistant coach Kevin Dean to help new head coach Adam Foote lead the team. 

Latest From THN’s Vancouver Canucks Site:

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Dean was reported to have parted ways with Chicago in mid-May. Shortly after, the idea of him joining the Canucks organization was brought up after CHEK’s Rick Dhaliwal discussed him being a possible fit during a segment of the show “Donnie & Dhali” last week.  

Dean was part of Team USA’s coaching staff at the 2025 IIHF World Championships, where he, along with current Canucks Conor Garland and Drew O’Connor, won the country’s first gold medal since 1933. He has spent the last three NHL seasons with the Blackhawks and the five before that with the Boston Bruins. Dean also has experience with coaching in the AHL, having spent 10 years split between the Lowell Devils and the Providence Bruins. His NHL career lasted nearly a decade, with Dean playing for the New Jersey Devils (1994–99), Atlanta Thrashers (1999-2000), Dallas Stars (1999-2000), and the Blackhawks (1999-2000). 

With Dean reported to be in as the Canucks’ new defensive coach, all that’s left for the team to take care of is picking out a coach to help with the offence. Notably, Vancouver’s offence struggled a bit last season, so with two more defensively-minded coaches on staff, the team will look to find someone who can bolster the offensive tools they have. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, be sure to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum.

Welcome back to another Memorable Match from the Vancouver Canucks’ 2024–25 season. Last time, we looked at the team’s match against the Detroit Red Wings on February 2. This week, we’ll take a look at their narrow 4–3 loss against the St. Louis Blues on March 20. 

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This was an important game for Vancouver and St. Louis, as both teams were making a push for a Western Conference wild card spot. At the time, both teams had 75 points on the season, with the Canucks residing in the final playoff spot due to having played less games at the time. Within a four-point span of them were the Calgary Flames (73) and the Utah Mammoth (71). Ahead of them in the standings were the Minnesota Wild with 83 points. 

In this high-stakes affair, it was St. Louis’ Zack Bolduc who opened the scoring with less than five minutes left in the second period. Despite the fact that Vancouver entered the third period down a goal, within the first seven minutes, they soon vaulted to a 2–1 lead thanks to Kiefer Sherwood and Brock Boeser (marking the 200th of his NHL career). A couple of minutes later, Tyler Tucker and Dylan Holloway scored for the Blues, with both players’ goals only coming 25 seconds apart. 

Gameplay aside, there were a few reasons why this game was memorable. For starters, the game ultimately went to overtime after a buzzer beater from Boeser, as the forward scored at 19:57 of the third period. This was the second game in a row in which Boeser scored multiple goals, as he previously put up two in the team’s 6–2 victory against the Winnipeg Jets two days prior. As well, Sherwood made his 383rd hit of the season, which tied him for the NHL record previously held by Jeremy Lauzon. He went on to break this record the game after. Finally, Canucks captain Quinn Hughes tallied his 399th career NHL point in this game. 

Canucks 2024–25 Memorable Matches will be posted every Tuesday until June 11. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, be sure to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum.

This year's NHL Awards show will be a one-hour special before Game 4 of the Stanley Cup final.

The NHL said the show will highlight all award winners this season. Most of them are expected to be announced before the program airs on June 12 at 6 p.m. ET on TNT in the United States and Sportsnet in Canada.

Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov was already announced as this year's winner of the Selke Trophy and King Clancy Trophy. He received both awards in a team meeting when patients of Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital made a surprise visit.

Those surprise video announcements will continue leading up to the show. The program itself is expected to announce the winners of the Hart Trophy and Vezina Trophy.

Isaiah Mustafa will host the NHL Awards show. The actor and former professional football player starred in Old Spice commercials such as "The Man Your Man Could Smell Like," which included surprise twists, including him going from a washroom setting to a beach riding a horse in one shot.

Mustafa, a Los Angeles Kings fan, currently stars in Prime Video's crime thriller series Cross.

After Mustafa wraps up the awards show, there will be an hour until the 8 p.m. ET start time for Game 4 of the Cup final between the Edmonton Oilers and Panthers.

Oilers center Leon Draisaitl is one of the three finalists for the Hart Trophy, which goes to the NHL's most valuable player. Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck and Tampa Bay Lightning right winger Nikita Kucherov are the other finalists.

No goalies on the Oilers or Panthers are finalists for the Vezina Trophy, which goes to the goaltender of the year. Hellebuyck is up for that award as well as Kings netminder Darcy Kuemper and the Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy.

