🏒 Conn Smythe Odds 2026: Betting Favorites & Predictions Ahead of Conference Finals

There are only four teams remaining in the hunt for the Stanley Cup, and once one of them hoists it, an MVP will be crowned. We're looking at the latest Conn Smythe odds and delving into our best bets for each of the four remaining teams. 

Whether the Vegas Golden Knights, Colorado Avalanche, Montreal Canadiens, or Carolina Hurricanes is crowned the champion, there will be one player that has stood out above the others in paving the way to glory. 

📊 Conn Smythe odds entering the conference finals 

2026 Conn Smythe Trophy odds via our best NHL betting sites.

🏆 Conn Smythe Trophy favorites

Here's a breakdown of the top Conn Smythe Trophy betting favorite from each of the four remaining teams, and why they could host the trophy if their team wins it all.

Colorado Avalanche: Nathan MacKinnon (+180)

MacKinnon isn't just the Avs Conn Smythe leader, he's the overall leader. Colorado's points leader (six goals and seven assists through nine games). It's hardly a shock, he's also the favorite on the Hart Trophy odds after leading the league in goals for the first time in his career.  

It's hard to see anyone other than MacKinnon claiming the title if the Avalanche succeed, as the Stanley Cup odds suggest they will. However, the value has disappeared here over the past couple of weeks, and if you really want to search value on the Avalanche you'd need to look to Cale Makar (+1400).

Vegas Golden Knights: Mitch Marner (+1200)

Surely this is what all Toronto Maple Leafs fans want to see: Marner, the player they helped drive out of town, leads the entire postseason in points with 18 (seven goals, 11 assists). Like Colorado, Vegas has been pushing through the postseason on the strength of its offense. If they're to succeed, that's likely to remain the case. 

Teammate Jack Eichel (+2200) is only three points off the pace, and if he makes up that ground that could easily emerge as the favorite from the Golden Knights. 

Carolina Hurricanes: Frederick Andersen (+400)

While my conference finals predictions don't necessarily think the Hurricanes get past the Canadiens, if they do, it will be on the play of Andersen. And, if they get past Montreal and shut down one of Colorado or Vegas, it will again be on the play of Andersen. 

His postseason play has been otherworldly, posting a 1.12 GAA with a .950 SV%. Those numbers are probably unsustainable, but if they are sustained, this is the winning bet. There's no one else on the Canes that will win the award over Andersen.

Montreal Canadiens: Jakub Dobes (+2200)

The Canadiens are perhaps the most interesting case for Conn Smythe MVP. Dobes has been (mostly) stellar though two rounds, especially coming up clutch in back-to-back Game 7s. But he's also had some softer showings, and it's perhaps not so cut-and-dry that he'd win the award.

D-Man Lane Hutson (+2800) has emerged as an absolute superstar, while Nick Suzuki (+3500) is the real household name that carries the same weight for Montreal as someone like MacKinnon or Marner does for their respective teams. 

Another interesting flier play is Alex Newhook (+10000). That's some recency bias, but if he can continue with his heater he might make a case for himself. His seven goals lead the team, nearly more than double the next closest. If that keeps up, he'll be in the running. 

🗒️ Conn Smythe Trophy betting strategy

The Conn Smythe Trophy is awarded to the Most Valuable Player of the entire Stanley Cup Playoffs, rather than just the championship round. It's why the play of the four players above, and some of the alternate suggestions, are already impacting the market.

As far as betting history goes, there are two overarching trends to keep in mind: it is almost always a skater (not a goalie - although Andersen might have something to say about that if Carolina wins) on the team that wins the Stanley Cup. Only one in the last 13 seasons has a goalie claimed the award, and 71.7% of the winners have been forwards or defensemen.

Don't be too cute here: only six players have won the Conn Smythe without winning the Stanley Cup that season, although Connor McDavid did it two seasons ago.