Eastside's Hockey Elite Collide

Conn Smythe’s name was synonymous with hockey in Toronto for five decades. Having purchased the Toronto St. Pats in 1927, Smythe changed their name to the Toronto Maple Leafs, and altered their sweaters to the blue and white we know today. A powerful leader, Smythe had been coach, general manager and owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs before he was recognized by the Hockey Hall of Fame with his induction as a builder in 1958. It was around this time that Conn Smythe sold controlling interest in Maple Leaf Gardens to his son Stafford, Harold Ballard and John Bassett. In 1964, Maple Leaf Gardens donated a trophy for presentation to the most valuable player in each season’s playoff competition.

2009-2010 Winner: Steven Stamkos (Tampa Bay Lightning)
2010-2011 Winner: Jordan Staal (Phoenix Coyotes)
2011-2012 Winner: Patrice Bergeron (Winnipeg Jets)
2012-2013 Winner: Cody Hodgson (Pittsburgh Penguins)
2013-2014 Winner: Jarome Iginla (Pittsburgh Penguins)

Past voting results (voting on this award began in 2012; prior to that it was EHM-awarded):

2010: Stamkos wins after 23 points in 23 games.
2011: Jordan Staal wins with 19 points in 23 games.
2012: Bergeron wins with 8 first-place votes and 29 voting points, with 27 points in 24 games. Joe Thornton (SJ, 4 first-place votes, 25 points) and Jack Campbell (WPG, 3 first-place votes and 15 points) finished 2nd and 3rd.
2013: Hodgson wins with 9 first-place votes and 27 voting points, with 24 points in 19 games. Anze Kopitar (PIT, 2 first-place votes, 15 points) and Shane Doan (PHO, 6 points) finished 2nd and 3rd.
2014: Iginla wins a tight race with just 3 first-place votes and 15 points. He scored 14G and 21P in 20GP, good for 2nd and 4th in the playoffs, respectively. Martin St. Louis (STL, 3 1sts, 11 points) and Henrik Zetterberg (ANA, 2 1sts, 7 points) narrowly missed out, despite Zetterberg's team having lost in the Western Conference final.