European NHLers Chase the Conn Smythe Trophy

Originally published in the 2001 NHL Playoff Program

By Lucas Aykroyd

Who will become the first European player to win the Conn Smythe Trophy?

Given the prevalence of Europeans in today’s NHL, it might come as a surprise to you that none of them has won playoff MVP honors yet. However, in the past, many North American hockey observers would have considered it pointless or heretical even to discuss the idea.

For one thing, as superstar Czech goalie Dominik Hasek points out: “There were not too many Europeans in the NHL for a long time.” In 1967, the final year of the original six-team NHL, 97.7 percent of all NHLers were Canadian. Russian and Czech stars remained behind the Iron Curtain. Only a few Scandinavians came over, like Ulf Sterner, the NHL’s first European with the New York Rangers in 1964-65, or fellow Swede Thommie Bergman, who toiled on defense for the Detroit Red Wings in the early 1970’s.

And even by 1989, when 12 percent of NHLers were European, there was a lingering perception that these guys weren’t as effective, tough or determined as North Americans when it came to the grind of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Toronto Maple Leafs owner Harold Ballard contributed to this stereotype in the 1970’s by claiming Swedish forward Inge Hammarstrom “could go into the corner with a dozen eggs in his pocket and not break one of them.” Every spring, bombastic CBC hockey commentator Don Cherry criticized Europeans on his popular “Coach’s Corner,” saying they took dives, wilted under physical pressure and couldn’t score in the playoffs.

But today, only xenophobes subscribe to these theories. Even Cherry has had to lower the volume on his tirades. This season, one out of every three NHLers is European. With Sergei Fedorov (1995) and Peter Forsberg (1999) having recently led the post-season scoring derby, who’s going to insist that a European Conn Smythe winner would be out of the question?

Not Dave King. The coach of the expansion Columbus Blue Jackets may not have a Smythe candidate on his current roster, but his nearly 20 years of experience in international hockey have taught him to respect the competitive abilities of Europeans.

“I think it’s very feasible that it could happen,” says King. “There are so many good European players in our league that it’s just a matter of time until they start winning. It wouldn’t surprise me at all. If they can do it, that’s great.”

Ottawa Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson, who earned the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s top rookie in 1996, says it isn’t a huge adjustment for Europeans to gear up for the playoffs. This flies in the face of conventional wisdom. Many in North America believe Europeans are ill-prepared for a battle that can rage well into June because they’re accustomed to a short season of 40 to 60 games back home.

“Once you get into the playoffs, it’s more adrenalin,” Alfredsson counters. “You’re so enthusiastic about being there that it kind of rides you through. I think definitely if our team can go all the way we might see a European win the Conn Smythe.”

Of course, Ottawa boasts a wealth of European talent, with forwards like Marian Hossa, Alexei Yashin and Radek Bonk fuelling their attack. The New Jersey Devils have a similar situation with Alexander Mogilny, Patrik Elias and Petr Sykora. It’s almost a coin toss in terms of which European might be named playoff MVP if either of these Cup contenders gets to the finals. You just can’t tell.

“The Conn Smythe Trophy is such a hard, hard trophy to win that you need a certain amount of luck,” says Wayne Gretzky, who won it in 1985 and 1988 with record-setting performances for the Edmonton Oilers. “First, you’ve got to stay healthy over four rounds, and that’s no simple task in Stanley Cup play. Then, your team pretty much has to take the Cup itself, because apart from very few exceptions–usually goaltenders–the Conn Smythe goes to a member of the successful team.”

The trophy has an interesting history. In 1964, Maple Leaf Gardens donated it to the NHL in honor of their founder. It features a silver-plated miniature rendition of the Gardens with a big silver maple leaf on top, all mounted on a walnut base. Since the Conn Smythe was first awarded in 1965, 18 forwards, seven defensemen and 11 goalies have won it. Based on history, there’s a 50 percent chance for a forward to win it, 20 percent for a defenseman and 30 percent for a goalie.

Since highly skilled forwards are still Europe’s main export to the NHL, the odds look good. In 13 cases, the Smythe winner has led the playoffs in scoring.

Bottom line: any Smythe candidate has to convince the voters of the Professional Hockey Writers Association that he’s earned it with his stellar play.

Longtime PHWA member and Vancouver Province columnist Tony Gallagher explains the voting procedure: “On the night that the Cup can be won, each voter is given a sheet of paper. About ten minutes before the end of the game, we have to have our votes in, ranked one, two and three, and then they’re tabulated.”

Gallagher doesn’t think media bias against Europeans has affected the voting results: “There might have been some prejudice in the early years, but I really don’t think there have been any gross miscarriages of justice. I can’t recall when I’ve railed against the Smythe winner.”

Vancouver captain Markus Naslund can’t explain why no Europeans have won the Smythe to date, but adds: “I think there have been close calls a lot of the time, with guys that could have gotten it.”

