While the blueprint of a major league developmental system aims to cultivate top talent, the Detroit Tigers made a highly shortsighted decision by severing ties with Carl Owen Hubbell. Concerned that the young left-hander relied too much on an unusual, high-stress pitch called the screwball, Detroit's farm directors explicitly ordered him to stop throwing it, fearing the mechanical torque could break his arm. This was a significant mistake. After being acquired by the New York Giants from Beaumont of the Texas League in mid-1928, Hubbell didn’t abandon the pitch; instead, he perfected it with precise, low-variability execution. This transformed him into a masterful pitcher known for his durability in late innings and as a starter, using the devastating reverse-breaking action to confound many top hitters.

His integration into the Manhattan rotation yielded immediate dividends, but Hubbell truly established his national profile as a premier control wizard at the dawn of the 1930s. He turned baseline efficiency into a strict, daily regular-season routine, launching a spectacular four-year streak atop the National League WHIP leaderboards in 1931 and a concurrent four-year run as the league leader in strikeout-to-walk ratio starting in 1932. 

His rapid ascension to the top of the sport reached its absolute evolutionary zenith during a breathtaking 1933 regular-season masterpiece. Hubbell systematically paralyzed National League batters, pacing the league with 23 victories and a microscopic career-best 1.66 ERA. Advanced efficiency filters heavily validated his dominant peak, as he led the league in FIP (2.63) and posted a mind-bending 0.98 WHIP—the only time in his career he dipped below the coveted 1.00 threshold. Naturally, his elite playmaking earned him the National League Most Valuable Player Award while anchoring a postseason run that culminated in a World Series championship.

Despite his many awards during the regular season, Hubbell achieved lasting fame during a single exhibition on July 10, 1934. During the second annual All-Star Game at the Polo Grounds, he faced an early jam with two runners on base. This event is celebrated as one of the greatest defensive moments in All-Star history. Using his signature screwball, he struck out five future Hall of Famers in a row: Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Jimmie Foxx, Al Simmons, and Joe Cronin. This remarkable performance demonstrated his dominance and secured his legacy as the ultimate big-game pitcher.

"The Meal Ticket" maintained his elite run-prevention skills through the mid-1930s. In 1934, he earned his second National League ERA title with a .230 average, and in 1936, he claimed a third with an impressive 2.31 ERA. His 1936 season was another remarkable outlier, as he won his second Most Valuable Player Award with a 26–6 record. That summer, Hubbell started a historic, high-velocity winning streak that extended into the following year, achieving an extraordinary 24 straight decisions without a loss, a Major League record that remains unbroken today.

His unyielding arm carried the Giants to back-to-back National League championship pennants in 1936 and 1937, though the club would ultimately finish as frustrated casualties both times against a powerhouse cross-town New York Yankees juggernaut.

Sadly, the intense physical strain from twisting his elbow to deliver thousands of screwballs took a toll on his body, visibly deforming his arm and reducing his speed. After the 1937 pennant race, his dominance declined, but his keen spatial awareness and pitching intelligence kept him a reliable, above-average starter for four more seasons.

When his overall output finally fell off a cliff during an injury-hampered 1943 campaign, the organization officially signaled a structural transition, drawing the curtain on his legendary playing residency.

He walked away from the mound having compiled a monumental, volume-dense baseline that reads like fiction today: a 253–154 record, a brilliant 2.98 lifetime ERA, 3,590.1 grueling innings pitched, and 1,677 strikeouts across 535 games.

Hubbell was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1947.  San Francisco also retired his number 44, having done so in 1941.

The playoffs are obviously more important than the regular season, yet the playoff MVP always takes a back seat to the regular season MVP.  If we are of the belief (and many of us are) that this is where legends rise, the Conn Smythe Trophy, given annually to the best playoff performer should tell an accurate Hall of Fame tale.

The award is named after Conn Smythe, the longtime Owner, General Manager and Head Coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs.  It was first awarded in 1965.

The results are as follows:

There are currently 38 former Conn Smythe winners who are Hockey Hall of Fame eligible with all 26 entering, yielding a percentage of 68.4.  

This covered 44 years of Hall-eligible winners, of which 32 of them saw a Conn Smythe winner enter the Hall.  This yields a percentage of 72.7.

The following are the past players who have won the Conn Smythe Trophy who are eligible for the Hockey Hall of Fame and have been enshrined.

1965:  Jean Beliveau, Montreal Canadians, Center.  8 Goals, 8 Assists, 16 Points, -1. 

