On a charged Monday night at the Amerant Bank Arena, the atmosphere turned distinctly contentious when NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman announced Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers as the recipient of the Conn Smythe Trophy — not Sergei Bobrovsky, the goalie for the victorious Florida Panthers, who had just clinched a 2-1 win in Game 7.
The decision was met with vociferous boos from Panthers fans, many of whom had been chanting “Bobby” in support of Bobrovsky.
ESPN reported that McDavid was notably absent from the presentation ceremony, having retreated to the dressing room by that time, a detail that only added to the heated atmosphere.
Speaking later, McDavid expressed a mixed sense of honor, acknowledging the prestigious company he joined on the trophy but tempered by the bittersweet context of his team’s loss. “Yeah, obviously, I guess it’s an honor. With the names on that trophy. But … yeah,” he stated, after becoming only the sixth player to win the MVP from a losing team, according to ESPN.
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The tradition of booing Bettman is well-established in the hockey world, and it seemed inevitable that the Commissioner would face criticism, particularly when he announced an award favoring a player from the losing team.
As Bettman began his announcement by highlighting the playoff-long value of the MVP, initial boos were heard, which escalated when it became apparent that Bobrovsky was overlooked.
“The player who is going to be given the Conn Smythe this year led the playoffs in scoring,” Bettman announced as the discontent among the fans grew louder. “And broke Wayne Gretzky’s assist record for playoffs. The winner of the Conn Smythe is Connor McDavid.”
In a poignant contrast captured by the broadcast, cameras swiftly turned to Bobrovsky, who, displaying sportsmanship, applauded McDavid’s win. Meanwhile, McDavid’s parents were also seen celebrating in the stands, seemingly the only ones pleased with the decision.
Despite the controversy, McDavid’s accolade was hard-earned. He distinguished himself by becoming just the second non-goalie from a losing team to win the Conn Smythe, and the first since Reggie Leach in 1976. His postseason performance was historically significant, amassing 42 points—the fourth-highest in NHL postseason history—and setting a new record with 34 assists, surpassing Gretzky’s 1988 record.
McDavid’s heroic efforts included leading a near-comeback from a 0-3 deficit in the finals with remarkable four-point performances in consecutive games, although he was unable to score in Games 6 and 7.
Reflecting on the season, McDavid lamented the tough journey: “Proud of the way we fought all year. Behind the eight ball almost immediately. We fought an uphill climb for months and months and months,” he shared. “[This] just … sucks.”
On the other hand, Bobrovsky’s claim to the trophy was strongly backed by his critical role in guiding the Panthers to victory, highlighted by his 23 saves under relentless pressure in the climactic moments of Game 7.
Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov emphasized his teammate’s worthiness, telling Sportsnet as reported by Dailyhive.com, “He deserves it. We had a lot of players who deserved it, but Bobby was the one.”
