text: what is the name of the trophy which the n.h.l. presents to the mvp of the stanley cup playoffs? if you know why, or who the guy was it was named for that would help too. thanks the conn smythe memorial trophy is awarded annually to the most valuable player during the national hockey league's stanley cup playoffs. the winner is chosen by the vote of members of the professional hockey writers' association and is not necessarily a member of the cup-winning team. the vote is conducted during the 2nd period of an elimination game in the stanley cup finals. if the finals is not over in the game, the votes will be discarded and the procedures will be repeated until a stanley cup winner is decided. the trophy is handed out prior to the presentation of the stanley cup by the commissioner, not during the nhl awards the following week.  the trophy was named for the late conn smythe (1895-1980), a hockey hall of fame builder and owner of the toronto maple leafs, and as such, the trophy depicts the old maple leaf gardens...