With the initial round of the Stanley Cup playoffs concluded and eight teams eliminated, the pursuit of the MVP award for the postseason is beginning to sharpen into view.
Currently, the focus is primarily directed towards a single player who achieved multiple records through his heroic performance in a decisive Game 7.
Here is the debut edition of the Conn Smythe Watch for the 2025 playoffs. It`s important to remember that the NHL`s Conn Smythe Trophy recognizes a player`s performance throughout the entire postseason, not solely the final series. The recipient is chosen by an 18-member panel from the Professional Hockey Writers Association.
We consulted with over a dozen writers actively covering the playoffs to gather their top three contenders for the Conn Smythe Trophy.
Below is an overview of the players currently considered front-runners for MVP honors, alongside others who are poised to enter the Conn Smythe discussion.
The Current MVP Front-Runner
His `Revenge Tour` against his former team, the Colorado Avalanche, culminated spectacularly with 11 points (five goals, six assists) across the final three games of their series. This included a third-period hat trick and an assist on Wyatt Johnston`s game-tying goal late in regulation during the Stars` crucial Game 7 victory.
Rantanen made history as the first player in NHL history to record four-point periods in consecutive games, whether in the regular season or playoffs. He`s also the first player to score a third-period hat trick in a Game 7 and the first with at least 10 points combined in Games 5 through 7 of a series. Overall, Rantanen has accumulated 12 points through seven games.
General Manager Jim Nill awarded Rantanen an eight-year, $96 million contract extension after acquiring him from the Carolina Hurricanes, banking on his regular-season dominance (705 points in 652 career games) and his reputation for clutch playoff performances, having now tallied 113 points in 88 career postseason games.
In our poll of voters, Rantanen was ranked first on every ballot except one. He is undeniably the leading candidate for playoff MVP at this stage, and deservedly so.
Other Leading Contenders
While there`s a noticeable gap between Rantanen and the two `Connors` in the MVP race, both Kyle Connor and Connor McDavid are building persuasive arguments for themselves.
The Jets` winger posted 12 points over seven games against the St. Louis Blues. His production helped offset the team`s goaltending challenges – notably, a double Vezina Trophy winner being pulled in three road games – and propelled Winnipeg to a first-round victory.
Connor delivered a spectacular Game 7 performance, setting up Cole Perfetti`s two goals and adding a secondary assist on Adam Lowry`s double-overtime winner. He elevated his game despite the absence of his linemate and the team`s second-leading scorer, Mark Scheifele, guiding Winnipeg past the first round for the first time in three postseasons.
It still feels somewhat remarkable to consider McDavid as the most recent Conn Smythe recipient, having earned the award after Edmonton`s seven-game loss to Florida in the Stanley Cup Final. When McDavid is in the playoffs, he`s producing points. The Edmonton superstar has accumulated 110 points in 63 playoff games over the past five seasons, outpacing teammate Leon Draisaitl by 14 points.
McDavid led the Oilers with 11 points (two goals, nine assists) in their first-round triumph over the Los Angeles Kings. The Kings had hoped for a different outcome this time, having been eliminated by Edmonton in the first round for three consecutive seasons. It was different in one aspect: McDavid averaged `only` 1.83 points per game against the Kings in this six-game series win, compared to the 2.00 points per game he averaged in the three previous series victories against Los Angeles.
Our voters placed McDavid slightly ahead of Connor on their ballots, solidifying them as the clear second and third choices behind Rantanen at this juncture of the playoffs.
Making a Strong Case
Several voters expressed surprise at including a Maple Leafs player among the top MVP contenders, yet here we are. Toronto advanced past Ottawa in the first round and won Game 1 against the Florida Panthers, significantly aided by Nylander`s offensive contributions.
He stands out among the `Core Four` for his playoff impact, scoring 20 goals in 36 games since the 2020-21 season – seven more than Auston Matthews has scored in that same period.
Nylander has recorded points in every game for the Leafs this postseason, except for one: Linus Ullmark`s Game 5 shutout for Ottawa. However, `Willy Styles` rebounded forcefully in Game 6 with two goals and an assist in Toronto`s series-clinching elimination of the Senators. He has contributed three goals and two assists in the Leafs` Game 1 victories in each round, demonstrating his ability to set the pace and finish strong.
Thompson is the sole goaltender to appear on any of our ballots, receiving recognition from a few voters. The Capitals netminder posted a .923 save percentage and a 2.23 goals-against average over five games against the Canadiens. His playing five games against Montreal was unexpected, especially after he had to be helped off the ice during Washington`s Game 3 loss. Nevertheless, Thompson returned for the Capitals` wins in Games 4 and 5, allowing only three goals on 47 shots.
These were the only additional players mentioned on our voters` ballots. However, other players could easily play their way into the conversation as the postseason advances.
Players on the Cusp
Astonishingly, the Oilers eliminated the Kings in Game 6 without any point contributions from Draisaitl. However, the Edmonton star made his impact felt in Game 1 against Vegas with an assist and the game-tying goal, marking his fourth goal of the postseason. Draisaitl is currently tied for the second-most points in the postseason with 12 through seven games.
Bouchard is still one point behind the now-eliminated Cam Fowler of St. Louis for the most points by a defenseman this postseason. However, the `Bouch Bombs` are likely to continue given the Oilers` ongoing success, as Bouchard has recorded nine points (four goals, five assists) in seven games.
The dynamic duo for the Golden Knights. Stone leads Vegas with four goals, while both players have accumulated six points each.
They didn`t start strong against St. Louis but have found the scoreboard in four consecutive games, including Stone`s two goals in Game 1 against Edmonton.
While Rantanen has rightfully captured the spotlight, Wyatt Johnston`s contributions to the Stars should not be overlooked. His power-play goal gave Dallas a 3-2 lead in Game 7 with under four minutes remaining against the Avalanche. He has registered seven points in seven games.
Oettinger held firm in the crucial final moments of Game 7 and has posted solid numbers so far in the postseason, with a .911 save percentage and a 2.85 goals-against average.
Marner is just behind Nylander with nine points in seven games, including eight assists. He leads the team with five points on the power play. The question is, what is a Conn Smythe Trophy worth during a contract year?
Bennett leads the Panthers with four goals in six games. As the Maple Leafs have experienced, he frequently makes an impact that goes beyond the score sheet, sometimes in ways that alter the course of a game.
Andersen benefits from playing behind an excellent defensive team with a forechecking system that keeps opponents away from his net. However, when opportunities arise, the veteran goaltender has been formidable, posting a .935 save percentage and a 1.45 goals-against average this postseason.
Slavin secured Game 1 of the Hurricanes` second-round series against the Capitals with an overtime goal. His other playoff goal was a crushing blow in Carolina`s 5-2 Game 4 win over New Jersey. Yet, scoring is secondary for Slavin; his value lies in his ice time (leading the Hurricanes at 24:28) and his defensive play, particularly as the anchor of their dominant penalty kill unit. Furthermore, Slavin enjoys considerable voter goodwill from his performance in the 4 Nations Face-Off.
Strome leads the Capitals with nine points and was one of the top scorers in the opening round. Ovechkin previously won the Conn Smythe in 2018 when the Capitals claimed the Stanley Cup. He recorded four goals and an assist in their five-game series win over the Montreal Canadiens. Washington will require more performances like that in a tight-checking series against the Hurricanes.
Should Ovechkin be the driving force behind the Capitals in the playoffs, could voters resist honoring his NHL record-breaking season with another playoff MVP award?
