Conn Smythe Watch after Round 1: Mikko Rantanen tops the rating

With one around within the books and 8 groups despatched house, the race for Stanley Cup playoffs MVP is beginning to come into focal point.

That focal point is these days on one participant who set a handful of information together with his Game 7 heroism.

Here’s the primary Conn Smythe Watch of the 2025 postseason. Keep in thoughts that within the NHL, the Conn Smythe is according to a participant’s efficiency all through all of the postseason, now not simply the championship around. The award is voted on through an 18-person panel of Professional Hockey Writers Association contributors.

We polled greater than a dozen writers who’re nonetheless at the beat within the playoffs for the Conn Smythe Trophy most sensible 3.

Here’s a take a look at one of the crucial present leaders for MVP honors, in addition to avid gamers at the cusp of breaking thru within the Conn Smythe race.

The present MVP

The “Revenge Tour” opposed to his former group the Colorado Avalanche wrapped up in impressive type with 11 issues within the closing 3 video games of the sequence (5 aims, six assists). That incorporated his third-period hat trick — together with an lend a hand on Wyatt Johnston‘s game-tying purpose with not up to 4 mins ultimate in law — within the Stars’ Game 7 win.

Rantanen is the primary participant in NHL historical past to listing four-point sessions in back-to-back video games within the steady season or the playoffs. He’s the primary participant to attain a third-period hat trick in a Game 7. He’s additionally the primary participant with no less than 10 issues in Games 5 thru 7 in a sequence. Overall, Rantanen has 12 issues thru seven video games.

GM Jim Nill passed Rantanen an eight-year, $96 million contract extension after obtaining him from the Carolina Hurricanes for his regular-season dominance (705 issues in 652 occupation video games) and his popularity as a seize playoff performer, as he now has 113 issues in 88 occupation postseason video games.

Rantanen used to be ranked first on all however one poll we accumulated from our electorate. He’s simply the favourite for playoff MVP at this level, and rightfully so.

The different favorites

There’s a palpable hole between Rantanen and the Connors within the playoff MVP race, however each Kyle Connor and Connor McDavid are construction sturdy circumstances.

The Jets winger had 12 issues in seven video games opposed to the St. Louis Blues, outscoring his group’s goaltending issues — which does not appropriately describe a double Vezina Trophy winner getting pulled in 3 highway video games — whilst main Winnipeg to a first-round win.

Connor used to be superior in Game 7: He arrange Cole Perfetti‘s two aims after which selecting up a secondary lend a hand on Adam Lowry‘s double-overtime winner. He stepped up within the absence of linemate and second-leading scorer Mark Scheifele and helped Winnipeg advance previous the primary around for the primary time in 3 postseasons.

It’s nonetheless surreal to think about McDavid because the reigning Conn Smythe winner, having been named playoff MVP after Edmonton’s seven-game loss within the Stanley Cup Final to Florida. If it is the playoffs, McDavid is scoring in them. The Edmonton superstar has 110 issues in 63 playoff video games over the last 5 seasons, besting teammate Leon Draisaitl through 14 issues.

McDavid led the Oilers with 11 issues (two aims, 9 assists) of their opening-round win opposed to the Los Angeles Kings. It used to be intended to be other this time for the Kings, who had misplaced to Edmonton within the first around for 3 consecutive seasons. It used to be other in a single admire: Rather than the 2.00 issues according to recreation McDavid averaged within the 3 earlier sequence wins opposed to Los Angeles, he averaged handiest 1.83 issues according to recreation opposed to the Kings on this six-game sequence victory.

Our electorate had McDavid somewhat forward of Connor on their ballots, however they are the transparent moment and 0.33 possible choices at the back of Rantanen at this level within the postseason.

Making their circumstances

Multiple electorate expressed wonder that they have been list a member of the Leafs as one of the crucial treasured avid gamers of the Stanley Cup playoffs, however right here we’re. Toronto were given previous Ottawa within the first around and gained Game 1 opposed to the Florida Panthers thank you in no small phase to the offensive performances through Nylander.

