Connor McDavid addresses his refusal of Conn Smythe Trophy

By Abhilasha Aditi

Modified Oct 05, 2024 06:34 GMT

Connor McDavid explained his decision to refuse the Conn Smythe Trophy after the Edmonton Oilers' loss in the Stanley Cup Finals last season. The Conn Smythe is awarded to the most valuable player in the playoffs, but McDavid chose not to accept it following a heartbreaking Game 7 defeat to the Florida Panthers.

McDavid had an outstanding regular season, with 32 goals and 100 assists, accounting for 132 points. In the playoffs, he continued to shine, posting eight goals and 34 assists for 42 points in 25 games.

The Oilers staged an impressive comeback after falling behind 3-0 in the series, forcing a Game 7 before falling short. Despite McDavid's exceptional performances, the loss weighed heavily on him and the team.

In a video shared by Nation Network Media from the Amazon Prime show Faceoff, McDavid explained why he turned down the trophy.

"We lost in the most heartbreaking way. It was a moment that I will never forget ever. I wouldn’t have gone out there for a million dollars," he said.

For Connor McDavid, it was not the right moment to accept the award, as he felt the team’s defeat overshadowed any personal recognition. He wanted to stay with his teammates during that difficult time.

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Oilers captain Connor McDavid demonstrated leadership during pre-season

Connor McDavid’s approach during the NHL pre-season shows his commitment to the upcoming season.

With injuries affecting other star players, the Edmonton Oilers captain asked to play in more games. He wanted to be in the lineup for Monday's game against Vancouver, even though he wasn't scheduled to play.

Veteran Corey Perry noted that McDavid's eagerness to compete shows his dedication to the game.

“That's why he's our leader. He leads by example,” Perry said (sportsnet.com). “Everybody knows he’s not the loudest guy in the room. But those little things, they help.

While players like J.T. Miller and Quinn Hughes have played fewer pre-season games, Connor McDavid wants to find his rhythm by playing regularly.

“I wanted to play tonight,” McDavid said on Monday “I just wanted to get into a little bit of rhythm. It's tough to get in a rhythm when you play one, sit out a week, and play another.”

General manager Stan Bowman recognized that top players often want extra practice to improve their skills. He compared McDavid’s request to that of the likes of Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews.

The Oilers won Monday's game 3-2 in a shootout but subsequently lost 6-2 to Seattle on Wednesday and 4-1 to Vancouver on Friday, showing that they need some improvement.