Defenceman Cale Makar took home the 2022 Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player of the playoffs following the Colorado Avalanche’s Stanley Cup victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Coming off a season where he produced 28 goals and 58 assists in 77 games — good enough to win the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s best defenceman — Makar took his play up another notch in the playoffs.

The 23-year-old’s 29 points (eight goals, 21 assists) in 20 games this post-season put him in rarified air: only Paul Coffey (37 points in 1985), Brian Leetch (34 points in 1994) and Al MacInnis (31 points in 1989) have had more prolific playoffs from the blue line.