This was Beliveau’s sixth of ten Stanley Cups, and while this was his only Conn Smythe, he would lead in Playoff Assists two more times.  He would score 172 Points in NHL Playoff hockey and has the most all time for the Montreal Canadians.  In regular season action, Beliveau is a two-time Hart, one-time Art Ross and six-time First Team All-Star.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1972.

1967:  Dave Keon, Toronto Maple Leafs, Center.  3 Goals, 5 Assists, 8 Points, +1. 

The last Stanley Cup for Keon (of four), is also currently the last one for the Maple Leafs.  His eight Points are the fewest of any Conn Smythe winner (Toronto’s Jim Pappin, led all skaters with 15), but it was the way he shut down the inaugural winner, Jean Beliveau, that pushed him to the win.    Previously, Keon won the Calder, twice won the Lady Byng and was a two-time Second Team All-Star.  Playoff-wise, Keon had 67 total Points.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1986.

1968:  Glenn Hall, St. Louis Blues, Goalie.  8 Wins, 10 Losses, 2.43 GAA, .916 Save Percentage.

Yes, this was a losing record but the hockey pundits knew that Hall was the reason that the Blues were as competitive as they were in the Finals.  Hall had already won the Stanley Cup before with Chicago, was a former Calder winner, and won his second Vezina and seventh First Team All-Star the year after season.  He played three more years before he retired.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1975.

1969:  Serge Savard, Montreal Canadians, Defenseman.  4 Goals, 6 Assists, 10 Points +2.

A member of the Habs’ “Big Three” of their great defensive corps, Serge Savard would win seven Stanley Cups, with this being his second, and he became the first Defenseman to win the Norris.  In future playoffs (1976 & 1978), he would lead all skaters in Plus/Minus and overall score 68 Points in 138 Playoff Games.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1986.

1970:  Bobby Orr, Boston Bruins, Defenseman.  9 Goals, 11 Assists, 20 Points +24.

What a year!  Orr won not only his first Conn Smythe, but also his first Stanley Cup and Hart Trophy.  He also secured his third Norris, making him the first and only player to win the Norris, Hart and Conn Smythe in the same season.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1979.

1971:  Ken Dryden, Montreal Canadians, Goalie.  12 Wins, 8 Losses, 3.01 GAA, .914 Save Percentage. 

Is this not one of the coolest facts in sports?  Ken Dryden won the Conn Smythe BEFORE he won the Calder Trophy!  Dryden was called up late in the 1970-71 season and played only 6 games but one the starting job.  Dryden’s overall playoff record is 80 and 32 with a 2.40 GAA and six Stanley Cups.  This was Dryden’s only Conn Smythe, but he put together much better statistical performances in later playoff years.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1983.

1972 (2):  Bobby Orr, Boston Bruins, Defenseman.  5 Goals, 19 Assists, 24 Points +20.

Orr accomplished the same sick feat that he did two years before, winning the Hart, Norris, Stanley Cup and Conn Smythe in the same year, while also becoming the first player to win the Conn Smythe twice.  The trailblazing Defenseman never won another Cup, but had an overall playoff total of 92 Points in 74 Games.  Orr is the first and only eight-time Norris winner, and hen his career was over, he was fast-tracked into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1979.

1973:  Yvan Cournoyer, Montreal Canadians, Right Wing.  15 Goals, 10 Assists, 25 Points, +6.

Cournoyer was named a Second Team All-Star for the fourth and final time, and he had his best post-season in hockey, becoming the first player to score 25 Points in a playoff.  He won eight Stanley Cups, this year being his sixth, and scored 127 Points in total playoff action.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1982.

1974:  Bernie Parent, Philadelphia Flyers.  12 Wins, 5 Losses, 2.02 GAA, .933 Save Percentage. 

This is the year where Bernie Parent became a legend and a future Hockey Hall of Famer.  Parent would take the “Broad Steeet Bullies” to the promised land and cement his hockey legacy in this postseason.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1984.

1975 (2):  Bernie Parent, Philadelphia Flyers.  10 Wins, 5 Losses, 1.89 GAA, .924 Save Percentage. 

Parent became the second player to win two Conn Smythes, and the first to win it back-to-back.  In his two Conn Smythe winning years, Parent won the Vezina and was a First Team All-Star, but he was not the same Goalie afterward, and was no longer in the elite group of netminders, though he did enough to get into the Hall of Fame.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1984.

1977:  Guy Lafleur, Montreal Canadians, Right Wing.  9 Goals, 17 Assists, 26 Points, +20.

Guy Lafleur won five Stanley Cups over his career, this one being his third where he won his only Conn Smythe.  It was an incredible season for Lafleur, who also won the Hart, the Pearson and the Art Ross.   This may have been Lafleur’s only Conn Smythe, but he was in contention for the next two as he was the leading scorer in this playoff and the next two.  He would amass 134 Playoff Points in 128 Games.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1988.

