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McDavid became just the sixth player ever to
receive the Conn Smythe without playing for the Cup-winning
team. He joins Reggie Leach (1976 Philadelphia Flyers) as the
only skaters in that category.
Goalies Roger Crozier (1966 Detroit Red Wings), Glenn Hall (1968
St. Louis Blues), Ron Hextall (1987 Flyers) and Jean-Sebastien
Giguere (2003 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim) also received the Conn
Smythe in defeat.
"I guess an honor with the names on that trophy, but ..."
McDavid said, not finishing the sentence.
McDavid wound up leading all players in the 2024 postseason with
42 points, including a league-high 34 assists. The only players
ever to produce more points in a single playoff run were Wayne
Gretzky (47 for the 1985 Oilers, 43 for the 1988 Oilers) and
Mario Lemieux (44 for the 1991 Pittsburgh Penguins).
Edmonton teammate Leon Draisaitl said of McDavid, "I don't think
he cares (about the Conn Smythe). It speaks to how amazing of a
hockey player he is. But no player in the world that wants to
win a Stanley Cup more than him. He does everything right every
single day just to win it one day. It's really hard, especially
him being sad, being disappointed at the end."
The Panthers led the best-of-seven finals three games to none as
they held McDavid to no goals and a total of three assists in
those contests. The Oilers rallied to force a Game 7 thanks in
large part to McDavid.
In Games 3 and 4, he became the first player in NHL history to
log consecutive four-point games in a Stanley Cup final. He
totaled three goals and five assists in those contests.
However, he was held without a point in Game 6, when Edmonton
won 5-1, and then again in Game 7.
McDavid said of the decisive defeat, "It's tough. They did a
good job of shutting things down. We had our looks, just didn't
find it."
--Field Level Media [© 2024 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
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