Have Any Rookie Goalies Won the Conn Smythe Trophy?

Jakub Dobeš’ performance for the Montreal Canadiens against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 7 was one for the ages, sparking thoughts of rookie goalies who earned the Conn Smythe Trophy by playing at that level throughout the Stanley Cup playoffs. 

Nowadays, the hockey odds at the BetMGM sportsbook to pull off such a fanciful feat are longer than the drive from Montreal to Tampa, Fla.   

So, who’s in the exclusive club, and when was the last time a fresh-faced netminder put the hockey world on notice?

Related: Youngest Conn Smythe Winners in NHL History

NHL Playoffs: Which Rookie Goaltenders Have Won the Conn Smythe?

Only four rookie goaltenders won the Conn Smythe Trophy, and Cam Ward was the most recent first-year netminder to win playoff MVP. 

Ken Dryden was the first rookie to capture the most coveted individual playoff honour, and Patrick Roy and Ron Hextall also accomplished the rare feat, winning the Conn Smythe as rookies in consecutive playoffs. 

Ken Dryden (Montreal Canadiens, 1971)

Despite featuring in only six regular-season games before his maiden run in the Stanley Cup playoffs, Dryden became the first rookie goaltender to win the Conn Smythe. 

Playing just six regular-season games allowed him to win the Calder Trophy the season after he took the plaudits for playoff MVP. It was unprecedented at the time, and he’s still the only one to secure that distinction. 

Dryden was instrumental in helping the Canadiens get past the heavily favoured Boston Bruins in the first round. The Canadiens were also the underdogs in the Stanley Cup Final, but, thanks to Dryden, found a way past the Chicago Black Hawks. 

Patrick Roy (Montreal Canadiens, 1986)

Roy was 20 years old when he led the Canadiens to the Stanley Cup in 1986, becoming the youngest player to win the Conn Smythe. 

He finished the postseason with a 15-5 record, a .923 save percentage, and 1.93 goals-against average (GAA).

Roy got the better of fellow rookie goaltender Mike Vernon and the Calgary Flames in the Stanley Cup Final, propelling the Habs to four straight victories after losing the opener 5-2. 

Ron Hextall (Philadelphia Flyers, 1987)

Hextall is the only one of the four rookie winners to secure the honour despite being on the losing team. 

The Philadelphia Flyers fell to the Edmonton Oilers 4-3, but Hextall was the most influential reason why the Stanley Cup Final went the distance. 

Hextall kept the high-octane Oilers in check and didn’t allow more than four goals. While it doesn’t sound that impressive in the modern age, he made at least 30 saves in four of seven contests against Wayne Gretzky and Co. 

Cam Ward (Carolina Hurricanes, 2006)

It had been 29 years since Hextall won the Conn Smythe as a rookie, but Ward’s 2006 playoff run with the Carolina Hurricanes was worth the wait. 

Martin Gerber played the first two games in the opening round, but lost both against the Canadiens. Ward replaced him with aplomb and reeled off seven straight wins. 

He tied Roy and Hextall for the most playoff wins by a rookie (15) and finished the 2006 playoffs with a 15-8 record, a .920 save percentage and 2.14 GAA. The Hurricanes beat the Oilers 4-3 in the Stanley Cup Final, allowing one goal on 23 shots in the 3-1 Game 7 win.

Last Time a Rookie Goalie Won the Conn Smythe

Cam Ward was the last rookie goalie to win the Conn Smythe Trophy, securing the award during the 2006 playoffs with the Stanley Cup champion Hurricanes. 

When Was the Last Time a Goalie Won the Conn Smythe? 

In 2021, Andrei Vasilevskiy won the Conn Smythe Trophy, helping the Tampa Bay Lightning win the Stanley Cup. 

Has Any Goalie Won More Than One Conn Smythe?

Roy and Bernie Parent are the only goalies to win more than one Conn Smythe Trophy. Roy won three, and Parent won twice.

Who Is The Youngest Goalie to Win the Conn Smythe? 

Roy won the Conn Smythe when he was 20 years old, the youngest player to win the award.