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

Canadian left winger Taylor Leier, 31, announced his retirement on Monday via his personal Instagram account and explained is reasons.

“Hockey has been my life, my passion, and my identify for as long as I can remember,” Leier wrote. “My decision hasn’t been easy, but after undergoing a second shoulder surgery to repair a fracture sustained last season, I was diagnosed with degenerative changes in the joint.”

Originally from Saskatoon, Sask., Heise played junior hockey for the WHL’s Portland Winterhawks and played parts of three NHL seasons for the Philadelphia Flyers before spending the last five seasons of his career in Europe – in Czechia with Oceláři Třinec, in Germany with Adler Mannheim and the Straubing Tigers and in Sweden with Linkoping HC. He finished his career in 2024-25, where he played a total of three seasons in two separate tours of duty.

Leier was chosen in the fourth round, 117th overall, by Philadelphia in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. Between 2015 and 2018, he played 55 NHL games for the Flyers, scoring two goals and adding five assists and 10 penalty minutes. He spent the majorithy of that time in the AHL with the Leigh Valley Phantoms.

Midway through the 2018-19 season, Leier was traded to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for Justin Bailey, and played the next season and a half with the Rochester Americans before heading to Europe in 2021.

Photo © Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

Most of the recent rumors regarding the Buffalo Sabres focused on Bowen Bryam, with recent reports claiming they're gauging the 23-year-old RFA defenseman's value in the trade market. 

Some believe the Sabres would put the cap savings from shipping out Byram to re-sign forwards like JJ Peterka.

However, recent reports suggest the Sabres could face some difficulty signing Peterka. The 23-year-old right winger is completing his entry-level contract and lacks arbitration rights.

Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli has Peterka atop his latest NHL Trade Targets Board. He claims multiple teams made significant offers to the Sabres for Peterka at the trade deadline, but GM Kevyn Adams considers him part of his club's core. However, Seravalli believes they have less of a choice with the threat of an offer sheet when free agency begins on July 1.

Chris Johnston of The Athletic includes Peterka among his list of off-season trade candidates and also mentioned the possibility he receives an offer sheet if unsigned on July 1. Johnston also noted that Adams considers Peterka to be among his young core, but it's unclear if the player will make that commitment to the Sabres.

The offer sheet threat could be overblown because the Sabres have over $23 million in cap space this summer. That's more than enough to match an offer from a rival club, especially if they trade Byram.

If Peterka isn't willing to sign a long-term deal, it could change their mind about moving Byram. However, Adam Proteau believes moving on from a rising star like Peterka could be disastrous for the Sabres.

Meanwhile, Seravalli's report last week that Jonathan Marchessault might welcome a trade from the Nashville Predators raised conjecture over possible landing spots for the 34-year-old right winger. The Montreal Canadiens and New Jersey Devils were mentioned, along with a reunion with his former club, the Vegas Golden Knights. 

The Tennessean's Alex Daugherty examined what a Marchessault trade might look like, pointing out Marchessault's contract is a significant stumbling block. He's signed through 2028-29 with an average annual value of $5.5 million. Daugherty indicated Marchessault has a full no-movement clause, but if the Predators approach him about a trade, he can submit a 15-team no-trade list.

If the Predators find a suitable trade partner for Marchessault, Daugherty doubts they'll get much of a return. He speculates it would be a low draft pick or low-range prospect at best, plus they might have to add a draft pick with Marchessault to make the deal work.

Everything to know about the Conn Smythe Trophy, awarded to NHL playoff MVP originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Lord Stanley isn’t the only piece of hardware that will be awarded in the Stanley Cup Final.

One player from the Edmonton Oilers or the defending champion Florida Panthers will be honored as the most valuable player in the 2025 NHL playoffs with the Conn Smythe Trophy. And the rare Cup Final rematch could see a repeat award winner.

Oilers star Connor McDavid earned the 2024 Conn Smythe in a losing Cup Final effort, and the three-time Hart Trophy winner enters this year’s NHL championship round with a playoff-high 26 points (6 goals, 20 assists). McDavid’s co-star, Leon Draisaitl, is also a Conn Smythe Trophy contender as he sits second in points with 25 (7 goals, 18 assists).

