Jordan Staal is the oldest player in NHL history to win the Conn Smythe Trophy, and his playoff MVP run can be traced back to the opening day of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The Carolina Hurricanes captain dropped the gloves with Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference First Round on April 18, setting the tone for what became a championship run for both Staal and the Hurricanes.
That victory over Ottawa was the start of a dominant postseason for Carolina. The Hurricanes swept the Senators and Philadelphia Flyers before eliminating the Montreal Canadiens in five games and the Vegas Golden Knights in six to capture the Stanley Cup.
CAPTAIN FIGHT AT PUCK DROP!!! THIS IS THE STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS!!
pic.twitter.com/yrTOMuOH6t
— Spittin' Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) April 18, 2026
Now, for the first time in 20 years, Lord Stanley is returning to Carolina following a remarkable 16-3 playoff run.
“You’re just constantly trying to push yourself, push yourself to get here, this moment,” Staal said afterwards, per NHL.com’s Amalie Benjamin. “I can’t believe it. There’s nothing better.”
The 37-year-old saved some of his best hockey for the Stanley Cup Final, recording seven points in six games and scoring in each of the first five contests.
Staal finished his Conn Smythe-winning postseason with eight goals and 12 points in 19 games while continuing to take on difficult defensive assignments and provide the physical edge that has defined his career.
“My goodness, what an amazing feeling,” the veteran added. “Different, though. For how long I’ve been here and grinded through, to be able to build this culture and build this team and be a part of that group and be so close so many times and never get it and keep grinding, keep going, keep going, it’s a dream come true, by far.”
Make that two Stanley Cup championships for Staal, who also lifted hockey’s ultimate prize with the Pittsburgh Penguins during his third NHL season in 2009.
It took 17 years, but the Thunder Bay native is back on top of the hockey world.
He’s also helped deliver Carolina’s first Stanley Cup championship in two decades, adding another unforgettable chapter to one of the most respected careers of the salary-cap era.
The celebrations are just beginning in Carolina, and Staal’s all-around play was a major reason why the Hurricanes are world champions once again.
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