What happened: Carolina Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal has been awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy following the Hurricanes' Stanley Cup victory. Staal led his team to a championship-clinching 3-0 victory in Game 6 to secure the franchise's second title.
Why it matters: At 37 years old, Staal is the oldest player in NHL history to win the playoff MVP award. The victory comes 17 years after his first championship in 2009 and exactly 20 years after the Hurricanes' first title in 2006. Staal's leadership was anchored by a historic scoring run, including goals in the first five games of the Final.
By the numbers: 2026 Stanley Cup Final: 6 goals, 1 assist, 7 points in 6 games. Won 69.0% of faceoffs in the series. Oldest Conn Smythe winner (37).
What to watch: Staal and the Hurricanes will celebrate the championship in Raleigh before beginning their title defense for the 2026-27 season.