The one-time champion Panthers, meanwhile, could have their first Conn Smythe Trophy winner in franchise history. Captain Aleksander Barkov (17 points), forward Matthew Tkachuk (16) and center Sam Bennett (16) lead 10 Florida skaters with at least 10 points entering the Cup Final. Goalie Sergei Bobrovsky is putting together a strong Conn Smythe Trophy resume as well, as he sports a 2.11 goals-against average and a .912 save percentage.

So, how is the Conn Smythe Trophy winner determined? And has there ever been a back-to-back winner? Here’s everything to know about the NHL playoff MVP award:

What is the Conn Smythe Trophy and when was it first awarded?

The Conn Smythe Trophy is a postseason award given to the most valuable player in the playoffs. It debuted in the 1965 postseason.

Historically, most Conn Smythe Trophy winners have come from the team that also won the Stanley Cup. Though, there have been a handful of instances where a player who lost in the Cup Final was awarded the trophy.

The award is named after former Toronto Maple Leafs owner, president, general manager and coach Conn Smythe. It was under Smythe’s ownership that the Leafs changed their name from the St. Pats and that the Maple Leaf Gardens arena was constructed. A mini replica of the venue and a Maple Leaf are among the trophy’s features.

How is the Conn Smythe Trophy winner determined?

The Conn Smythe Trophy is voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers Association. Seventeen PHWA members were included in the 2024 vote.

When is the Conn Smythe Trophy winner announced?

The winner is both selected and announced following the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Final.

Who won the first Conn Smythe Trophy?

Hall of Fame center Jean Béliveau won the inaugural Conn Smythe Trophy in 1965. Béliveau tallied eight goals, including four game-winners, and eight assists over 13 games as the Montreal Canadiens won the Stanley Cup.

Who won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2024?

Connor McDavid was a near-unanimous Conn Smythe Trophy winner in 2024 despite Edmonton falling to Florida in the Cup Final. McDavid earned 16 of 17 first-place votes after racking up the most assists (34) and points (42) in the postseason. He was also the leading scorer in the Cup Final with 11 points (3 goals, 8 assists).

McDavid is one of only a handful of players to ever take home the Conn Smythe Trophy without also winning the Stanley Cup.

Who has won the most Conn Smythe Trophies?

Hall of Fame goalie Patrick Roy owns the most Conn Smythe Trophies with three. Roy won two with the Canadiens (1986, 1993) and one with the Colorado Avalanche (2001).

There are five other multi-time Conn Smythe Trophy winners: defenseman Bobby Orr (1970, 1972), goalie Bernie Parent (1974, 1975), center Wayne Gretzky (1985, 1988), center Mario Lemieux (1991, 1992) and center Sidney Crosby (2016, 2017).

Have there been a back-to-back Conn Smythe Trophy winner?

Parent, Lemieux and Crosby were all back-to-back winners, and McDavid has a chance to do the same this year.

How many Conn Smythe Trophy winners have come from the losing team?

There have been six instances where the Conn Smythe Trophy recipient was on the team that lost in the Cup Final.

Who are the Conn Smythe Trophy winners from losing teams?

Four of the six Conn Smythe winners from non-champions were goalies:

• 2024: Connor McDavid, center, Edmonton Oilers
• 2003: Jean-Sebastien Giguere, goalie, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
• 1987: Ron Hextall, goalie, Philadelphia Flyers
• 1976: Reggie Leach, winger, Philadelphia Flyers
• 1968: Glenn Hall, goalie, St. Louis Blues
• 1966: Roger Crozier, goalie, Detroit Red Wings

How many goalies have won the Conn Smythe Trophy?

The Conn Smythe Trophy has gone to a goalie 17 total times,with Andrei Vasilevskiy of the Tampa Bay Lightning being the position’s most recent winner in 2021.

List of Conn Smythe Trophy winners by year

Here’s a full look at every Conn Smythe Trophy winner:

