Who won the Conn Smythe? Hurricanes' Jordan Staal wins NHL's playoff MVP

Nairavoice | Jun 15, 2026 1h ago 192 0 3 min read

Home › Sports › Who won the Conn Smythe? Hurricanes' Jordan Staal wins NHL's playoff MVP

Who won the Conn Smythe? Hurricanes’ Jordan Staal wins NHL’s playoff MVP originally appeared on The Sporting News.
Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Carolina Hurricanes are Stanley Cup champions for the first time in 20 years, when goalie Cam Ward earned Conn Smythe honors and Rod Brind’Amour captained the team to immortality.

With Brind’Amour on the bench as head coach and another inexperienced goalie in net, the Hurricanes closed out the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 6 to put the franchise’s past playoff disappointments out of mind.

Brandon Bussi perhaps saved the Hurricanes’ season after replacing Frederik Andersen, but he wasn’t the one who skated away with the Conn Smythe Trophy as the MVP of the playoffs.

Here’s a look at which player earned the honor after Game 6.

MORE:How Rod Brind’Amour is responsible for nearly every playoff win in Hurricanes history

Who won the 2026 Conn Smythe?

Jordan Staal has been with the Hurricanes for 14 years, so it’s only fitting he was the player celebrated with the Conn Smythe Trophy after the Hurricanes finished off their title run.

Who won the Conn Smythe? Hurricanes'

CAPTAIN CLUTCH‼️
JORDAN STAAL IS THE WINNER OF THE CONN SMYTHE TROPHY AS THE MVP OF THE #STANLEYCUP PLAYOFFS! pic.twitter.com/qBs1qrMtFB
— NHL (@NHL) June 15, 2026

Jordan Staal accepts the Conn Smythe Trophy as the OLDEST player to ever win it 🤯🔥 pic.twitter.com/KuVACoGzyA
— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) June 15, 2026

The award was earned regardless of Staal’s experience level, as the 37-year-old put together a magnificent playoff run with 12 points on eight goals and four assists in 17 games. Staal averaged 0.71 points per game after averaging 0.48 points per game in the regular season, and he was unstoppable in the Stanley Cup Final with six goals in six games.

Staal scored in each of the first five games of the Stanley Cup Final for Carolina, and that performance on the NHL’s biggest stage earned him an award that will etch his name among some hockey greats.

He was chosen over other Carolina forwards such as Long Stankoven and Taylor Hall.

Full list of Conn Smythe winners

Cam Ward won the Conn Smythe Trophy the last time the Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup Final.

Here’s a full list of all the Conn Smythe winners in NHL history.

YearPlayerTeamPosition2026Jordan StaalCarolina HurricanesC2025Sam BennettFlorida PanthersC2024Connor McDavidEdmonton OilersC2023Jonathan MarchessaultVegas Golden KnightsRW2022Cale MakarColorado AvalancheD2021Andrei VasilevskiyTampa Bay LightningG2020Victor HedmanTampa Bay LightningD2019Ryan O’ReillySt. Louis BluesC2018Alex OvechkinWashington CapitalsLW2017Sidney CrosbyPittsburgh PenguinsC2016Sidney CrosbyPittsburgh PenguinsC2015Duncan KeithChicago BlackhawksD2014Justin WilliamsLos Angeles KingsRW2013Patrick KaneChicago BlackhawksRW2012Jonathan QuickLos Angeles KingsG2011Tim ThomasBoston BruinsG2010Jonathan ToewsChicago BlackhawksC2009Evgeni MalkinPittsburgh PenguinsC2008Henrik ZetterbergDetroit Red WingsC2007Scott NiedermayerAnaheim DucksD2006Cam WardCarolina HurricanesG2005N/AN/AN/A2004Brad RichardsTampa Bay LightningC2003Jean-Sebastien GiguereMighty Ducks of AnaheimG2002Nicklas LidstromDetroit Red WingsD2001Patrick RoyColorado AvalancheG2000Scott StevensNew Jersey DevilsD1999Joe NieuwendykDallas StarsC1998Steve YzermanDetroit Red WingsC1997Mike VernonDetroit Red WingsG1996Joe SakicColorado AvalancheC1995Claude LemieuxNew Jersey DevilsRW1994Brian LeetchNew York RangersD1993Patrick RoyMontreal CanadiensG1992Mario LemieuxPittsburgh PenguinsC1991Mario LemieuxPittsburgh PenguinsC1990Bill RanfordEdmonton OilersG1989Al MacInnisCalgary FlamesD1988Wayne GretzkyEdmonton OilersC1987Ron HextallPhiladelphia FlyersG1986Patrick RoyMontreal CanadiensG1985Wayne GretzkyEdmonton OilersC1984Mark MessierEdmonton OilersC1983Billy SmithNew York IslandersG1982Mike BossyNew York IslandersRW1981Butch GoringNew York IslandersC1980Bryan TrottierNew York IslandersC1979Bob GaineyMontreal CanadiensLW1978Larry RobinsonMontreal CanadiensD1977Guy LafleurMontreal CanadiensRW1976Reggie LeachPhiladelphia FlyersRW1975Bernie ParentPhiladelphia FlyersG1974Bernie ParentPhiladelphia FlyersG1973Yvan CournoyerMontreal CanadiensRW1972Bobby OrrBoston BruinsD1971Ken DrydenMontreal CanadiensG1970Bobby OrrBoston BruinsD1969Serge SavardMontreal CanadiensD1968Glenn HallSt. Louis BluesG1967Dave KeonToronto Maple LeafsC1966Roger CrozierDetroit Red WingsG1965Jean BeliveauMontreal CanadiensC

Show Some Love By Sharing