The Conn Smythe Trophy is awarded annually to the most valuable player during the National Hockey League's Stanley Cup playoffs. The winner is chosen by the vote of members of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association and is not necessarily a member of the Cup-winning team. The vote is conducted during the 2nd period of an elimination game in the Stanley Cup Finals . If the finals is not over in the game, the votes will be discarded and the procedures will be repeated until a Stanley Cup winner is decided. The trophy is award is handed out prior to the presentation of the Stanley Cup by the commissioner, not during the NHL Awards the following week.

The trophy was named for the late Conn Smythe (1895-1980), a Hockey Hall of Fame builder and owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs. The first ever trophy was won by Jean Beliveau of the Montreal Canadiens for his performance in the 1965 Stanley Cup playoffs. Since then, Patrick Roy has won it 3 times, more than any other player in history and Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Bobby Orr, and Bernie Parent have each won it twice.

Conn Smythe Trophy winners

• 2005 - No winner
• 2004 - Brad Richards, Tampa Bay Lightning
• 2003 - Jean-Sebastien Giguere, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim ++
• 2002 - Nicklas Lidström, Detroit Red Wings
• 2001 - Patrick Roy, Colorado Avalanche (3)
• 2000 - Scott Stevens, New Jersey Devils
• 1999 - Joe Nieuwendyk, Dallas Stars
• 1998 - Steve Yzerman, Detroit Red Wings
• 1997 - Mike Vernon, Detroit Red Wings
• 1996 - Joe Sakic, Colorado Avalanche
• 1995 - Claude Lemieux, New Jersey Devils
• 1994 - Brian Leetch, New York Rangers
• 1993 - Patrick Roy, Montreal Canadiens (2)
• 1992 - Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins (2)
• 1991 - Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins
• 1990 - Bill Ranford , Edmonton Oilers
• 1989 - Al MacInnis, Calgary Flames
• 1988 - Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers (2)
• 1987 - Ron Hextall, Philadelphia Flyers ++
• 1986 - Patrick Roy, Montreal Canadiens
• 1985 - Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers
• 1984 - Mark Messier, Edmonton Oilers
• 1983 - Billy Smith, New York Islanders
• 1982 - Mike Bossy, New York Islanders
• 1981 - Butch Goring , New York Islanders
• 1980 - Bryan Trottier, New York Islanders
• 1979 - Bob Gainey, Montreal Canadiens
• 1978 - Larry Robinson, Montreal Canadiens
• 1977 - Guy Lafleur, Montreal Canadiens
• 1976 - Reggie Leach , Philadelphia Flyers ++
• 1975 - Bernie Parent, Philadelphia Flyers (2)
• 1974 - Bernie Parent, Philadelphia Flyers
• 1973 - Yvan Cournoyer, Montreal Canadiens
• 1972 - Bobby Orr, Boston Bruins (2)
• 1971 - Ken Dryden, Montreal Canadiens
• 1970 - Bobby Orr, Boston Bruins
• 1969 - Serge Savard, Montreal Canadiens
• 1968 - Glenn Hall, St. Louis Blues ++
• 1967 - Dave Keon, Toronto Maple Leafs
• 1966 - Roger Crozier, Detroit Red Wings ++
• 1965 - Jean Beliveau, Montreal Canadiens

(#) indicates multiple winner
++ indicates player from losing team