• 2024: Connor McDavid, center, Edmonton Oilers*
• 2023: Jonathan Marchessault, center, Vegas Golden Knights
• 2022: Cale Makar, defenseman, Colorado Avalanche
• 2021: Andrei Vasilevskiy, goalie, Tampa Bay Lightning
• 2020: Victor Hedman, defenseman, Tampa Bay Lightning
• 2019: Ryan O’Reilly, center, St. Louis Blues
• 2018: Alex Ovechkin, winger, Washington Capitals
• 2017: Sidney Crosby, center, Pittsburgh Penguins
• 2016: Sidney Crosby, center, Pittsburgh Penguins
• 2015: Duncan Keith, defenseman, Chicago Blackhawks
• 2014: Justin Williams, winger, Los Angeles Kings
• 2013: Patrick Kane, winger, Chicago Blackhawks
• 2012: Jonathan Quick, goalie, Los Angeles Kings
• 2011: Tim Thomas, goalie, Boston Bruins
• 2010: Jonathan Toews, center, Chicago Blackhawks
• 2009: Evgeni Malkin, center, Pittsburgh Penguins
• 2008: Henrik Zetterberg, center, Detroit Red Wings
• 2007: Scott Niedermayer, defenseman, Anaheim Ducks
• 2006: Cam Ward, goalie, Carolina Hurricanes
• 2004: Brad Richards, center, Tampa Bay Lightning
• 2003: Jean-Sebastien Giguere, goalie, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
• 2002: Nicklas Lidstrom, defenseman, Detroit Red Wings
• 2001: Patrick Roy, goalie, Colorado Avalanche
• 2000: Scott Stevens, defenseman, New Jersey Devils
• 1999: Joe Nieuwendyk, center, Dallas Stars
• 1998: Steve Yzerman, center, Detroit Red Wings
• 1997: Mike Vernon, goalie, Detroit Red Wings
• 1996: Joe Sakic, center, Colorado Avalanche
• 1995: Claude Lemieux, winger, New Jersey Devils
• 1994: Brian Leetch, defenseman, New York Rangers
• 1993: Patrick Roy, goalie, Montreal Canadiens
• 1992: Mario Lemieux, center, Pittsburgh Penguins
• 1991: Mario Lemieux, center, Pittsburgh Penguins
• 1990: Bill Ranford, goalie, Edmonton Oilers
• 1989: Al MacInnis, defenseman, Calgary Flames
• 1988: Wayne Gretzky, center, Edmonton Oilers
• 1987: Ron Hextall, goalie, Philadelphia Flyers
• 1986: Patrick Roy, goalie, Montreal Canadiens
• 1985: Wayne Gretzky, center, Edmonton Oilers
• 1984: Mark Messier, winger/center, Edmonton Oilers
• 1983: Billy Smith, goalie, New York Islanders
• 1982: Mike Bossy, winger, New York Islanders
• 1981: Butch Goring, center, New York Islanders
• 1980: Bryan Trottier, center, New York Islanders
• 1979: Bob Gainey, winger, Montreal Canadiens
• 1978: Larry Robinson, defenseman, Montreal Canadiens
• 1977: Guy Lafleur, winger, Montreal Canadiens
• 1976: Reggie Leach, winger, Philadelphia Flyers
• 1975: Bernie Parent, goalie, Philadelphia Flyers
• 1974: Bernie Parent, goalie, Philadelphia Flyers
• 1973: Yvan Cournoyer, winger, Montreal Canadiens
• 1972: Bobby Orr, defenseman, Boston Bruins
• 1971: Ken Dryden, goalie, Montreal Canadiens
• 1970: Bobby Orr, defenseman, Boston Bruins
• 1969: Serge Savard, defenseman, Montreal Canadiens
• 1968: Glenn Hall, goalie, St. Louis Blues
• 1967: Dave Keon, center, Toronto Maple Leafs
• 1966: Roger Crozier, goalie, Detroit Red Wings
• 1965: Jean Beliveau, center, Montreal Canadiens

Now that the dust has cleared and everyone's had time to calm down, what is the perception of how things ended for the Toronto Maple Leafs?

Was that Game 7 loss to the Florida Panthers as bad as we initially thought? Or did the fact that the defending Cup champions rolled past the Carolina Hurricanes change anyone's opinion?

In hindsight, maybe the Leafs should not blow things up. Maybe fans should take solace in the fact that the Leafs took a (baby) step forward in the playoffs went further than they have in the past two decades.

Maybe they should re-sign not only Matthew Knies, but also Mitch Marner and John Tavares. Maybe they should roll things back.

That is what Toronto Sun columnist suggested, arguing that the current Leafs might be the third-best team in the NHL. But if it is what GM Brad Treliving is also thinking on the eve of the Stanley Cup final between the Panthers and Edmonton Oilers, then he isn’t the right man for the job.

Which teams, right now, are better than the Toronto Maple Leafs?

