Oilers Connor McDavid makes shocking comments as to why he refused the Conn Smythe

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Daniel Lucente
October 4, 2024 (7:27 PM)

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Connor McDavid was a no-show when he won the Conn Smythe trophy in the playoffs, refusing to accept it from Gary Bettman who stood alone on the ice.

It was a devastating season-ending blow as Connor McDavid and his teammates saw their Stanley Cup dream go astray in the Florida Panthers' celebration. In the post-game noise, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman tried calling McDavid to receive the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player of the playoffs, by which time he had already retired to the locker room, overcome with the emotional weight of defeat. That's when McDavid did something telling, as revealed in the behind-the-scenes NHL documentary, his voice choked with emotion: he wouldn't go back onto the ice to accept the award.

This decision immediately sent shockwaves into the hockey world. Former Conn Smythe winner JS Giguere was among many who felt McDavid was out of line, saying to skip the ceremony was disrespectful to the tradition. The debates raged on from the fans to the analysts as to what McDavid should have done, further exemplifying how polarized the opinions were on this topic. The scrutiny was immense, showing how sensitive the decision of McDavid was to many people.

It's hard to fault McDavid entirely when one reflects on the context: an excruciating loss had just occurred, and his attention was much more on his team than any personal recognition. The loss of the Stanley Cup hung heavy emotionally, and at that moment, McDavid opted to share in his teammates' grief rather than celebrate his individual achievement. For him, the camaraderie in the locker room meant far more than any sort of trophy. In many ways, it spoke volumes to his leadership. He chose unity over individual praise of what it really means to be a captain. NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman later reported just how emotional the scene was inside the Oilers' locker room, really underscoring just how bonded McDavid is to his teammates. While a lot of eyes pointed controversy at that, his decision indeed came with deep, deep loyalty and leadership.

Despite such a sad ending to the season, the brilliance of McDavid on the ice remained a factor no one could take lightly. It was stunning: 42 playoff points, surpassing Wayne Gretzky's record in the assist category, and only the second player in NHL history to win the Conn Smythe Trophy on the losing side. These outstanding performances by McDavid and the dedication of teammates will firm up the drive of the Oilers to come back even harder and finally get their hands on the Stanley Cup.

It was not a spur-of-the-moment emotional outburst but an act that reflected his values as a leader. However debatable, the moment was real leadership. Though the magnitude of the heartbreak of that loss was immense, it did speak volumes about Connor McDavid's commitment to his side. He took a pass on personal glory for unity, and no one on the ice worked harder than he did. With this kind of drive, it seems a given that next season and beyond, McDavid and the Oilers are going to reach even greater heights.