Here’s a ranking of the top five “Conn Smythe Close Calls”:

1. Dominik Hasek, 1999

The “Dominator” carried the Buffalo Sabres to the finals that year, posting a 13-6 record and a 1.77 GAA with two shutouts. Hasek was more responsible for his team’s post-season success than any other Sabre. But by surrendering Brett Hull’s controversial overtime winner in Game Six versus the Dallas Stars, he missed his chance to add both Stanley Cup and Conn Smythe silverware to his 1998 Olympic gold medal. Dallas’s Joe Nieuwendyk was named playoff MVP instead.

2. Pavel Bure, 1994

This remains Bure’s finest hour in the NHL. He led all playoff goal-scorers with 16 tallies as the underdog Vancouver Canucks marched to the Stanley Cup finals. The “Russian Rocket” thrilled fans with his breakaway winner against the Calgary Flames and dominated both Dallas and Toronto. But on the other side, Brian Leetch did his best Bobby Orr impression for the New York Rangers in the finals, and the American defenseman’s 34 points helped him win the Cup and the Conn Smythe.

3. Peter Forsberg, 1999

Though hampered by a shoulder injury, Forsberg led the 1999 playoffs in scoring with 24 points for the Colorado Avalanche. As the Swedish center’s team was knocked out by Dallas in the third round, he became the first player to top post-season scoring without appearing in the finals since Doug Gilmour and Bernie Federko did it with 21 points apiece for the St. Louis Blues in 1985-86. Dallas coach Ken Hitchcock was staggered by his team’s “inability to stop Peter Forsberg.” If the Avalanche had made it to the finals, Forsberg would have been a definite MVP favorite.

4. Jari Kurri, 1985

Talk about bad timing. The Finnish right winger put on a virtuoso performance in the 1985 playoffs. He set a new record with 12 goals in the semi-finals against Chicago and tied Reggie Leach’s 1976 mark for most goals in one playoff year with 19 in total. But Kurri was overshadowed by his centerman, Wayne Gretzky, whose 47 points earned him the Smythe as the Edmonton Oilers won their second straight Cup.

5. Sergei Fedorov, 1998

This was the Russian center’s fourth consecutive year with 20 or more points in the playoffs, a feat only achieved previously by Bryan Trottier and Mike Bossy of the New York Islanders. The 1994 Hart Trophy winner scored 10 goals and 20 points and Detroit swept Washington in the finals. But there was strong sentiment for Wings captain Steve Yzerman, and he captured the Smythe with a playoff-best 24 points.

Honorable mentions go to fellow Wings Vladimir Konstantinov (1997) and Nicklas Lidstrom (1998).

There are many variables that go into winning the Conn Smythe. How much talent and playoff intensity does a player bring to the table? How likely is his team to make the finals? Are there other guys on his team who may play an equal or greater role?

All those factors are included in the following ranking of this year’s leading European Conn Smythe candidates:

1. Peter Forsberg

“My pick for the first European to win the Conn Smythe would be Peter Forsberg,” says Dominik Hasek. “He’s a leader on a good team.” Others echo that endorsement, even though Forsberg hasn’t had his best season scoring-wise. “Forsberg is definitely a playoff performer,” says Daniel Alfredsson. “He always picks it up an extra notch.” Boasting arguably the NHL’s most talented lineup, the Avalanche could go all the way led by Forsberg. Of course, Joe Sakic and Patrick Roy would also contend for MVP honors.

2. Jaromir Jagr

The Czech superstar has been reinvigorated by the return of Mario Lemieux to the Pittsburgh Penguins. And in this year’s playoffs, “Mario Jr.” just might graduate to the head of the class. A perennial Art Ross Trophy winner, Jagr hasn’t tasted Stanley Cup champagne since 1992, and he’d love to get there again with Mario. He’s at the peak of his game at age 29. If Pittsburgh’s goaltending holds up and its power play clicks with frightening efficiency as usual, the Penguins captain could do the double whammy. Lemieux would be his main competition.

3. Sergei Fedorov

As in 1994, Fedorov picked up his game this season when Steve Yzerman was out of the Detroit lineup due to injury. If the former Selke Trophy winner can maintain his scoring pace without sacrificing his attention to defense, the aging Wings may have a real shot at capturing the Cup for the first time since 1998.

4. Dominik Hasek

After winning the Vezina Trophy five times in the 1990’s, Dominik Hasek may or may not have another magical performance left in his bag of tricks. He’s been hampered by injuries and has seemed less mentally sharp since announcing and then cancelling his plans to retire. But the 36-year-old Czech all-star still projects an intimidating psychological aura, and the memory of his 0.97 GAA at the Nagano Olympics remains fresh in many minds. This could be his last hurrah.

5. Mats Sundin

The Swedish captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs has been bitterly criticized by fans and media for his sub-par outings in the 1999 and 2000 playoffs. Perhaps that comes with the territory when you stand 6-5 and 225 pounds and make $7.5 million per season. In any case, Sundin will have to improve his intensity and scoring if Toronto is to go anywhere. But if he’s on top of his game and the Leafs charge to the Cup, only goalie Curtis Joseph is likely to challenge him for the Smythe.

There has never been a better climate for a European player to win the Conn Smythe Trophy. As coach Jacques Martin of the Ottawa Senators puts it: “It’s a world league now. Where the players come from is almost irrelevant.”

May the best man win.