You can start with the Eastern Conference champion Florida Panthers, then move to the Western Conference champion Edmonton Oilers.

But after that, who? The Carolina Hurricanes? No. The Washington Capitals? No. The Tampa Bay Lightning? No. The New Jersey Devils? No. The Ottawa Senators? No. The Montreal Canadiens? No. You move to the Western Conference and you can’t feel good about how the Dallas Stars played against the Oilers. You can’t feel good about the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Winnipeg Jets or the ease with which Vegas lost to Edmonton in the second round of the playoffs.

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Who's better than the Leafs?

Florida and Edmonton are. Same goes for Washington, Tampa Bay, Montreal, Vegas, Colorado and even St. Louis.

Why? Because those teams actually went all the way to the final in recent years. And in most cases, they won. That's something that the Leafs haven't done. They haven't even reached the third round.

Yes, the Maple Leafs got closer to winning a Cup than they have in the Auston Matthews-era. But they are still so far, far away when it comes to getting the job done.

After all, there is a difference between getting close to beating an opponent and actually beating that opponent and then winning another two rounds for a championship.

What Could Morgan Rielly's Next Year With The Maple Leafs Look Like?The Toronto Maple Leafs need to look deeply at who’s bringing the team closer to success and who isn’t.

Roll things back? Isn’t that what they’ve done for the past nine years.

This wasn’t the first time that the Leafs lost to a team that reached the Stanley Cup final. In 2019, they lost in the first round to Boston, which then lost to St. Louis in the final. In 2021, they lost in the first round to Montreal, which then lost to Tampa Bay in the final. A year later, they lost in the first round to Tampa Bay, which won in the final. The next year, they lost in the second round to Florida, which then lost in the final to Vegas.

Rinse. Wash. Repeat.

This year, they did it again. After losing to the Panthers, the Leafs then watched as the defending champs beat Carolina in five easy games. So, of course, the thinking is that had Toronto won Game 7 then the Leafs could have been looking at a Stanley Cup final match-up against the Oilers.

Except for one thing: the Leafs didn’t beat the Panthers in Game 7. They lost. And like their previous close calls, they lost big.

Stanley Cup champions don’t get embarrassed at home, as they Leafs did in Games 5 and 7 to the Panthers. Their superstars don’t go MIA when the team needs them the most. They don’t point fingers or make excuses. They don’t blame the media, the fans and their opponents.

They just win.

NHL Rumor Roundup: McDavid's Future With Oilers, And Marner To The Golden Knights?As hockey fans await the start of the Stanley Cup final between the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers, some pundits are pondering Connor McDavid's future in Edmonton. 

That’s why the Leafs need to change their DNA, as Treliving put it in last week's season-ending news conference. That means breaking up the core and making the kind of significant change that could in theory cause the Leafs to take a step backwards in order to take a step forward.

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Finnish forward Rasmus Kupari, 25, has signed a two-year contract with HC Lugano, the National League club announced on Tuesday.

“I think Lugano is the ideal place to take the next step in my career,” Kupari is quoted. “I want to be a leader on and off the ice and bring my game to the entire rink, both defensively and offensively. I think my most important skill is skating.”

“Rasmus has played his last five seasons in the NHL and AHL,” said Lugano GM Janick Steinmann. “He’s a first-line forward, a good skater with important attributes in every area of ​​the rink. In North America, he has often been assigned more defensive roles, but with us, he will be able to assert his skills as more of a two-way player. I am convinced that he will adapt very well to the National League and have a strong impact offensively. I am extremely happy to have him with us in Lugano and to be able to observe all his potential.”

Kupari hails from Kotka, Finland, and turned pro with the Kärpät club in Oulu at age 17. He recorded 52 points in 104 Liiga regular-season and playoff games.

Kupari was picked 20th overall by the Los Angeles Kings in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. Despite this, he never played more than 66 NHL games in a season or recorded more than 15 points. Between 2020 and 2025, Kupari played in 217 regular-season games, scoring 14 goals and adding 24 assists for 38 points with 52 penalty minutes for the Kings and Winnipeg Jets. He also played 11 playoff games for Los Angeles, where he was held without a point.

Internationally, Kupari played in three IIHF World Junior Championships, playing a large part in Finland’s gold-medal win in 2019 with five points in seven games and scoring the winning goal in the final, but getting injured in the first game of the 2020 tournament.

Kupari joins a Lugano team that is trying to rebuild its roster after missing the playoffs last season.