He is the member of the Core Four who has made the most important have an effect on within the playoffs, with 20 aims in 36 video games since 2020-21. That’s seven greater than Auston Matthews has scored in that span.

Nylander has had issues in each and every recreation for the Leafs this postseason save for one: Linus Ullmark‘s Game 5 shutout for Ottawa. But Willy Styles got here roaring again in Game 6 with two aims and an lend a hand in Toronto’s Game 6 removing of the Senators. He has 3 aims and two assists within the Leafs’ Game 1 wins in every around. He has been a pace-setter and a more in-depth.

Thompson is the one goalie who made any of our ballots, getting love from a handful of electorate. The Capitals goalie had a .923 save share and a 2.23 goals-against moderate in 5 video games opposed to the Canadiens. That he performed 5 video games opposed to the Habs used to be sudden, for the reason that he used to be helped from the ice in Washington’s Game 3 loss to Montreal. But Thompson used to be again for the Capitals’ wins in Games 4 and 5, giving up simply 3 aims on 47 photographs.

These have been the one different avid gamers who have been discussed on our electorate’ ballots. But there are others who may just simply play their method into the dialog because the postseason continues.

On the cusp

The Oilers by hook or by crook removed the Kings in Game 6 with no unmarried level from Draisaitl, however the Edmonton superstar made his presence identified in Game 1 opposed to Vegas with an lend a hand and the game-tying purpose, his fourth of the postseason. Draisaitl is tied for the second-most issues within the postseason (12) after seven video games.

Bouchard nonetheless trails the since-eliminated St. Louis’s Cam Fowler through one level for essentially the most through a defenseman within the postseason. But the “Bouch Bombs” will proceed for the foreseeable long term given the Oilers’ luck, as Bouchard has 9 issues (4 aims, 5 assists) in seven video games.

The Golden Knights’ dynamic duo. Stone leads Vegas with 4 aims, however each avid gamers have six issues.

They did not have the most efficient get started opposed to St. Louis, however they have got hit the board in 4 instantly video games — together with two aims from Stone in Game 1 opposed to Edmonton.

Rantanen has deservedly grabbed the headlines, however do not sleep at the contributions of Johnston to the Stars. His power-play purpose gave Dallas a 3-2 lead in Game 7 with not up to 4 mins ultimate opposed to the Avalanche. He has seven issues in seven video games.

Oettinger held down the citadel within the ultimate moments of Game 7 and has posted sturdy numbers up to now within the postseason, with a .911 save share and a 2.85 goals-against moderate.

Marner is correct at the back of Nylander with 9 issues in seven video games, with 8 assists. He has a team-high 5 issues at the chronic play. What’s a Conn Smythe Trophy value in a freelance yr?

Bennett leads the Panthers with 4 aims in six video games. As the Maple Leafs have realized, he makes continuously an have an effect on off the scoresheet, from time to time in a game-changing method.

Andersen is enjoying at the back of a super defensive group with a forecheck that leaves him rather lonely again within the different zone. But when warring parties have got possibilities opposed to him, the veteran goalie has been a brick wall: He has a .935 save share and a 1.45 goals-against moderate this postseason.

Slavin gained Game 1 of the Hurricanes’ second-round sequence opposed to the Capitals with an additional time purpose. His different purpose within the postseason used to be a spirit-crusher in Carolina’s 5-2 Game 4 win over New Jersey. But scoring is rarely the tale with Slavin: It’s his mins (24:28 to steer the Hurricanes) and his protection, together with being the linchpin in their dominant penalty kill. Plus, there is numerous voter goodwill constructed up for Slavin from his 4 Nations Face-Off efficiency.

Strome leads the Capitals with 9 issues and used to be some of the most sensible scorers within the first around. Ovechkin gained the Conn Smythe in 2018 when the Capitals gained the Stanley Cup. He had 4 aims and an lend a hand of their five-game sequence win over the Montreal Canadiens. They’ll want extra video games like that during a tight-checking sequence opposed to the Hurricanes.

If Ovechkin carries the Caps within the playoffs, may just electorate withstand the danger to cap his NHL record-breaking season with every other playoff MVP award?