NHL: Handicapping Conn Smythe Trophy Race

Tampa Bay defenseman Victor Hedman and goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy and Edmonton defenseman Duncan Keith are the only previous winners of the award still alive in the postseason.

According to the Las Vegas odds, Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon (+320) is the favorite to win the Conn Smythe Trophy.

MacKinnon Leading the Way

Nathan MacKinnon enters the Western Conference Final tied for the team lead in scoring with 13 points (eight goals, five assists). That is well off the pace set by the Edmonton duo of Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid. However, with MacKinnon’s Colorado Avalanche at a series price of -250 to dispatch the Oilers according to the NHL lines, it is no wonder that MacKinnon currently has the best odds.

While Colorado has fallen short in its quest for the Stanley Cup in recent years, it is hard to place much blame on MacKinnon who has 82 points in 60 career postseason games.

Truly a memorable round for all, but if you had to pick just one 👀#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/FOosyzmfKf

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) May 28, 2022

Makar Putting on a Show

With the exception of one dazzling end-to-end rush ending with a highlight variety goal by MacKinnon during the series with St. Louis, most of the magic with the puck for the Colorado Avalanche is usually created by 23-year-old defenseman Cale Makar.

Makar had a brilliant regular season with 28 goals and 86 points. He has been more than a point-per-game player in the postseason. His numbers of three goals and 10 assists only begin to tell the story.

When Makar is in control of the puck, fans for both teams can only wait for what is coming next. So much of the offense for the Avalanche is generated by Makar and Devon Toews, his defensive partner. Makar continues to improve defensively. With a national stage to show off his many skills, he has a chance to introduce himself to people who don’t often get to watch Avalanche games. If not for MacKinnon, Makar (+450) would be the Conn Smythe favorite.

McDavid is One Talented Oiler

When it comes to deciding who is the most talented player in the NHL at current time, the conversation usually stops with the No. 1 overall selection in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.

Edmonton’s Connor McDavid has won four NHL scoring championships in the last six seasons. He finished second in the other two seasons.

Edmonton’s lack of postseason success has prevented him from taking the next step as a player. McDavid has 20 points in Edmonton’s last eight playoff games. He is tied with Draisaitl for the lead with 26 points.

McDavid comes in at +500 in the Conn Smythe odds.

Vasilevskiy Finds His Game

With the way Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy was playing late in the regular season, he seemed like an unlikely choice to be on this list even if he led Tampa Bay to the last two Stanley Cup championships.

Vasilevskiy allowed at least three goals in each of his first five playoff games this season. However, in the last five games he has allowed just four goals as Tampa Bay won on the road in Game 7 against Toronto and swept the favored Florida Panthers out of the playoffs.

The Conn Smythe winner last season, Vasilevskiy has a chance to become the first player to win the award in back-to-back seasons since Mario Lemieux in 1991 and 1992. He checks in at +550 in the current playoff MVP odds.

Don’t count out Hedman, Kucherov

Nobody would have given it a second thought if Nikita Kucherov won the Conn Smythe in either of the last two years. The veteran Tampa Bay winger has scored 34 and 32 points in the playoffs while helping Tampa Bay win the NHL championship in 2020 and 2021. He is already at 15 points this post-season with anywhere from 4-14 games left in the playoffs for the Lightning.

Defenseman Victor Hedman, the 2020 Conn Smythe winner, is well back of his two Lightning teammates in the playoff MVP odds.

Hedman had 40 points in 48 playoff games the last two seasons while being a force on defense. He’s right around the same scoring pace with 10 points in the first 11 postseason games.

Shesterkin a Star in the Big Apple

Igor Shesterkin could well win the Vezina Trophy as the top goalie in the NHL during the regular season and he is a finalist for the Hart Trophy as the NHL’s Most Valuable Player. Could there be other hardware in his future?

Shesterkin took a shutout into the third period during Game 7 against the Carolina Hurricanes as the New York Rangers advanced to the Eastern Conference Final.

His numbers in the postseason are off what he accomplished during the regular season. However, if he leads the Rangers to the Stanley Cup, he could find himself in contention for the Conn Smythe.

Draisaitl Incredibly Undervalued

One would think that a player with 26 points in 12 playoff games wouldn’t have 12 players ahead of him in the current Conn Smythe Trophy odds.

Draisaitl had an astonishing 17 points in the five-game series against Calgary. Sure, it is easy to be overshadowed by McDavid. Perhaps those who bet online aren’t expecting Edmonton to get past Colorado. Whatever the reasons, Draisaitl being so far down the list of candidates is kind of hard to explain.