Photo © Bob Kupbens-Imagn Images

Lugano Dismisses Coach Krupp And Several Noteworthy Players Just days after the team saved its position in Switzerland’s National League by defeating HC Ajoie in a playout series, HC Lugano parted ways with head coach Uwe Krupp and several notable players, including goaltender Adam Húska, defenseman Valtteri Pulli, and forwards Mark Arcobello, Daniel Carr, Radim Zohorna and Aleksi Peltonen.

Bakersfield Condors forward Drake Caggiula has signed a one-year deal in Switzerland with Lausanne HC, it was announced Monday. 

Hailing from Pickering, Ont., Caggiula split time this season between the Condors and the Edmonton Oilers. Over seven NHL games, Caggiula collected an assist while putting up 24 goals and 28 assists for 52 points in 62 regular season games with Bakersfield. 

Having signed with Edmonton as an undrafted free agent, Caggiula has played in 289 career NHL regular season games with the Oilers, Chicago Blackhawks, Arizona Coyotes, Buffalo Sabres, and the Pittsburgh Penguins. In that time, he scored 46 goals and added 46 assists for 92 points. 

With Caggiula heading overseas for the first time in his career, he will factor heavily into Lausanne's plans and be an important player for them. While he has struggled to hold down a consistent NHL role over the past few years, Caggiula has proven his value before and could get another look next summer if he is looking to return to the NHL. 

Canadian forward Drake Caggiula, who turns 31 on June 20, has signed a one-year contract with Lausanne HC, the National League club announced on Monday.

“We are very pleased to welcome Drake to Lausanne,” said club sports director John Fust. “He is an experienced player with a solid track record in North America. Beyond his offensive skills and intensity on the ice, he will bring true leadership to the locker room.”

Caggiula, who hails from Pickering, Ont and played four seasons for the University of North Dakota, was never drafted by an NHL team and signed as a free agent with the Edmonton Oilers in 2016.

Between 2016 and 2025, Caggiula played 289 NHL regular-season games with the Oilers, Chicago Blackhawks, Arizona Coyotes, Buffalo Sabres and Pittsburgh Penguins, recording 92 points and 141 penalty minutes. He also played 21 playoff games with Edmonton and Chicago, registering six points and 27 penalty minutes.

Last season, he played seven NHL games in his second tour of duty with Edmonton and spent the rest of the season with the AHL’s Bakersfield Condors.

Danish Ex-Oiler Signs In Germany Danish forward Patrick Russell, 32, has signed a contract to play with Kölner Haie, the DEL club announced on Friday. Terms of the agreement were not specified.

This is Caggiula’s first tour of duty in Europe. He joins a Lausanne team that has been one of Switzerland’s best the past few years and wants to win a title this year under reigning coach of the year Geoff Ward. Last season the team finished first in the regular season and has lost in the finals each of the past two seasons to the ZSC Lions.

In addition to Caggiula, Lausanne has under contract for 2025-26 goaltenders Connor Hughes and Antoine Keller, as well as Swedish defenseman Erik Brännström, American Austin Czarnik, German Dominik Kahun, and Finns Janne Kuokkanen, and Antti Suomela, Lauri Pajuniemi and Sami Niku.

Photo © Sergei Belski-Imagn Images: Drake Caggiula playing for the Edmonton Oilers in the 2024 pre-season.

Erik Brännström Signs Multi-Year Deal In Switzerland Swedish defenseman Erik Brännström, 25, has signed a three-year contract with Lausanne HC, the National League club announced on Monday.

If you want the Philadelphia Flyers to draft the No. 1 center of their future with the sixth overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, you've already been warned not to get your hopes up.

Wisely, some might say, the Flyers are keeping their options open ahead of the draft later this month. After all, it was only a year ago that the decision to trade down and pass on Zeev Buium to select Jett Luchanko tore through the fanbase like wildfire.

When the Flyers did so, they chose need over value. This was publicly communicated beforehand, as GM Danny Briere suggested they would take a center if a center and a defenseman were tied in rank on their draft boards.

Now, the Flyers are indicating the opposite with four weeks to go before the draft.

“We obviously are aware," Flyers assistant general manager Brent Flahr said of the talent issue at center, as quoted by Kevin Kurz of The Athletic. "But there’s also a couple other players that it’s going to make it hard. There’s a couple wingers, and even a defenseman, that could be in the mix. You’ve got to be careful not to go by a top line player potentially, just for position. That’s the challenge we’ll face."