1978:  Larry Robinson, Montreal Canadians, Defense.  4 Goals, 17 Assists, 21 Points, +21.

One of the best blueliners in Canadiens history, Robinson captured six Stanley Cups with Montreal, with the one in 1978 being his fourth.  He led all playoff skaters in Assists (17), Points (21) and Plus/Minus (+21), and the two-time Norris winner accumulated 144 Points in his playoff history.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1995.

1979:  Bob Gainey, Montreal Canadians, Defense.  6 Goals, 10 Assists, 16 Points, +4.

Bob Gainey earned a reputation as one of the best defensive forwards of his day, and fittingly he won the first four Frank J. Selke Awards (including his second this year) as the league’s best defensive forward.  Gainey won his fourth of five Stanley Cups this year, and this was his best performance, averaging a Point per Game.  He had 73 Points on 182 Playoff Games.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1992.

1980:  Bryan Trottier, New York Islanders, Center.  12 Goals, 17 Assists, 29 Points, +8.

It was appropriate that Bryan Trottier, who the year before brought the Islanders their first Hart and Art Ross, would be the man who in New York’s first Stanley Cup, took home the first Conn Smythe.  Trottier led the Isles to the titles in the next three years, and later was a supporting figure in Pittsburgh’s first two Cups.  Trottier accumulated 169 Points in 175 Playoff Games.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1997.

1982:  Mike Bossy, New York Islanders, Right Wing.  17 Goals, 10 Assists, 27 Points, +7.

In the third year of the Islanders dynasty, a third Conn Smythe winner emerged with their prime sniper, Mike Bossy.  The five-time First Team All-Star Right led all players in 17 Goals, the same amount he led in the year before and after.  He arguably had a claim to have won the Conn Smythe in 1981, as he was first in Goals (17), Assists (18) and Points (35), but as seen above he fell to goring.  This playoff, Bossy also had three Game-Winning Goals.  Overall, Bossy had 160 Playoff Points in 128 Games.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1991.

1983:  Billy Smith, New York Islanders, Goalie.  13 Wins, 3 Losses, 2.69 GAA, .913 Save Percentage.

Billy Smith won the last Conn Smythe of the Islanders dynasty, and became the first player to win the Smythe and William M. Jennings Trophy the year before.  A Vezina winner the year before, Smith was a member of all four New York Stanley Cup wins, Smith led all playoff Goalies in Save Percentage (.913), and for five years in a row (1980-84) had the most Wins in the playoffs.  His overall playoff record was 88-36. 

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1993.

1984:  Mark Messier, Edmonton Oilers, Center.  8 Goals, 18 Assists, 26 Points, +9.

The Islanders dynasty passed the torch to the Oilers dynasty, and it was Mark Messier, the man who would have a leadership trophy named after him that won it first for Edmonton.  The Smythe was an intriguing win for Messier, who was converted from Left Wing to Center for the playoffs, and his end-to-end play was the engine that kickstarted it all.  Messier won five more Stanley Cups (four with Edmonton and one with the Rangers), and arguably, he had a case for the 1990 win, when he led all skaters in Assists (22) and Points (31), but that went to Goalie, Bill Ranford.  The two-time Hart winner had 295 career Points in the playoffs.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2007.

1985:  Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers, Center.  17 Goals, 30 Assists, 47 Points, +27.

Considering the number of awards that Wayne Gretzky won, the knowledge that he was not the first Conn Smythe winner in Oilers history is a little surprising, but when “The Great One” did win it, he did so epically.  Gretzky was not only the first Conn Smythe winner to break 30 Points, he broke 40, and still holds the record for Points in the post-season with 47.  

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1999.

1986:  Patrick Roy, Montreal Canadiens, Goalie.  15 Wins. 5 Losses, 1.93 GAA, .923 Save Percentage.

Patrick Roy followed into the Canadiens footsteps of Ken Dryden, who it felt like came out of nowhere to backstop Montreal to a Stanley Cup Title.  This year, Roy stood on his head to take a team to a championship, and usher in a new legend in Quebec-based hockey.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006.

1988 (2):  Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers, Center.  12 Goals, 31 Assists, 34 Points, +10.

Gretzky won his second Conn Smythe on his fourth and final Cup win, and he did so as the second player to have at least 40 Points in a playoff.  He won two more Cups with the Oilers, and tallied a whopping 382 Points in 208 Playoff Games.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1999.

1989:  Al MacInnis, Calgary Flames, Defenseman.  7 Goals, 24 Assists, 31 Points, +6.

