Conn Smythe 2013: Patrick Kane Named 2013 Stanley Cup MVP

The Chicago Blackhawks have established their hockey dominance by winning their second Stanley Cup in four years and they have more than a few players are to thank for getting them to where they are right now. But the NHL has decided that Patrick Kane was the most valuable player to the Blackhawks and have awarded him the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player in the Stanley Cup Finals.

Kane is without a doubt the Blackhawks most prolific scorer and his presence on the ice changes the scope of the game instantly.

But Kane is and was the first guy to say he wasn’t the guy who was most deserving of the Conn Smythe Trophy. When he talked to NBC reporter Pierre McGuire, the Blackhawks star said that he felt netminder Corey Crawford was robbed after the way he held it together against a fierce Bruins attack throughout the series.

He has a case too, because while Tuukka Rask was the netminder everyone was talking about coming into the series, it was Crawford who emerged victorious and it wasn’t on luck. He was able to match Rask’s skill save for save and turned away more than a few difficult shots that lesser goalies would have allowed in.

But Kane is a leader on this Chicago team and he’s a valuable asset to the Blackhawks. There may have been guys that performed above and beyond what they’re normally capable of, but Kane’s brilliance and leadership helped bring him yet another Stanley Cup and there are few things more valuable than that in hockey.