If the Oilers win the Stanley Cup this year, there is no doubt about who would win the trophy. Even if McDavid went pointless in the final two games of the series, his 42 points is far beyond what any other player has been able to muster this year. However, if the team loses, it would be rather unusual for a player on the losing team to earn the award. Regardless, Jagr thinks McDavid is the guy this year.
To be fair, Jagr is not the only one who thinks this way. Chicago Blackhawks reporter Charlie Roumeliotis agrees that McDavid should win the award, regardless of the outcome of the series. He shared his opinion on X after McDavid pulled off one of the nicest plays of the entire playoffs, dancing through all four Panthers penalty killers, setting Corey Perry up for an easy goal on the powerplay.
Those who think McDavid should win the Conn Smythe even if the Oilers lose have a pretty solid argument to make. Currently, McDavid has the 4th most points all-time in a single playoffs run with 42. Only two players have more. Wayne Gretzky scored 43 points in 1988 and Mario Lemieux scored 44 in 1991. Gretzky holds the all-time record with a whooping 47 points, which he recorded en route to a Stanley Cup in 1985.
If McDavid does win the trophy and the Oilers lose, it would be the first time since 2003 the trophy went to a player on the losing team. That was Mighty Ducks goaltender Jean-Sebastian Giguere, who went 15-6 on that playoffs run, putting up a staggering .945 save percentage and a miniscule 1.62 goals-against-average as the Ducks lost the finals in game seven. Be sure to tune in tonight to see if McDavid and the Oilers can survive one more time to force a game seven next week.
