Who is Conn Smythe? Meet the man who the NHL playoff MVP award is named after

The Stanley Cup won't be the only piece of hardware handed out at the end of the final series. The end of the NHL postseason also features the awarding of the prestigious Conn Smythe Trophy.

The honor is given to the player who is deemed to be the most valuable to their team during the postseason. Like many awards in hockey, there is history behind the award and its name. 

Conn Smythe was a prominent figure in the Toronto organization, and the trophy was introduced in 1964 in his honor. Since then, the award has been handed out to the playoff MVP for more than six decades.

MORE: Full list of Stanley Cup winners

The Sporting News has more information on who Smythe was and the trophy itself. 

Who is Conn Smythe?

Conn Smythe was a former coach, general manager and owner of the Maple Leafs during the early stages of the franchise. 

Smythe started out as a coach at the University of Toronto. In 1926, he applied to be the Toronto St. Pats coach, but did not get the job.

He continued to coach at the university level before becoming a part owner of the Toronto organization in 1927. He was a part of the group that renamed the club to the Maple Leafs. 

During his first four seasons with the team, Smythe was the general manager, team governor and even coached the club as well. He would continue to have multiple roles until the 1931-32 season when he hired Art Duncan as the coach, only to fire him five games into the season and replace him with Dick Irvin. 

Smythe was instrumental in moving the Maple Leafs into a new facility, which came to be the Maple Leafs Gardens. He was also at the helm of the organization in the '40s and '50s, holding the position of majority owner of the team in addition to remaining as team governor.

Eventually, in 1962, he would step down from his role as governor and would sell his remaining shares in Maple Leafs Gardens in 1966. 

In total, Smythe was around for eight Stanley Cup wins for the Toronto franchise: 1932, 1942, 1945, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1951 and 1962. 

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What is the Conn Smythe Trophy?

The NHL gives out the Conn Smythe Trophy at the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Final to the player that is determined to be "the most valuable player for his team in the playoffs."

This trophy is different from other major professional leagues like the NFL, NBA or MLB. While their MVP is specifically for either the Super Bowl, Finals or World Series, the NHL takes into consideration the entirety of the playoffs when determining the winner of the Conn Smythe. That's why a member of a team that didn't win the Stanley Cup has won the award on six occasions.

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Who has won the most Conn Smythe awards?

Only one player in NHL history has earned three Conn Smythes in their career: Patrick Roy. The goaltender won two while a member of the Canadiens and a third in 2001 with the Avalanche.

Several players are tied with two Conn Smythe victories: Sidney Crosby (2016, 2017), Mario Lemieux (1991, 1992), Wayne Gretzky (1984, 1988), Bernie Parent (1974, 1975) and Bobby Orr (1970, 1972). 

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Full list of Conn Smythe winners

The Conn Smythe has been handed out every year since 1965, with the exception of 2005 when the season was canceled due to the NHL lockout.

Here is a look at every winner of the Conn Smythe.