Hurricanes' Jordan Staal Wins Conn Smythe Trophy

The Carolina Hurricanes are Stanley Cup champions once again, and their captain has officially cemented his place in NHL history.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman presented 37-year-old Jordan Staal with the 2026 Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. With the honor, Staal becomes the oldest player in league history to win the prestigious award, surpassing Tim Thomas and Glenn Hall, who both captured it at age 36.

The veteran center scored six goals in the Stanley Cup Final, remarkably finding the back of the net in each of the first five games of the series—a feat not accomplished in the NHL since Jean Beliveau did it in 1956. Beyond his scoring touch, Staal completely neutralized the Golden Knights' top offensive weapons, serving as an elite shutdown center while winning over 56 percent of his faceoffs throughout the postseason run.

Staal is the second Hurricane to win the Conn Smythe Trophy, with the other coming during the Hurricanes’ other Stanley Cup win in 2006. Cam Ward was the winner that season, so Staal is the first skater to win the Conn Smythe for the Canes.