LAS VEGAS — Jordan Staal’s remarkable run through the Stanley Cup Final has helped push the Carolina Hurricanes to within a win of a championship and put his name prominently in the Conn Smythe Trophy conversation.It’s also left voters of the award, of which I’m one, with an interesting dilemma: Can we really give the playoff MVP to a forward with 12 points in 18 games entering Sunday’s potential clincher?History does not provide a precedent for the case Staal has built over the past two months.For context, 11 of the past 13 forwards to win the Conn Smythe finished either first or second in scoring that spring. Staal is currently tied for 22nd, behind several players who were eliminated in the second round.Only one forward has ever been named playoff MVP with fewer than his 12 points, and when Dave Keon recorded eight points in 1967, his Toronto Maple Leafs were only required to get through two rounds to capture the Stanley Cup, playing 12 games.Under a four-round format, the lowest point total by a Conn Smythe-winning forward was 16 by Claude Lemieux, in 20 games for the New Jersey Devils in 1995. That’s followed by the 19 points in 24 games by the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Sidney Crosby in 2016 and 19 in 23 games by the Chicago Blackhawks’ Patrick Kane in 2013.Staal still has as many as two games to add to his count heading into Sunday’s Game 6, but he’ll likely wind up below the threshold of previous winners.He’s also notably tied for fifth on the Hurricanes in scoring.So, again, can a forward in that situation be the MVP?It’s the fundamental question voters must wrestle with before casting their ballots by the 10-minute mark of the third period on Sunday night. The NHL takes a tally, regardless of the score, in every potential elimination game.Among those who believe Staal has made a significant enough impact on the all-around success of the Hurricanes to merit serious consideration are veteran hockey writers Eric Duhatschek and Scott Burnside, both of whom have been recognized with the Elmer Ferguson Award, and 2014 Conn Smythe Trophy winner Justin Williams.
Can a 12-point forward really be NHL playoffs MVP? Jordan Staal’s unprecedented Conn Smythe case
Staal is tied for 22nd in postseason scoring but has six goals in the final on top of his usual shutdown role for the Hurricanes.
TL;DRAI
Jordan Staal could win the Conn Smythe Trophy with only 12 points in 18 games—the lowest total for a modern-era forward, challenging the award's traditional focus on playoff scoring. His candidacy underscores a broader shift in performance evaluation: recognition of defense, faceoff skill, and leadership impact over pure statistics.
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