The story of Calgary’s Stanley Cup was Lanny MacDonald winning it in his last year, but the best player was Defenseman, Al MacInnis.  This was MacInnis’s only Cup, but he would later win a Norris Trophy with the St. Louis Blues.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1999.

1991:  Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins, Center.  16 Goals, 28 Assists, 44 Points, +14.

Mario Lemieux’s Conn Smythe win was the culmination of his arrival in Pittsburgh years earlier, which saved the franchise from leaving Western Pennsylvania.  He became the second player after Gretzky to eclipse 540 Points in a playoff.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1997.

1992 (2):  Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins, Center.  16 Goals, 18 Assists, 34 Points, +6.

Lemieux is not the first multi-time winner of the Conn Smythe, but he is the first to do so back-to-back.  Not only did Super Mario lead the playoffs in Goals (16) and Points (8) while also topping the standings in Game-Winning Goals with 5.  He would total an outstanding 172 Playoff Points in 107 Games.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1997.

1993 (2):  Patrick Roy, Montreal Canadiens, Goalie.  16 Wins. 4 Losses, 2.13 GAA, .929 Save Percentage.

Roy again took a team that should not have won it all, but did so based mostly on their Goalie, who won a Vezina and four William M. Jennings Trophies in between the two Smythes. 

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006.

1994:  Brian Leetch, New York Rangers, Defense.  11 Goals, 23 Assists, 34 Points, +19.

Mark Messier received the most attention when the Rangers brought back the Stanley Cup in 1994, but it was their star Defenseman, that captured the Conn Smythe.  The two-time Norris winner led the playoffs in Assists (23), Points (34), Plus/Minus (+19) and Game-Winning Goals (4).  Over his playoff career (all but one appearance with the Rangers), he had 97 Points in 95 Games.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009.

1996:  Joe Sakic, Colorado Avalanche, Center.  18 Goals, 16 Assists, 34 Points, +10.

Sakic was dominant in Colorado’s first Stanley Cup win, leading the skaters in Goals (18), Points (34), Shots (98) and Game-Winning Goals (6), showing that he was money when it mattered most.  He did not win the Conn Smythe in 2001 (that went to Goalie, Patrick Roy), but Sakic against was first in Goals (13), Points (26) and Game-Winning Goals (3).  Sakic’s playoff career saw the Center have 188 Points in 172 Games.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2012.

1998:  Steve Yzerman, Detroit Red Wings, Center.  6 Goals, 18 Assists, 24 Points, +10.

Yzerman was already a grizzled veteran at this stage, but the leader of the Red Wings was still a top player who led by example.  “Stevie Y” took Detroit to three Stanley Cups, with this year being his second.  He led all playoff performers in Assists (18) and Points (24), and in Detroit’s third Stanley Cup in 2002, he had 23 Points over those four series.  Yzerman amassed 185 Points in 196 Playoff Games.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009.

1999:  Joe Nieuwendyk, Dallas Stars, Center.  11 Goals, 10 Assists, 21 Points, +7.

Nieuwendyk won three Stanley Cups with three different teams, with 1999 in Dallas being his second (the others were Calgary in 1989 and New Jersey in 2003).  The veteran led all skaters in Goals (11), Even-Strength Goals (8) and Game-Winning Goals (6), and had 116 Playoff Points over his career.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2011.

2000:  Scott Stevens, New Jersey Devils, Defense.  3 Goals, 8 Assists, 11 Points, +9.

11 Points do not seem like much for a Conn Smythe winner, even a Defenseman, but the Devils strategy was all about lockdown defense, and Stevens could do that, as well as provide the necessary offensive rush.  Stevens was a member of New Jersey’s three Stanley Cups, all employing the same strategy, and in this win, his +9 was enough to lead all skaters in this dead-puck era. 

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2007.

2001 (3):  Patrick Roy, Colorado Rockies, Goalie.  16 Wins, 7 Losses, 1.70 GAA, .934 Save Percentage.

An awful lot happened from the second Conn Smythe to the third, as Roy, forced his way out of Montreal, was traded to Colorado, and backstopped them to a Stanley Cup in their first year after relocation.  He was at his best in this year’s playoff, leading all Goalies in Save Percentage (.934), Goals Against Average (1.70), and Shutouts (4), and over his playoff career had 151 Wins against 17 Losses with 23 Shutouts and a 2.30 GAA.  Roy is the only player to win three Conn Smythes. 

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006.

2002:  Nicklas Lidstrom, Detroit Red Wings, Defense.  5 Goals, 11 Assists, 16 Points, +6.

