Ok hockey fans so the 2024 NHL Playoffs are amongst us. Hockey fans around the Globe are giddy with anticipation of which of the sixteen post season teams will capture hockey’s Holy Grail, the Stanley Cup. The Conn Smythe Trophy is awarded annually to the most valuable player (MVP) of his team during the National Hockey League’s Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Anyone remember the last player (non-goalie) to win the Conn Smythe for a Canadian-based team? If you guess Al MacInnis of the Calgary Flames in 1989 you would be correct.
We thought it would be fun to look at playoff MVP candidates from each of the playoff teams.
NHL Conn Smythe Trophy Candidates by Team
Here are our picks for which players have a chance to capture the playoff MVP glory. For each of the sixteen post season teams we have selected a Favourite and a Dark Horse MVP pick.
Eastern Conference Playoff MVP Candidates
Boston Bruins 
Favourite: David Pastrnak
Dark Horse: Jeremy Swayman
Carolina Hurricanes 
Favourite: Sebastian Aho
Dark Horse: Jaccob Slavin
Florida Panthers 
Favourite: Matthew Tkachuk
Dark Horse: Brandon Montour
New York Islanders 
Favourite: Semyon Varlamov
Dark Horse: Matt Barzal
New York Rangers 
Favourite: Igor Shesterkin
Dark Horse: Adam Fox
Tampa Bay Lightning 
Favourite: Nikita Kucherov
Dark Horse: Brandon Hagel
Toronto Maple Leafs 
Favourite: Auston Matthews
Dark Horse: Morgan Reilly
Washington Capitals 
Favourite: Tom Wilson
Dark Horse: Max Pacioretty
Western Conference
Colorado Avalanche 
Favourite: Nathan MacKinnon
Dark Horse: Alex Georgiev
Dallas Stars 
Favourite: Jake Oettinger
Dark Horse: Joe Pavelski
Edmonton Oilers 
Favourite: Connor McDavid
Dark Horse: Mattias Ekholm
Los Angeles Kings 
Favourite: Anze Kopitar
Dark Horse: Drew Doughty
Nashville Predators 
Favourite: Roman Josi
Dark Horse: Jusse Sarros
Vancouver Canucks 
Favourite: Thatcher Demko
Dark Horse: Elias Pettersson
Vegas Golden Knights 
Favourite: Mark Stone
Dark Horse: Adin Hill
Winnipeg Jets: 
Favourite: Connor Hellebucyk
Dark Horse: Josh Morrissey
There you have it., our pre-playoff picks for Stanley Cup playoff MVP. Here is a look at the all-time winners of the Conn Smythe Trophy:
https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-conn-smythe-trophy-winners-complete-list-287709808
