Playoff MVP candidates entering the second round
With Hunter Crowther
The first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs is in the books, and as soon as once more, it offered us with many entertaining and chaotic video games and collection’. It’s additionally given us some unbelievable performances from some wonderful gamers (and a few nobody would have seen coming), all of them important to their respective groups shifting on in the playoffs.
As the second round begins, let’s mirror on the first round and a few of the prime performances from gamers by taking a look at the present frontrunners for the Conn Smythe Trophy. While the worth of their efficiency will play the greatest issue of their rating, the chance of their group profitable all of it and the way a lot it stands in comparison with different teammates additionally performed a job.
And this yr, we will strive one thing just a little completely different. We’re bringing again the magical energy rankings connection of myself and Hunter Crowther to convey this record collectively. We each submitted our picks, averaged all of it out, after which broke down our choices with our typical witty banter and playful insults.
Let’s dive into the 10 frontrunners for the Conn Smythe.
5 GP, 5-0-0, .961 SV%, 2 SO
Hunter’s Rank: 1st
Scott’s Rank: 2nd
Hunter: The Hurricanes might have swept the Ottawa Senators in Round 1, however the video games had been nearer than you suppose, with two of them being determined by one objective and one other solely being a two-goal win through an empty netter. Andersen regarded spectacular towards the Sens, permitting simply 5 targets in 4 video games, together with a 37-save, double-overtime efficiency in Game 2. He carried that effort into the first sport of Round 2, stopping 19 pictures towards the Flyers to earn his second shutout of the postseason. When you look again at his comparatively mediocre regular-season efficiency, it is jarring to see how good he is performed.
4GP, 4-0, .950 SV%
Hunter’s Rank: third
Scott’s Rank: 1st
Scott: Wedgewood is the best choice for me as a result of he’s a clear-cut selection on a group thought-about to be a prime Stanley Cup contender. Will Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar or Martin Necas someplace down the line on this playoff run? Probably. But in a collection the place the Los Angeles Kings held the Avs to eight targets in the first three video games, and no skater actually stood out in the collection, Wedgewood’s efficiency stands out. The Avalanche most likely advances no matter how effectively he performs with how significantly better than the Kings they’re, however Wedgewood might be the purpose Colorado received in 4 video games.
Hunter: I’ll concede that Wedgewood was far-and-away the most spectacular particular person performer in Round 1 for the Avs, particularly when you think about how little relative manufacturing Colorado had towards the Kings. But like Scott says, if the Avs advance to Rounds 3 and 4 it’s going to be MacKinnon (see beneath), Makar and Necas who will get some MVP love.
Scott: Heck, possibly even Nazem Kadri or Brock Nelson ended up in the fold.
6 GP, 4-1-1, .924 SV%
Hunter’s Rank: fifth
Scott’s Rank: third
Scott: The Wild have a number of candidates for the Conn Smythe, and as you may see beneath, I’m a lot decrease on the remainder of the huge names than Hunter due to that. But I needed to not less than have to present Wallstedt his flowers for a way important he was to Minnesota lastly ending their playoff collection win drought. I completed the first round with a .970 save proportion at 5v5. .970! Somehow that wasn’t even first, as Wedgewood had a .973 5v5 SV%, however placing up these numbers towards the Dallas Stars is way more spectacular than towards the Kings. Kirill Kaprizov, Matt Boldy and Quinn Hughes will possible pull forward if the Wild’s run continues, however for now, Wallstedt is the group’s MVP.
6GP, 1G, 8A, 9P
Hunter’s Rank: sixth
Scott’s Rank: 4th
Scott: The Ducks have a number of gamers clicking at round a point-per-game tempo. Leo Carlsson and Troy Terry have eight factors, Cutter Gauthier has seven, Alex Killorn and Mikael Granlund have six, and Chris Kreider and John Carlson are simply behind with 5. But whereas offense was a driving pressure in the Ducks win over the Edmonton Oilersit was Lacombe’s defensive play which has given him some excessive reward in our rankings. With Connor McDavid and Lacombe on the ice, the Ducks outscored the Oilers 10-2 in all conditions and had a 3.37-1.64 edge in 5v5 anticipated targets. When it was Leon Draisaitl and Lacombe, it was 8-4 and a 4.01-1.47 5v5 xG edge. Lacombe did not simply win his minutes towards the Oilers dynamic duo, he dominated them.
Honestly, I’d have strongly thought-about Lacombe for first on this record if the chance of their group profitable wasn’t a think about my rankings. I like Colorado, Carolina and Minnesota greater than the Ducks, and I believe Anaheim’s path to the Cup seems daunting, particularly now that the Golden Knights are on their sport. But man, Lacombe put up a efficiency on McDavid and Draisaitl akin to Gustav Forsling in the 2024 Cup Final. If Lacombe wasn’t already a family identify in the NHL, he needs to be now.
6GP, 4G, 3A, 7P
Hunter’s Rank: 4th
Scott’s Rank: eighth
Hunter: The Sabers received their first playoff collection in 20 years and a significant purpose for it was the play of Tuch, who regarded like the prototype for a contemporary energy ahead in the NHL. He scored 4 targets and completed with seven factors towards the Boston Bruins in Round 1, but in addition did a unbelievable job of making offensive alternatives by his bodily play, rating second amongst Buffalo skaters with 21 hits. It wasn’t simply bodychecks the place Tuch set the tone, because it was simply three minutes right into a deciding Game 6 highway sport the place he scored the opening objective, letting his teammates and Sabers followers know they’d not be denied. The Canadiens could have their palms full in Round 2.
Scott: It was a tossup between Tuch and Tage Thompson for me, however I am unable to assist however lean in direction of Tuch for getting a couple of extra targets.