Lidstrom anchored Detroit to four Stanley Cups, and you had to know that the seven-time Norris winner would capture at least one Conn Smythe.  The Defenseman scored 183 Points in 263 Playoff Games, all with Detroit.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2015.

2007:  Scott Niedermayer, Anaheim Ducks, Defense.  3 Goals, 8 Assists, 11 Points, +2.

Niedermayer, who won the Norris three years before, also was named a First Team All-Star for the third time this year, but it was the Stanley Cup win that was the biggest reward of all.  His defensive prowess and leadership took the Ducks over the hump, and he knew what it took to do this, as Niedermayer was a three-time Cup winner with New Jersey.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2013.

The following are the players who have won the Conn Smythe Trophy who are eligible for the Hockey Hall of Fame and have not been selected:

1966:  Roger Crozier, Detroit Red Wings, Goalie.  6 Wins, 5 Losses, 10 Points +2.

It only took until year two for the Conn Smythe to go to a player on the losing side, as Crozier’s Red Wings fell to the Montreal Canadiens.  It was a gutsy performance by Crozier, who suffered a leg injury in Game 4 of the Finals, but did the best he could.  Crozier, who was a First Team All-Star and Calder winner the year before, never won another award, but he played until 1977, notably with the second half as a Buffalo Sabre.  He had a career record of 113-118-43.  

Eligible Since 1980.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

1976:  Reggie Leach, Philadelphia Flyers, Right Wing.  19 Goals, 5 Assists, 24 Points +14.

Leach won the Stanley Cup the year before, but despite the Conn Sythe win, the Flyers went down in the Finals to the Montreal Canadiens.  To date, he is the only skater to win the Conn Smythe on a losing team.  In this season’s playoffs, he led all players in Goals (24), Even Strength Goals (17) and Shot Percentage (31.1), and it ended his most successful year, where he was a Second Team All-Star, and was first in Goals with 61.

Eligible Since 1986.  Ranked #46 Notinhalloffame.com.

1981:  Butch Goring, New York Islanders, Center.  10 Goals, 10 Assists, 20 Points +6.

When the Islanders traded for Goring at last year’s trading deadline, he was viewed as the final piece of the puzzle, and he was, aiding New York in their first Stanley Cup win.  This year, Goring, was the playoff leader in Shooting Percentage (27.8), had two Short-Handed Goals, and in the next two Cup Titles for New York, Goring remained a strong performer, who would total 62 Points in the four playoff-winning years.  

Eligible Since 1988.  Ranked #34 Notinhalloffame.com.

1987:  Ron Hextall, Philadelphia Flyers, Goalie.  15 Wins, 11 Losses, 2.76 GAA, .908 Save Percentage.

It is always bittersweet to win the Conn Smythe on a losing team, and he became the second Flyer (the first being Reggie Leach) to do so.  Hextall logged the most time of any Goalie in this year’s playoff (1,542), and it ended the most dynamic rookie years of any non-Calder winner (he was second to Luc Robitaille of Los Angeles).  He also won the Vezina this year.  Hextall never equalled this success, nor did he ever win a Stanley Cup, but he had a nice long career.

Eligible Since 2002.  Ranked #50 Notinhalloffame.com.

1990:  Bill Ranford, Edmonton Oilers, Goalie.  16 Wins, 6 Losses, 2.53 GAA, .912 Save Percentage.

Ranford’s best moment in Pro Hockey came as Edmonton’s Goalie in their fifth Stanley Cup, a title they had to win one without Wayne Gretzky and Paul Coffey.  Ranford took over for the struggling Grant Fuhr, and won all of Edmonton’s 16 Wins, and might have won this over Messier as his contributions were unexpected.  He never won another Stanley Cup, or any other major award in the NHL.

Eligible Since 2002.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

1995:  Claude Lemieux, New Jersey Devils, Left Wing.  13 Goals, 3 Assists, 16 Points, +12.

Claude Lemieux is not likely to enter the Hocket Hall of Fame, but if there was a post-season Hall, Lemieux would be an early induction.  Winning the first Conn Smythe for New Jersey, Lemieux’s 13 Goals were playoff leading, as was his 13 in 1997.  He overall won 4 Stanley Cups, scoring 158 Points in 234 Playoff Games.

Eligible Since 2012.  Ranked #174 on Notinhalloffame.com.

1997:  Mike Vernon, Detroit Red Wings, Goalie.  16 Wins, 4 Losses, 1.79 GAA, .927 Save Percentage.

Vernon backstopped Calgary to their first Stanley Cup, but he was better this run with Detroit with his only playoff GAA under two.  This was his last year as a Red Wing, and he had a 77-56 playoff record with a GAA of 2.68.

