I got this idea because of Connor McDavid, the Conn Smythe Trophy and an overactive brain.
McDavid, playing for the losing Edmonton Oilers in the Stanley Cup Final, nevertheless won the Conn Smythe Trophy, which since 1965 has been bestowed on the MVP of the entire postseason.
That resonates more now with four rounds of playoffs than it did six decades ago when there were just two. The NFL, NBA and MLB also have expanded their playoffs, yet the NHL is the lone league that bestows MVP hardware for the whole postseason.
I think MLB — which now has four rounds of postseason — should become the second sport to hand out an MVP for the entire playoffs. Its Conn Smythe. Just, of course, you can’t call it that. So my idea would be to name it the Derek Jeter Trophy (more on that in a bit).
