Simmons labels Conn Smythe a “racist” demands the NHL change the name of their trophy.

Another hot take from Steve Simmons.

HockeyFeed
HockeyFeed
Published 3 years ago
Simmons labels Conn Smythe a “racist” demands the NHL change the name of their trophy.
NHL.com

Controversial Toronto sports columnist Steve Simmons has come under fire once again and instead of shying away from the controversy he has once again stirred up, Simmons is instead stirring up even more of that controversy. Simmons of course has come under fire for reporting that Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews has tested positive for COVID-19, a report that some have criticized as a violation of Matthews' privacy. Certainly it raises questions about the legality of how the information was obtained, medical records are after all protected, but I do think you would be hard pressed to argue against the fact that a public figure contracting a highly transmissible and potentially fatal disease is in the public's interest to know.

This time around however Steve Simmons is going after a different member of the Toronto Maple Leafs, this time its former Toronto Maple Leafs owner Conn Smythe who has drawn the ire of the Sun columnist. On Saturday Simmons published his latest column in which he describes Smythe as a racist who no longer has a place in hockey. More specifically Simmons called on the National Hockey League to outright remove Smythe's name from the award given each and every year to the Stanley Cup Playoffs most valuable player, stating that a racist should not be honored in such a way.

From Simmons:

After watching Herb Carnegie play, Conn Smythe apparently offered $10,000 to anyone who could turn Carnegie’s skin colour to white.

He was being facetious, of course. He was also being racist...

The trophy that goes to the most valuable player in the Stanley Cup playoffs is named for Smythe. Named for a racist. It shouldn’t be any more.

Although the behavior is of course reprehensible by today's standards I do always take issue with those who wish to retroactively police people from a bygone era, all while viewing their actions through the prism of a modern lens and not the one they were living in at the time. I will say however that Simmons makes an excellent suggestion when he suggests a potential replacement, one I think many fans from across the NHL would be on board with.

Again from Simmons:

Why not name the playoff MVP after Carnegie’s old teammate with the Quebec Aces, Jean Beliveau? He was the first recipient of the Smythe award in 1965. No one has ever represented hockey better than Beliveau did.

Do you agree with Simmons take? Is Smythe's past behavior enough to warrant removing his name from the trophy? Would naming the award after gentleman Jean Beliveau make more sense? Let us know your thoughts in the comments. 

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