There have been some amazing performances on the ice in the NHL's long history, but who stood out as the top playoff performer and became a Conn Smythe Trophy winner? Let's talk about it!

The NHL Playoffs never fails to bring drama, energy, and excitement. Since 1892, when the first NHL Championship took place, players have put it all on the line to bring the Stanley Cup, one of the most historic trophies of all-time, home to their fans.

Related: Best NHL Players of All-Time

The Conn Smythe Trophy is awarded to the most valuable player throughout the playoffs, chosen by the Professional Hockey Writers Association. The trophy was first awarded in 1965, meaning 52 players have received the illustrious award.

Here's a list of all the players that have claimed the Conn Smythe Trophy:

2023: Johnathan Marchessault

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• Team: Vegas Golden Knights

• Position: Center

• Age: 32

Canadian Johnathon Marchessault has been in the NHL since 2011, signing his first professional contract with the New York Rangers AHL affiliate after being undrafted. Since the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft, Marchessault has been a starter for the Vegas Knights. In the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Marchessault scored 13 goals and tallied 12 assists, which propelled the Knights to defeat the Florida Panthers in the Finals, ultimately rewarding Marchessault with the Conn Smythe Trophy.

2022: Cale Makar

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• Team: Colorado Avalanche

• Position: Defense

• Age: 23

Cale Makar had 8 goals and a whopping 21 assists during the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs, making him an easy choice for the Conn Smythe trophy. The Colorado Avalanche swept their opponent, the Edmonton Oilers, in the semifinals to advance to the Finals where they faced and defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning. Makar also won the 2022 Norris Trophy, which is awarded to the top defencemen in the league during the regular season.

2021: Andrei Vasilevskiy

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• Team: Tampa Bay Lightning

• Position: Goalie

• Age: 26

Andrei Vasilevskiy, a Russian native, posted a remarkable .937 save percentage during the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs which helped carry the Lightning to the Stanley Cup Finals, where they went on to beat the Montreal Canadiens to win their second Stanley Cup in two years.

2020: Victor Hedman

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• Team: Tampa Bay Lightning

• Position: Defense

• Age: 29

Since being drafted by the Tampa Bay Lighting in 2009, Victor Hedman has been one of the top defensemen in the league. The 2020 Playoffs, which were delayed due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic were untraditionally played in two hubs, in Toronto and Edmonton, in an empty arena. Hedman scored 10 goals and had 12 assists, but it was his ability to defend the crease that made him so valuable and ultimately earned him the Conn Smythe.

2019: Ryan O’Reilly

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• Team: St. Louis Blues

• Position: Center

• Age: 27

Ryan O’Reilly’s 23 points in the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs tied for the most of any player in the playoffs that year, and was the most points for the Blues, who beat the Boston Bruins in seven games to win the Stanley Cup.

2018: Alex Ovechkin

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• Team: Washington Capitals

• Position: Left Wing

• Age: 32

Alex Ovechkin is undoubtedly one of the best goal scorers of all time, second only to Wayne Gretzky for the NHL record for goals scored. Ovechkin scored 15 goals and had 12 assists in the Playoffs.

The Capitals played the Pittsburgh Penguins, their longtime rivals and defending Cup Champions, in the Eastern Conference semifinals during which Ovechkin assisted teammate Kuznetsov’s game six goal that propelled the Capitals to win the series and move on to the Conference Finals. They went on to defeat the Vegas Golden Knights to win their first Stanley Cup in franchise history.

2017: Sidney Crosby

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• Team: Pittsburgh Penguins

• Position: Center

• Age: 29

For the second year in a row, the Pittsburgh Penguins made it to the Stanley Cup Finals, once again led by Sidney Crosby who scored 8 goals and had 19 assists. The Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Nashville Predators in six games after defeating Columbus, Washington, and Ottawa to get to the Finals.

Crosby’s 27 points was the second most by a Penguin in the 2017 Playoffs, but the veteran’s leadership and performance is what earned him the Conn Smythe Trophy for the second year in a row.

2016: Sidney Crosby

Image credit: Bruce Bennett / Getty Images

• Team: Pittsburgh Penguins

• Position: Center

• Age: 28

Sidney Crosby has spent his entire career with the Pittsburgh Penguins, as he was first drafted by the team in 2005, and he has been a staple of the team since then. His 6 goals and 13 assists helped carry the team to the Finals where they faced the San Jose Sharks and won the Cup in six games.

2015: Duncan Keith

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• Team: Chicago Blackhawks

• Position: Defense

• Age: 31

The Chicago Blackhawks faced the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2015 Stanley Cup Finals, their third trip to the finals in six seasons. Keith scored 3 goals and had 18 assists throughout the playoffs.

After defeating the Predators in the first round, the Blackhawks quickly went down 3-0 in game one against Nashville, but they rallied to come back and bring the game to overtime where Keith scored the game-winning double-overtime goal. Again in game six, Keith scored the game winning goal, which led the Blackhawks to win the series and eventually move on to the Finals. Keith’s clutch goals and consistency throughout the playoffs earned him the Conn Smythe Trophy.

• 2014: Justin Williams, Los Angeles Kings

• 2013: Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks

• 2012: Johnathan Quick, Los Angeles Kings

• 2011: Tim Thomas, Boston Bruins

• 2010: Johnathan Toews, Chicago Blackhawks

• 2009: Evengi Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins

• 2008: Henrik Zetterberg, Detroit Red Wings

• 2007: Scott Niedermayer, Anaheim Ducks

• 2006: Cam Ward, Carolina Hurricanes

• 2004: Brad Richards, Tampa Bay Lightning

• 2003: Jean-Sebastien Giguere*, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim

• 2002: Nicklas Lidstrom, Detroit Red Wings

• 2001: Patrick Roy, Colorado Avalanche

• 2000: Scott Stevens, New Jersey Devils

• 1999: Joe Nieuwendyk, Dallas Stars

• 1998: Steve Yzerman, Detroit Red Wings

• 1997: Mike Vernon, Detroit Red Wings

• 1996: Joe Sakic, Colorado Avalanche

• 1995: Claude Lemieux, New Jersey Devils

• 1994: Brian Leetch, New York Rangers

• 1993: Patrick Roy, Montreal Canadiens

• 1992: Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins

• 1991: Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins

• 1990: Bill Ranford, Edmonton Oilers

• 1989: Al MacInnis, Calgary Flames

• 1988: Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers

• 1987: Ron Hextall*, Philadelphia Flyers

• 1986: Patrick Roy, Montreal Canadiens

• 1985: Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers

• 1984: Mark Messier, Edmonton Oilers

• 1983: Billy Smith, New York Islanders

• 1982: Mike Bossy, New York Islanders

• 1981: Butch Goring, New York Islanders

• 1980: Bryan Trottier, New York Islanders

• 1979: Bob Gainey, Montreal Canadiens

• 1978: Larry Robinson, Montreal Canadiens

• 1977: Guy Lafleur, Montreal Canadiens

• 1976: Reggie Leach*, Philadelphia Flyers

• 1975: Bernie Parent, Philadelphia Flyers

• 1974: Bernie Parent, Philadelphia Flyers

• 1973: Yvan Cournoyer, Montreal Canadiens

• 1972: Bobby Orr, Boston Bruins

• 1971: Ken Dryden, Montreal Canadiens

• 1970: Bobby Orr, Boston Bruins

• 1969: Serge Savard, Montreal Canadiens

• 1968: Glenn Hall*, St. Louis Blues

• 1967: Dave Keon, Toronto Maple Leafs

• 1966: Roger Crozier*, Detroit Red Wings

• 1965: Jean Beliveau, Montreal Canadiens