Eligible Since 2005.  Ranked #11 on Notinhalloffame.com.

2003:  Jean-Sebastien Giguere, The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, Goalie.  15 Wins, 6 Losses, 1.62 GAA, .945 Save Percentage.

If you win the Stanley Cup on a losing team, the chances are that you are a Goalie, and that is what we have in 2003 with Giguere, who took the Ducks further than they had any right to be this season.  He would, however, backstop Anaheim to a Cup in 2007.

Eligible Since 2017.  Ranked #276 Notinhalloffame.com.

2004:  Brad Richards, Tampa Bay Lightning, Center.  12 Goals, 14 Assists, 26 Points, +5.

The Lightning won their first Stanley Cup in 2004, and it was Richards, who also won the franchise’s first Lady Byng this year that won the Conn Smythe.  Leading all players with Points (26), Richards later won a second Stanley Cup as a Chicago Blackhawk in 2015.  He overall had 105 Playoff Points.

Eligible Since 2019.  Ranked #60 Notinhalloffame.com.

2006:  Cam Ward, Carolina Hurricanes, Goalie.  15 Wins, 8 Losses, 2.13 GAA, .920 Save Percentage.

Ward led the Hurricanes to their first Stanley Cup in his rookie year, but this did not usher in a Hall of Fame career.  The Goalie, who was outstanding in the '06 Playoffs, only had one more playoff appearance (2009), though he played in the NHL until 2019.

Eligible Since 2022.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

2008:  Henrik Zetterberg, Detroit Red Wings, Left Wing.  13 Goals, 14 Assists, 27 Points, +16.

Zetterberg led the skaters in Goals (13), Points (27), Plus/Minus (+16) and Shots (116) and had 4 Game-Winning Goals.  A Red Wing for his entire career, Zetterberg had 120 Points across 137 Playoff Games.

Eligible Since 2021.  Ranked #25 on Notinhalloffame.com.

2011:  Tim Thomas, Boston Bruins, Goalie.  16 Wins, 9 Losses, 1.98 GAA, .940 Save Percentage.

Thomas came out of obscurity in his early 30s and was a Vezina Trophy winner in 2009 and in this season, which was obviously sweeter as it included a Stanley Cup ring and a Conn Smythe.  He led the playoffs in Save Percentage (.940) and Shutouts (4).

Eligible Since 2017.  Ranked #74 on Notinhalloffame.com.

The following are the players who have won the Conn Smythe Trophy in the NHL who have retired but have not met the mandatory years out of the game to qualify for the Hockey Hall of Fame:

2014:  Justin Williams, Los Angeles Kings, Right Wing.  9 Goals, 16 Assists, 25 Points, +13.

Williams had a long career scoring 797 Points over 19 NHL Seasons, but was never a superstar.  Already a two-time Stanley Cup winner (one with Carolina and one with L.A.), Williams had the best performance of his career in the 2014 Playoffs, leading the playoffs in Plus/Minus +13, and doing all the little things that help you win Games.  Williams won’t get into the Hall, but the Smythe is a nice consolation.

Eligible in 2023.

2015:  Duncan Keith, Chicago Blackhawks, Defense.  3 Goals, 18 Assists, 21 Points, +16.

Chicago won three Stanley Cups in the 2010s, and they had three different Conn Smythe winners, all of whom played on all three winning teams.  Keith won two Norris Trophies before this Cup, would lead all players in the 2015 Playoffs in Assists (18) and Plus/Minus (+16).   

Eligible in 2025.

The following are the players who have won the Conn Smythe Trophy who are still active.

2009:  Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins, Center.  14 Goals, 22 Assists, 36 Points, +3.

Malkin was in his third NHL Season, and he won the Art Ross as well as his first Stanley Cup.  Three years later, he won the Hart, and is currently a three-time Stanley Cup champion.  

36 Years Old, Playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

2010:  Jonathan Toews, Chicago Blackhawks, Center.  7 Goals, 23 Assists, 29 Points, -1.  

Toews was the dynamic young Center on the Blackhawks team that won their first Stanley Cup in almost 50 years, and he was first in Assists (22) and Power Play Goals (5).  He would help lead Chicago to Cups in 2013 and 2015, and was the Selke winner in 2013, and the Mark Messier Leadership Award in 2015.

34 Years Old, Playing for the Chicago Blackhawks.

2012:  Jonathan Quick, Los Angeles Kings, Goalie.  16 Wins, 4 Losses, 1.41 GAA, .946 Save Percentage.  

Quick was a Second Team All-Star this season, and he led the Playoff Goalies in Save Percentage (.946) and Shutouts (3), and would backstop Los Angeles to another Title two years after.

