Jean-Sebastien Giguere calls out at Connor McDavid for his Conn Smythe behavior

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James Connelly
June 26, 2024 (0:23)

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Connor McDavid became one of the few players to win the Conn Smythe trophy on the losing team in the Stanley Cup Finals and he did not come out for the presentation.

After the Florida Panthers defeated the Edmonton Oilers in game seven of the Stanley Cup Final, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman announced that Connor McDavid, the best player in the world, had won the Conn Smythe, becoming the first player since 2003 to win the Conn Smythe on the losing team.

The player in 2003 that won the Conn Smythe was Anaheim Ducks goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere, who was on the ice for the presentation, unlike McDavid. He called McDavid for not going out and accepting his award.

Translation: "It's a privilege to play in the NHL. Even if you're the best player in the world, you're not bigger than the sport." - Jean-Sebastien Giguere on Connor McDavid not accepting the Conn Smythe

«It should be an obligation to show up and accept the trophy, it's a respect question.

It is similar to the hand shake.

The game gives us so much, we should give back, and showing respect to the trophy is part of it. -J.S. Giguere»

How much you wanna bet Giguere wanted to be anywhere else in the world at this moment rather than accepting this award? This is what class, character and sportsmanship is.

McDavid no-showed the Conn Smythe like a tantruming child, just like he no-showed game 6 & 7

Aside from McDavid and Giguere, only Ron Hextall, Reggie Leach, Glenn Hall, and Roger Crozier have won the Conn Smythe on the losing team. It makes sense why McDavid would not come out for the trophy but Giguere had to go out for the trophy in 2003 and it makes sense why he believes McDavid would need to as well.