The Conn Smythe Trophy is awarded to the NHL’s Most Valuable Player during the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Last year, Edmonton’s Connor McDavid won the Conn Smythe in a losing cause as the Oilers lost 2-1 in game seven to the Florida Panthers. With the Oilers and Panthers set to meet in the Finals for a second consecutive season, McDavid is again a favourite to win.
The Hockey Fanatic has looked at some of the odds of players favoured to win the Conn Smythe, and we have decided to pick the top players who should be considered as forerunners to win the Conn Smythe.
Hockey Fanatic’s 2025 Conn Smythe Faves
Ranked in order from whom we feel is deserving of playoff MVP as we await the start of the Stanley Cup finals.
#1. Connor McDavid – Edmonton Oilers – Oilers superstar Connor McDavid is the favorite with most odds-makers to win the Conn Smythe Trophy for the second year in a row. Heading into the Finals, McDavid leads all players with 26 points. DraftKings lists McDavid as +120 to win the Conn Smythe. Should the Oilers win the Stanley Cup how do you not give the MVP to Connor McDavid?
#2. Leon Draisaitl – Edmonton Oilers – the Oilers other nuclear weapon Leon Draisaitl is only one point behind McDavid going into the finals with 25 points, but it’s been his defensive play that has been he story through the first three rounds. DraftKings has Draisaitl at +750 to win the Conn Smythe.
#3. Aleksander Barkov – Florida Panthers – the captain of the Panthers, Barkov’s overall play in the post season has been spectacular. He’s currently fifth in points for all players with 17 heading into the SCF. DraftKings has Barkov at +550 to win the Conn Smythe Trophy.
#4. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins – Edmonton Oilers – The Oilers unsung hero, Nugent-Hopkins has been dynamite all playoffs and is currently fourth in points (18) heading into the Stanley Cup Finals. With his multi-point outings in the first four games, Nugent-Hopkins tied a record for most points in the first four games of a conference final. He is the first Edmonton Oiler since the legendary Wayne Gretzky (1988) to start a playoff series with four consecutive multi-point games. ESPN has Nugent-Hopkins at 100-1 to win the Conn Smythe. DraftKings has the Nuge at +25,000.
#5. Sergei Bobrovsky – Florida Panthers – The Panthers leads all playoff netminders in wins (12) and Goals Against Average (2.11). His .912 save percentage is third (but first amongst active teams). DraftKings has Bobrovsky at +250 to win the Conn Smythe.
#6. Stuart Skinner – Edmonton Oilers – while his numbers don’t tell the full story, Stuart Skinner was arguably the best goaltender of all four teams competing in the Conference Finals. He leads playoff tendies with three shutouts (ties with Bobrovsky) and should he outperform Bobrovsky in the Finals, Skinner could become the Conn Smythe Trophy winner. DraftKings have Skinner at +5000 to capture the Conn Smythe.
#7. Sam Bennett – Florida Panthers – Bennett leads all playoff performers in goals with ten through the first three rounds of the playoffs. He’s having another strong post season. DraftKings has Bennett at +3000 to win the Conn Smythe.
#8. Evan Bouchard – Edmonton Oilers – Evan Bouchard is tied for fifth in NHL playoff scoring with 17 points heading into the Finals. He’s the only defenseman in the top 14 in points and leads all rearguards in playoff goals with six. DraftKings has Bouchard at +15,000 to win the Conn Smythe.
#9. Carter Verhaeghe – Florida Panthers – Verhaeghe has 14 points with six goals, two of which were game winners through the first three playoff rounds. He’s a longshot at +4000 according to DraftKings to win the Conn Smythe.
#10. Brad Marchand – Florida Panthers – with 14 points through the first three rounds, Marchand is proving he still has some gas in the tank. DraftKings has Marchand at +7500 to take home the Conn Smythe as the Most Valuable Player in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
It was cool that Connor McDavid was the first player from a Canadian-based team to win the Conn Smythe Trophy since 1993. Could he repeat this feat and win it a second year in a row? We are not betting against him.