6. Kirill Kaprizov, Minnesota Wild
6GP, 2G, 7A, 9P
Hunter’s Rank: 2nd
Scott’s Rank: N/A
Hunter: When you are going to be paid the highest wage in NHL historical past, you higher do your half in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. That’s the place we’re at with Kirill Kaprizov, who subsequent season will make $17 million per yr, however this spring is tied amongst all energetic skaters in playoff factors with 9. Kaprizov, Matt Boldy and Quinn Hughes performed like superstars in Round 1 towards the Stars, combining for 10 targets and 26 factors, but it surely was Kaprizov who helped kick begin the offense with a three-point effort in Game 1. After the Stars received Games 2 and three, Kaprizov assisted on Boldy’s OT-winner in Game 4, then recorded one other three-point night time in Game 5 on the highway, organising the clinching Game 6.
Minnesota could have their work reduce out for them in Round 2 towards the Avalanche, but when the Wild advance to their first Western Conference Final since 2003, it is going to be the play of Kaprizov and co. that get them there.
Scott: I mentioned this with Wallstedt, however the solely purpose I did not have Kaprizov in my prime 10 is as a result of I do not see the Wild profitable it in comparison with a few of the different groups remaining, and there is so many sturdy candidates that it hurts all their possibilities of being the surefire candidate. He’s been wonderful, however he most likely goes a lot additional up my record if Minnesota beats Colorado.
7 GP, 4-3, .928 SV%, 2 SO
Hunter’s Rank: N/A
Scott’s Rank: fifth
Scott: Do I believe the Flyers have the strongest likelihood of profitable the Cup? Not actually. They’re good defensively, however there’s nonetheless some flaws on this group that I believe shall be uncovered taking part in towards a official Cup contender like the Hurricanes (as we have already seen in Game 1). But Vladar is perhaps the solely participant who is much and away the prime efficiency on their group in these playoffs. His 7.85 5v5 targets saved above anticipated was the finest efficiency from any goaltender in the first round, and once you take a look at the remainder of the Flyers’ outputs, there aren’t many memorable ones. Even Porter Martone, who had a powerful early impression towards the Pittsburgh Penguinssolely has three factors to date. Vladar allowed some robust targets at occasions, however he made up for it the remainder of the time by stifling the Penguins and getting the Flyers to the second round.
Hunter: Vladar was considered one of the standouts from the 2025-26 season however I used to be curious to see if he and the remainder of the Flyers may carry their regular-season success into the playoffs. It did not take lengthy to understand that they may, as Vladar’s 42-save shutout efficiency in Game 6 helped Philadelphia advance to Round 2. I’ll echo Scott in that I do not suppose the Flyers have a great shot towards the Hurricanes, but when they’ve any hope of an upset, Vladar might want to put up a Conn Smythe-like efficiency.
7GP, 2G, 4A, 6P
Hunter’s Rank: N/A
Scott’s Rank: sixth
Scott: In a playoff collection the place Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield felt a tad extra odd than ordinary, and the Habs acquired extra out of their depth than anticipated, there is not a real standout. But Hutson has been so invaluable to all of them yr with how he is developed his defensive play this season, and that was the case towards the Tampa Bay Lightning. When he is on the ice, the Habs play like a Cup contender. When he isn’t, they play like a fringe lottery group. Add in him tying for the group lead in factors and scoring an OT GWG, he is been tremendous necessary for the Habs shock victory over the Lightning.
Hunter: If we’re going by the identical definition as we do for the Hart Trophy, then Hutson is far-and-away the favourite. He discovered the scoresheet in all however one sport of their seven-game collection towards the Lightning and regarded like a world-class defender each time he was on the ice. Hearing the Bell Center get excited when he carried the puck out of the zone was a deal with by Round 1.
6GP, 1G, 8A, 9P
Hunter’s Rank: ninth
Scott’s Rank: ninth
Hunter: What’s humorous about Jack Eichel’s Round 1 efficiency was that regardless of recording a objective and two assists between Games 1 and three, Eichel and the Golden Knights by no means regarded snug, and it actually felt like the Utah Mammoth had been going to defeat them. But back-to-back extra time wins — led by Eichel and his 5 assists, 4 coming at even power — arrange a deciding Game 6. Vegas will go into Round 2 as slight favorites towards the Ducks, however the likes of the aforementioned LaCombe and their high-scoring younger ahead corps shall be a take a look at for the Golden Knights. If Eichel and co. can outscore each Anaheim and their very own goaltending points, that in itself can be MVP-worthy.
Scott: I really had Mitch Marner over Eichel on this case, though I believe it is a tremendous shut battle. Really, the deciding issue for me was how the narrative would sway the votes, and also you simply know if these two sustain their performances, the voters will learn the approach of Marner for his earlier playoff struggles with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
10. Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche
4 GP, 2 G, 2 A, 4 P
Hunter’s Rank: eighth
Scott’s Rank: N/A
Hunter: MacKinnon’s rating and the lack of Avalanche point out on this record speaks to how effectively Colorado dealt with the Kings in Round 1. Sure, no Avalanche skater went into Sunday night time in the prime 50 in factors, but it surely was MacKinnon’s efficiency in Game 4 that reminded hockey followers and pundits alike that he is acquired loads of gasoline left in the tank this spring. He scored the opening objective in the first interval then recorded an help and an empty netter in the third to sign it, sending Colorado to Round 2. The Wild will present the Avs a worthy opponent beginning Sunday, and you’ll count on MacKinnon to ramp up his personal play.
Scott: In a untimely Conn Smythe pool with so many groups with candidates nonetheless in the combine, and the way a lot the Avs offense was based mostly on depth greater than their star energy, MacKinnon falls by the wayside. We all know if the Avs sustain their run, he’ll be additional up the record ultimately. Nothing to see right here, transfer alongside.
EKDAY
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