Flahr and the Flyers have been earmarked to draft a center with their top draft pick for months now, with top options comprised of the likes of James Hagens, Michael Misa, Anton Frondell, Caleb Desnoyers, Jake O'Brien, Roger McQueen, and Brady Martin.

The fact that Flahr is already willing to look past a glaring need at the position suggests there are multiple centers on that list who are quite low on their draft boards relative to the consensus.

Flyers Trade Rumors: Wild 'Not Dying' to Deal Marco Rossi AwayRecent reports have connected the Philadelphia Flyers to trade discussions with the Minnesota Wild regarding free agent center Marco Rossi, but there is no serious progress made by the Flyers, or any other NHL team, on that front... yet.

McQueen, for example, has struggled with back issues, and teams will be eager to test him out at the NHL combine and get a better feel for his health going forward now that he's been cleared for testing.

On the flanks and on the back end, the Flyers could very well still find some studs. A "couple wingers" likely refers to Swede Victor Eklund, the younger brother of William Eklund, and Canadian Porter Martone, who has drawn some stylistic comparisons to Matvei Michkov.

The mention of a defenseman could just be Flahr being coy about Matthew Schaefer, who is generally considered to be the premier player in this class but could be available if the Flyers trade up with the San Jose Sharks to acquire the No. 2 pick, as some rumors have previously suggested.

Some mock drafts, including one from NHL.com, have connected Barrie Colts defenseman Kashawn Aitcheson to the Flyers at No. 6, but more realistic options at that draft slot include the smooth-skating, 6-foot-3 Jackson Smith or the towering, two-way giant in the 6-foot-6 Radim Mrtka.

After losing three recently drafted defense prospects, including two from the 2023 draft, the Flyers are badly hurting for some young defensemen in their system, even after selecting Spencer Gill and Austin Moline in 2024.

Is that reason enough to potentially pass on the No. 1 center of your future? For the Flyers, it's at least on the table after last year's controversy.

The New Jersey Devils were expected to go much further in the Stanley Cup playoffs, but, like the Montreal Canadiens, they fell at the first hurdle, being eliminated in five games by the Carolina Hurricanes.

While not having their top center, Jack Hughes, can go some way towards explaining what happened there, the organization refused to use that excuse. After his team’s elimination, GM Tom Fitzgerald was clear:

"We've got a lot of decisions to make on certain players, whether we bring guys back, trade players (but) we won't be coming back with the same group (in 2025-26) […] I can tell you that because it wasn't good enough."

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Now the question is, which players are they likely to move? With Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier down the middle, the Devils have two real top-six centers, meaning that former first-round pick and 18th overall selection at the 2020 draft, Dawson Mercer, is used as their third-line center.

Canadiens: Potential First Round Pick - Malcolm Spence
Canadiens Farm Team On The Brink Of Elimination
Canadiens: The Grades Are In – Emil Heineman

The 23-year-old Newfoundlander stands at 6 feet and 180 pounds, making him taller than another possible option we discussed this past weekend (Marco Rossi is only 5 feet 9 inches and 182 pounds), but not significantly bigger. Mercer caught the eye of Habs fans when he played his junior hockey in the QMJHL with the Drummondville Voltigeurs and the Chicoutimi Sageneens.

Since he graduated to the NHL, Mercer hasn’t missed a single game because of injuries, playing 82 games in each of his four seasons. In his rookie year, he scored 42 points, and then increased to 56 points in his sophomore season. However, his production dipped to just 33 points the following season, and he could only muster 36 this year, even though he spent an average of 17:53 on the ice.

With Hughes’ injury, he’s been moved back to center, but looking at his line combinations over the last two seasons, he’s been playing mainly on the wing, which isn’t surprising given his low numbers in the faceoff department. In his four NHL seasons, he’s only won 39.3% of his faceoffs.

Fitzgerald signed him to a three-year contract with a $4M cap hit last Summer, clearly wanting to see more from him before committing long term and putting him on a reasonable cap hit with no clause hindering possible trades.