37 Years Old, Playing for the Los Angeles Kings.

2013:  Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks, Right Wing.  9 Goals, 10 Assists, 19 Points, +7.  

A member of all three Chicago Stanley Cup wins in the 2010s, this was the second, and only Conn Smythe win for Patrick Kane, who was first in Even Strength Goals (9).  Three years later, Kane won the Hart, Ted Lindsay Award and Art Ross.

34 Years Old, Playing for the Chicago Blackhawks.

2016:  Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins, Center.  6 Goals, 13 Assists, 19 Points, -2.  

Crosby enjoyed his second Stanley Cup with the Penguins and did so in a year that he was the Hart runner-up. 

35 Years Old, Playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

2017 (2):  Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins, Center.  8 Goals, 19 Assists, 27 Points, +4.  

Like the season before, Crosby was the second-place finisher in the Hart, but he won the Rocket Richard Trophy as the top Goal Scorer.  Crosby did not lead the playoffs in Goals, but did so in Assists (19), and became the third player to win the Conn Smythe is back-to-back years.

35 Years Old, Playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

2018:  Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals, Left Wing.  15 Goals, 12 Assists, 27 Points, +8.  

It is fitting that we go from Crosby to Ovechkin, as they have been rivals from day one.  Ovechkin finally took Washington to the promised land, and led all players in the post-season in Goals (15) and Shots (99), and this cemented the legacy of the two-time Hart winner.

37 Years Old, Playing for the Washington Capitals.

2019:  Ryan O’Reilly, St. Louis Blues, Center.  8 Goals, 15 Assists, 23 Points, +2.  

Glenn Hall won St. Louis’s first Conn Smythe, but the Blues lost in the Finals, and we finally have the Cup raised in St. Louis, in their 52^nd season.  O’Reilly, who won the 2014 Lady Byng, led all players in playoff scoring (23).

30 Years Old, Playing for the St. Louis Blues.

2020:  Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay Lightning, Defense.  10 Goals, 12 Assists, 22 Points, +13.  

Hedman won the Norris two years earlier, and would have three Game-Winning Goals in this playoff.

32 Years Old, Playing for the Tampa Bay Lightning.

2021:  Andrei Vasilevskiy, Tampa Bay Lightning, Goalie.  16 Wins, 7 Losses, 1.90 GAA, .937 Save Percentage.  

Vasilevskiy was the runner-up for the Vezina this year, and led the NHL in Wins with 31.  In the playoffs, he faced the most Shots (699), but still had the highest Save Percentage (.937), while posting five Shutouts, which also led the post-season.

28 Years Old, Playing for the Tampa Bay Lightning.

2022:  Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche, Defense.  8 Goals, 21 Assists, 29 Points, +7.  

Makar also won the Norris this year, joining a club that was founded by Bobby Orr.

24 Years Old, Playing for the Colorado Avalanche.

The Conn Smythe can help put a good player over the Hall of Fame hump, but you have to be also lucky; i.e., be on a team good enough to make the Finals.   

The typical scouting profile for a top-tier major league power hitter in the 1920s called for a large, muscular physique. However, Melvin Thomas Ott, standing only 5 feet 9 inches with a modest build, was overlooked by many talent evaluators. The New York Giants, defying common standards, saw his potential. Legendary manager John McGraw noticed Ott's powerful hip rotation and signed him as a raw 17-year-old in 1926. McGraw kept Ott close, skipping the minor leagues to protect his unique left-handed swing from being altered by farm directors. Ott’s unconventional front-foot lift and perfect timing allowed him to break all age records, earning a full-time starting spot by 1928 and making organizations that passed on him regret their hesitation.

Although he lacked the typical size of a slugger, he optimized his mechanics to produce extraordinary raw power. In 1929, Ott delivered a remarkable season, setting a career high with 42 home runs and 151 RBIs at age 20, a standout achievement largely benefiting from the short right-field porch at the Polo Grounds.

He never surpassed the 40-homer mark again in a single season, but his steady performance kept the lineup strong for almost twenty years. He hit at least 30 home runs in seven consecutive seasons, six of which were impressive enough to lead the National League.

During the 1930s, no Senior Circuit baseball player hit more home runs than "Master Melvin," turning right field into his personal playground. His offensive prowess was a key driver of a successful Giants era, as New York won the National League pennant three times in that decade, with Ott leading the team to a world championship in 1933. In that five-game World Series victory over Washington, he put on a clinical hitting showcase, batting a brilliant .389 and launching the series-clinching home run deep into the center-field bleachers in the top of the 10th inning of Game 5.

