2022 NHL Playoffs: Nathan MacKinnon Leads the Way in the Conn Smythe Power Rankings

The Conn Smythe Trophy is awarded annually to the NHL’s most valuable player to his team during the playoffs, and sportsbooks have odds up for the 2022 winner. 

Of the past 40 Conn Smythe Trophy winners, only twice has a player won the award without also winning the Stanley Cup. Goaltenders Ron Hextall and Jean-Sebastien Giguere achieved the feat in 1987 and 2001.

Additionally, among the past 40 winners, there have been just five wingers and seven defensemen to win the Conn Smythe. Center was the most common position, with 16 pivots taking the honors and 12 goaltenders have won the award.

With all that in mind, determining which team will win the Stanley Cup is vital to betting on the Conn Smythe winner.

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Conn Smythe Player Rankings

1. Nathan MacKinnon, COL (+1400)

The Avalanche are the favorites (+320) to win the Stanley Cup, and MacKinnon is coming off one of his best seasons with 32 goals, 56 assists, and 3.86 points per 60 minutes across just 65 games. He’s also scored 40 points – 17 goals – through 25 playoff games the past two years. 

2. Aleksander Barkov, FLA (+2400)

While Florida paced the NHL in goals per game, and Barkov went off for 39 tallies, 49 helpers and 3.88 points per 60 minutes over 67 contests, it’ll be the Finn’s defensive and possession impact that stands out. After all, Barkov has a 58.5 Corsi For percentage at five-on-five over the past two years while playing primarily against the opposition’s top players.

3. Auston Matthews, TOR (+1500)

No. 34 has led the NHL in goals in consecutive seasons and even-strength goals in each of the past three years, and the Maple Leafs are short favorites (-122) to top the reigning Stanley Cup Champions in Round 1. If Toronto (+1000) wins the Stanley Cup, Matthews will almost certainly win the Conn Smythe Trophy – an admittedly huge if.

4. Matthew Tkachuk, CGY (+2400)

After recording arguably the quietest 42-goal, 104-point campaign in recent memory, Tkachuk enters the postseason on the heels of a career-best regular season. And, his game is probably even better suited for the postseason style of play. 

5. Connor McDavid, EDM (+2600)

With Edmonton a sizable favorite (-230) to win Round 1 over the Kings, McDavid also enters on an elite roll consisting of 16 goals and 32 assists through 28 games the past two months. Edmonton has also gone 20-6-3 during the noted heater, so the four-time Art Ross winner and the Oilers might be peaking at just the right time.

6. Cale Makar, COL (+1500)

Since entering the league, Makar has paced all blueliners in goals and points per 60 minutes, and he’s coming off his best offensive campaign. Add a career 56.2 Corsi For percentage at five-on-five during the regular season to Makar’s 31 points through 35 career postseason games, and the 23-year-old defenseman is rightly priced as a favorite to win the Conn Smythe.  

7. Igor Shesterkin, NYR (+2200)

The best goaltender during the regular season, Shesterkin led the league in save percentage, GAA, and goals saved above average. Advancing out of the Metropolitan Division might also be the easiest path through the first two rounds of the playoffs, and the Blueshirts will go as far as Shesterkin takes them.

8. Jonathan Huberdeau, FLA (+1900)

The 28-year-old winger led the league with 85 assists this season and is the offensive focal point for the Panthers. Florida has the second shortest odds (+550) to win the Stanley Cup, so Huberdeau has an avenue to winning the Conn Smythe Trophy if he leads the Cats in scoring during a championship run.

9. Andrei Vasilevskiy, TB (+4200)

Vasilevskiy didn’t impress down the stretch with a mediocre 10-10-1 record, and .910 save percentage through the final two months of the season. Still, winning back-to-back Stanley Cup Championships and last season’s Conn Smythe Trophy warrants attention. Plus, would it surprise anyone if Vasilevskiy was at his best again this spring?

10. Nikita Kucherov, TB (+2500)

The Lightning are loaded with stars, so it isn’t entirely shocking that Kucherov was overlooked for the Conn Smythe Trophy the past two seasons. However, he’s racked up 66 points through just 48 postseason games to pace the league the past two years. Tampa Bay’s top scorer will be a favorite to win the award this year if the Lightning pull off the three-peat.

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