Mercer’s numbers are not as enticing as Rossi’s, for example, but he has the kind of profile Hughes has dealt for in the past. If you look at Kirby Dach and Alex Newhook’s numbers before the Canadiens acquired them, Mercer is better. When he was hired, the Canadiens’ GM explained that he wouldn’t be a “buy high” kind of guy, and the two aforementioned trades were living proof of that. The question is, though, is the rebuild still in that phase? The one in which you get an asset and hope to help them reach their potential? Or have the Canadiens moved on to the results phase, where they’ll bring their prospects along but won’t go out to get projects elsewhere?

The Canadiens made the playoffs this season, but Hughes and Jeff Gorton were quick to say that it doesn’t change anything in the grand scheme of things, and it won’t speed up the rebuild. If the GM is looking for a player who has already established himself as a second-line center, Mercer is not his man. However, if he’s still looking for “projects,” he might just be…

Photo Credit: James Carey Lauder-Imagn Images

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Mark Giordano has been busy since last playing in the NHL with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The 41-year-old, who's yet to announce his retirement from the league, joined TSN for their trade deadline coverage in March. Beyond that, Giordano still appears as a guest on TSN 1050 from time to time.

The Norris Trophy-winning defender, though, will also be working as a defense coach with projected first-overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, Matthew Schaefer. Speaking with NHL.com senior writer Mike Morreale, the 17-year-old says he'll be skating with Giordano throughout the summer.

"I'm working out with (trainer) Bryan Marshall, and my defense coach is Mark Giordano, so I'm super excited to work with him," Schaefer said. "I'm going to be skating with him a lot."

Shaefer, who played just 17 games with the OHL's Erie Otters this season after having surgery on a broken clavicle with Canada at the World Juniors, will train with Giordano and likely New York Islanders defenseman Adam Pelech, among others, in Mississauga, Ontario, this summer.

The Toronto, Ontario, native was acquired by his hometown team in March 2022 in hopes of a deep playoff run. However, the Maple Leafs fell 4-3 to the Tampa Bay Lightning that year.

Following that season, Giordano and Toronto agreed to a two-year contract, which paid him $800,000 annually. In his first full year as a Maple Leaf, Giordano played 78 games and scored four goals and 20 assists, his most productive since the 2021 season with the Calgary Flames.

Exploring Buyouts? Why That Would Be A Major Misstep For The Maple Leafs This SummerThe Toronto Maple Leafs could look quite different next season. From star forward Mitch Marner testing free agency to a wealth of vacant spots up front to fill either via trade or free agency, General Manager Brad Treliving has the opportunity to put an additional stamp on the team he took over in 2023. But what he should try to avoid, if possible, is using buyouts.

During that season, he also broke the NHL blocked shots record, which was previously held by Kris Russel (2,044). San Jose Sharks defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic passed Giordano, who has 2,164 blocks, on March 4.

The veteran defenseman also appeared in all of Toronto's playoff games in 2023, making it to the second round for the first time since 2004. The Maple Leafs eliminated the Lightning in six games before going out to the Florida Panthers in five.

Giordano last appeared in an NHL game with the Maple Leafs on April 17, 2024. For most of that season, the veteran defenseman found himself on the outside looking in, especially when Joel Edmundson and Ilya Lyubushkin joined the club ahead of the playoffs.

He also dealt with an injury and the loss of his father, Paul, in the back-half of that season.

Maple Leafs Prospect Easton Cowan Dominates Memorial Cup, Validates Return To Junior DecisionToronto Maple Leafs prospect Easton Cowan is a Memorial Cup champion with the OHL's London Knights.

Giordano wasn't re-signed by Toronto following the 2023-24 season and held out hope that an NHL club would sign him later in the year. The defenseman finished his tenure in Toronto with nine goals and 36 assists in 144 games.

Before arriving in the Maple Leafs organization, Giordano spent one season with the Seattle Kraken. He was plucked out of the expansion draft by Seattle after the Calgary Flames, with whom Giordano spent 15 years of his career, left him unprotected.

An undrafted defenseman, Giordano joined the Flames organization in the summer of 2005. Along with winning the Norris Trophy, Giordano was Calgary's captain for eight seasons, from 2013 to 2021. His Flames tenure ended with 143 goals and 366 assists for 509 points in 949 games.

Report: Maple Leafs And Golden Knights Discussed Trade Around Mitch Marner, Shea Theodore Last SummerToronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner reportedly could've been a Vegas Golden Knight last summer.

Although he's yet to call it a career, Giordano has 577 points (158 goals, 419 assists) in 1,148 games split between the Flames, Kraken, and Maple Leafs over 18 years.

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