Jordan Staal Elected 2026 Conn Smythe Trophy Winner After Historic Stanley Cup Final Performance

Carolina Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal has been awarded the 2026 Conn Smythe Trophy, given to the most valuable player in the NHL playoffs. The honor comes after a historic performance in the Stanley Cup Final, where Staal led the Hurricanes to a championship and set multiple records.

Staal, 37, tallied 8-4, 12 in 19 playoff games, with more than half of his points coming in the Final. He scored 6-1, 7 in six games, setting a Hurricanes franchise record for goals in any series and matching the NHL benchmark for most goals by a player age 37 or older in a single Final. He is the oldest Conn Smythe winner ever and only the second player at age 37 to earn the honor, joining Boston’s Tim Thomas in 2011.

Staal’s performance was defined by clutch production. Two-thirds of his playoff points came on game-tying or go-ahead goals. He also led the NHL in playoff face-off wins with 235, including a series-high 83 in the Final. His 68.0% face-off percentage in the Final is the highest on record since 1998.

Staal’s five-game goal streak in the Stanley Cup Final tied an NHL record, matching the likes of Maurice Richard, Yvan Cournoyer, and Jean Beliveau. Notably, he also became the first player in NHL history to have a five-game goal streak at age 18 or younger and again at 35 or older. His 17-year gap between Stanley Cup championships is the longest in NHL history.

Staal’s performance also tied him with his brother Eric Staal on the Hurricanes’ all-time playoff points list. The victory marks the first individual award of Staal’s 20-year NHL career, a feat matched in NHL history only by Doug Weight.

As the Hurricanes celebrate their latest championship, Staal’s name is etched into the NHL record books. The next step for the team is planning their 2026-27 season and preparing for next year’s Stanley Cup playoffs.