🏒 Conn Smythe Predictions: Who Will Win NHL Playoff MVP Between Hurricanes and Golden Knights?

The NHL playoff MVP picture is crystal clear heading into the Stanley Cup Final between the Vegas Golden Knights and Carolina Hurricanes, with four primary contenders for the Conn Smythe Trophy.

I'm breaking the latest betting odds and making my Conn Smythe predictions, with a pick from each team in what should be a tightly-contested final series.

📊 Conn Smythe Trophy odds 2026

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

🏆 Conn Smythe favorites

There are four players with odds of +1000 or shorter heading into the Stanley Cup Final, including three Hurricanes.

Mitch Marner (+200)

Mitch Marner is the betting favorite to win the Conn Smythe Trophy ahead of the final. The star forward is in his first season with the Golden Knights and certainly has narrative on his side after falling short in the playoffs for years with the Maple Leafs.

Entering his first career Stanley Cup Final, Marner leads the postseason in points with 21. That's easily a career high in a single playoff run for the Canadian-born forward. One thing to note, however: of the last 10 Conn Smythe Trophy winners, only two led the postseason in points. That shows that being the top point-getter isn't necessarily the best indicator for who will be named playoff MVP.

But Marner is getting it done on both sides of the ice. On top of his scoring, he's also playing elite defense and has tallied four shorthanded points. The spotlight will be on Marner in this series, and it's hard to see him not claiming the Conn Smythe if he keeps up this pace and Vegas comes out on top.

Frederik Andersen (+225)

The Hurricanes' Frederik Andersen has never looked better than he has this postseason, going 12-1 while leading the field in save percentage and goals against average (min. five games).

Those aren't empty stats either, as Andersen has been fantastic in stopping high-danger opportunities. Only the Canadiens' Jakub Dobes has more goals saved above expected than Andersen.

It was unclear if Andersen would even be the starter heading into the playoffs after his worst regular season since joining the Hurricanes, but the veteran netminder has made the best of his opportunity and is one series victory away from capping off what's been a fantastic career.

Taylor Hall (+700)

I don't think any player exemplifies the Hurricanes' ethos better right now than Taylor Hall, and the veteran forward has only been in Carolina for one full season.

Hall is playing an incredible do-it-all, high-energy game He's been the Hurricanes' standout forward on both ends throughout the playoffs. He leads Carolina in points and assists, anchoring the team's dominant second line. I'm not sure there's been a single game this postseason where Hall's game hasn't jumped off the screen.

A Stanley Cup championship and Conn Smythe honor would be the final feather in the cap of the former first overall pick and one-time Hart Trophy winner.

Logan Stankoven (+1000)

Logan Stankoven has been a dominant goal scorer right from the jump of Game 1 of the first round. Carolina's second line of Hall, Stankoven, and Jackson has been the league's preeminent unit this postseason, and Stankoven is the clear finisher of that group.

He leads the Hurricanes in goals and is averaging 0.69 scored per game, the best rate among all players who appeared in more than one round. After a quiet stretch to begin the Eastern Conference Final, Stankoven scored in two straight games to knock out the Canadiens ahead of the Stanley Cup Final. He has three game-winning goals in the 2026 playoffs.

Two of the last three Conn Smythe Trophy winners led the postseason in goals (Sam Bennett, Jonathan Marchessault).

🔮 Conn Smythe predictions

I'm making a Conn Smythe Trophy prediction from each team, backing one player from the Golden Knights and one from the Hurricanes ahead of a Stanley Cup Final that will likely go down to the wire.

Golden Knights prediction: Mitch Marner

If the Golden Knights win the Stanley Cup, Marner will win the Conn Smythe Trophy. It really is that simple.

He's already flipped the long-held narrative of him being a playoff no-show, and Marner finishing the job will be the story of a Vegas victory against the Hurricanes. That's why I don't see much value in placing a wager on any other Golden Knight to take home the individual honor.

Best bet: Marner to win Conn Smythe Trophy (+185 via FanDuel)

Hurricanes prediction: Logan Stankoven

There are three real contenders to win the Conn Smythe for the Hurricanes, who are favored to win the Cup, but I'm backing Stankoven.

The 23-year-old has scored big goals throughout the playoffs for Carolina, and that flashy output puts him in line for playoff MVP among a team that prides itself on depth and a strong defensive structure. I think three goals from Stankoven in the final (which he's accomplished in two of three series) would be enough for him to become one of the youngest Conn Smythe winners in history.

Best bet: Stankoven to win Conn Smythe Trophy (+850 via DraftKings)