Top 10 NHL Conn Smythe candidates

With the Stanley Cup Playoffs underway this week, we look at the top 10 potential winners of the Conn Smythe Trophy, awarded to the playoffs MVP.

10) Joe Pavelski: Dallas Stars

Earlier in the week, Pavelski would have been much higher on this list. At age 39, he’s playing like he hasn’t aged a day. That includes nine goals in 14 games in last year’s playoffs.

The Stars just dropped the first two games of the series at home though, putting themselves in a big hole. They’ll need Pavelski playing his best to dig out of it.

9) Connor McDavid: Edmonton Oilers

McDavid has shown he should never be doubted, including in the playoffs. He’s got a combined 53 playoff points in 28 games over the last two years. His team hasn’t shown the ability to get over the hump yet, but if the Oilers do, McDavid will almost surely be the biggest reason.

8) Nathan MacKinnon: Colorado Avalanche

MacKinnon is coming off the best regular season of his career and could be the league’s MVP. The Avalanche won the Stanley Cup two years ago, and most of those pieces are still there to make a run again this year. MacKinnon will have to step up even more though as they are still without captain Gabriel Landeskog.

7) Juuse Saros: Nashville Predators

The last time the Predators made a deep run, it had a lot to do with their goaltender. It was Pekka Rinne then, but Saros has been great for Nashville since Rinne’s retirement, and he’s played well in the postseason. The Predators finished the season as hot as anybody, and don’t be surprised if that carries into the playoffs. If they make a deep run, Saros will be a popular man in Nashville.

6) Auston Matthews: Toronto Maple Leafs

The Maple Leafs finally broke the curse last year winning a playoff series for the first time in almost 20 years. Can they make a deeper push this year? Matthews had 69 goals in the regular season, the most in almost 30 years. The concern is the injury to William Nylander. The Maple Leafs will need him back soon in order to make a run, but his return time is unknown.

5) Kyle Connor: Winnipeg Jets

Connor has been one of the league’s top goal scorers and the best on the Jets. This year is the Jets’ best chance at a championship since they moved from Atlanta. With 34 goals in just 65 games this year, his ability to score may be what takes them over the top.

4) Matthew Tkachuk: Florida Panthers

Tkachuk was the biggest reason Florida made an unexpected run to the Finals last year leading the team with 24 points in 20 games, including four game-winning goals. The Panthers looked just as strong in the regular season this year securing the top seed in the Atlantic Division. If they make a deep run again, Tkachuk will need his clutch play to return.

3) Quinn Hughes: Vancouver Canucks

Hughes is the likely winner of this year’s Norris Trophy and was instrumental in taking a team that missed the playoffs to the top seed in the Pacific Division. He will also be instrumental with his play on both ends to take them deep in the playoffs

2) Artemi Panarin: New York Rangers

Panarin had his best year with over 40 goals for the first time in his career and is one of the best passers in the league. His playoff performances have been lethal at times but also inconsistent. He has been one of the biggest reasons the Rangers have been so dangerous in recent years, however, and again this year.

1) Jake Guentzel: Carolina Hurricanes

Guentzel was the biggest asset acquired at this year’s trade deadline and might be the ingredient Carolina needs to push themselves over the top. Guentzel has been one of the league’s top goal-scorers in recent years and has been one of the top postseason players in the league. He just missed out on the Conn Smythe Trophy when he tied the record for most playoff points as a rookie, but it likely won’t happen twice if Carolina wins this year.

Jacob Rudy is a first-year studying broadcast journalism. To contact him, email jar7371@psu.edu.