Ott was not just a typical three-outcome slugger; he had a perfect, intuitive eye at the plate. Over his career, he finished ten seasons with a batting average above .300. He consistently compelled pitchers to pitch carefully, leading the National League in walks six times and earning four titles for highest on-base percentage.

When Major League Baseball introduced the All-Star Game in 1933, Ott quickly became a prominent figure nationally, receiving an invitation to the second annual midsummer classic in 1934. This marked the beginning of an impressive streak of 11 straight All-Star selections. As a two-time league leader in slugging percentage and total OPS, his sustained excellence at the top of the sport was further demonstrated during the later years of his career.

During World War II, as major league rosters shrank due to the draft, Ott was not called to active duty. Instead, he stayed in Manhattan, becoming a steady, low-variance anchor and taking on extra responsibilities when named player-manager in 1942. Even while managing the club's daily tactical execution, his bat remained a potent threat; he captured his final National League home run title at age 33 by mashing 30 long balls in 1942.

Age caught up to Ott, whose playing career ended after the 1947 season. Over his career, Ott blasted 511 Home Runs and had 1,860 RBI, 2,876 hits, and a 3/4/5 career Slash Line.  

In 1951, Ott entered Cooperstown in his third year on the ballot, three years after the Giants retired his #4.

Mastery over a single era is rare in professional sports, but the early 20th-century baseball scene was dominated by Christopher Mathewson's elegant style. As the quintessential modern pitching staff anchor, this right-hander had a legendary, mysterious repertoire centered around his “fadeaway”, a screwball that sharply broke inward against right-handed batters. However, his journey to legendary status nearly faltered before it really began. The New York Giants signed him from the minor leagues in 1900, but a poor initial showing led management to send him back to Norfolk. The Cincinnati Reds quickly claimed him that winter, but the Giants quickly corrected their error by executing a dramatic trade to bring him back to Manhattan. This remains one of the most remarkable organizational turnaround stories in sports history.

Mathewson quickly responded to the team's sudden shift in stance by refining his early stats and then delivered a remarkable 1903 season, finishing with a 30–13 record and leading the National League with 267 strikeouts. He followed this with an even more impressive 33-win season in 1904, earning another strikeout title and leading a strong pitching staff that won the National League pennant. Sadly, ongoing political conflicts between Giants owner John T.. Brush and the management of the American League's Boston Americans led to New York boycotting the postseason, depriving Mathewson of a chance at a world championship.

That injustice was brief, as the 1905 season became his definitive hardware-certified masterpiece. Mathewson achieved the rare Pitcher’s Triple Crown by leading the Senior Circuit in wins (31), ERA (1.28), and strikeouts (206), guiding the Giants back to the ultimate stage. This time, they did not fall short; in the 1905 World Series against the Philadelphia Athletics, Mathewson delivered one of the most remarkable postseason performances ever, pitching three complete-game shutouts within six days to win the franchise's first world championship.

Far from a short-lived peak, he turned run prevention into a strict, daily regular-season routine for the remainder of the decade. Mathewson secured a second Pitcher's Triple Crown during a staggering 1908 showcase, racking up a modern franchise-record 37 victories alongside a microscopic 1.43 ERA and 259 punchouts. He followed that up by capturing the 1909 National League ERA efficiency title with a sparkling 1.14 mark, systematically paralyzing opposing batting orders through an elite mix of movement and unshakeable poise.

As the 1910s approached and natural wear affected his speed, Mathewson shifted to a more controlled style. He compensated for the loss of his top velocity by enhancing his spatial awareness and strike-zone judgment, winning two more National League ERA titles in 1911 and 1913.

His accuracy reached an almost mythical baseline, as he led the Senior Circuit in fewest walks per nine innings for five consecutive summers from 1911 through 1915, anchoring his legacy as the ultimate mound maestro. He propelled New York to three consecutive National League pennants from 1911 to 1913, but despite throwing his heart out across all three Fall Classics, a lack of defensive support and anemic run-production from his teammates left the Giants frustrated casualties in all three series.

By the 1916 campaign, the heavy structural toll of his massive career workload finally caught up to him, leaving his legendary arm a shell of its former self. Recognizing that the organizational relationship had reached its definitive career exit, the front office traded the veteran icon back to the Cincinnati Reds, where he immediately transitioned into a player-manager role, making just one final sentimental pitching appearance before walking away from the rubber for good.

He is the all-time franchise leader in bWAR for Pitchers (100.6), ERA (2.12), Wins (372), Innings Pitched (4,779.2), and Strikeouts (2,504).  Mathewson was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1936 as part of the first Hall of Fame Class.  The Giants honored Mathewson by naming the stadium after him and placing his name and an "NY" alongside the other retired numbers.