All Hail Cale: Makar Tops Conn Smythe Power Rankings
As expected, the Avalanche have punched their ticket to the Stanley Cup Final, sweeping the Edmonton Oilers in the Western Conference Final and they remain the favorites to win the Stanley Cup. While there are many contributors to any team making a deep playoff run, defenseman Cale Makar and center Nathan MacKinnon have established that they are the prime Conn Smythe candidates on the Avalanche.
Given that the vast majority of Conn Smythe winners ultimately play for the Cup winner, that lays the foundation for Makar and MacKinnon as top Conn Smythe candidates.
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Here is a look at the top contenders for Playoff MVP:
Cale Makar
After putting up five points in the clinching win against Edmonton, Makar now has 22 points (5 goals, 17 assists) in 14 playoff games, giving him 1.57 points per game (ppg).
In the history of the National Hockey League, there have been two defensemen to play more than 10 games in a postseason and finish with a higher points per game — Paul Coffey, who scored 37 points in 18 games (2.06 ppg) for the Edmonton Oilers in 1984-1985, and Bobby Orr, who tallied 24 points (5 G, 19 A) in 15 games (1.60 ppg) for the Boston Bruins in 1971-1972. Hanging in that class, Makar is a deserving favorite to win the Conn Smythe at this point.
Nathan MacKinnon
It speaks to Makar’s rapid ascension that he is considered the favorite for the Conn Smythe when MacKinnon has 18 points in 14 playoff games and tied for the second in the postseason with 11 goals. He has generated an outrageous 82 shots on goal in 14 games (5.86 per game), so MacKinnon is dominating on a consistent basis.
With Nazem Kadri injured and his return date up in the air, MacKinnon will need to remain highly productive for the Avalanche to finish their Cup quest.
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Igor Shesterkin
He was the best goalie in the league during the regular season and, among goaltenders to play at least 10 games in the playoffs, Shesterkin’s .930 save percentage is tops. With the New York Rangers tending to struggle defensively, Shesterkin has been critical to their postseason success. He has saved 21.76 goals above expected (GSAA) in 17 playoff games, a massive difference maker.
Andrei Vasilevskiy
Last year’s winner of the Conn Smythe, Vasilevskiy has been a huge part of the Tampa Bay Lightning playoff run again but did show some vulnerability in the first two losses against the Rangers in the Eastern Conference Final.
If the Lightning rally to win the series and go on to win a third straight Stanley Cup, the odds are pretty good that Vasilevskiy will have played well enough to warrant Conn Smythe consideration.
Nikita Kucherov
It says a lot about Kucherov’s ridiculous talent that he has 20 points (6 G, 14 A) in 14 playoff games and the prevailing sentiment has been that he has not quite been at his best in the playoffs. But he is immensely important for the Lightning’s playoff hopes, especially with center Brayden Point out of the lineup since Game 7 in the first round against Toronto.
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Mika Zibanejad
For the Rangers to make this deep playoff run, they need players to step up their game in the postseason, and their top center has risen to the challenge. Zibanejad ranks third in playoff scoring right now, with 24 points (10 G, 14 A) in 17 games, 11 of which are on the power play. He's behind only Edmonton’s Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, who both have 32 points but are now out of the playoffs.
Victor Hedman
Even with 13 points (2 G, 11 A) and 49 shots on goal in 14 games, the Lightning blueliner is flying under the radar a bit. Not easy for a 6-foot-6 defenseman who logs just under 25 minutes per game.
A strong finish against the Rangers and, potentially, against the Avalanche in the Cup Final could create an opportunity for Hedman, who won the Conn Smythe in 2020.
Adam Fox
Last season’s Norris Trophy winner as the league’s top defenseman, Fox has been a standout for the Rangers in this year’s playoffs, putting up 23 points (5 G, 18 A) in 17 games. There is certainly a path to Fox winning the Conn Smythe but would probably require Shesterkin to falter or get injured.
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