NHL Playoffs: Who Will Bring Home the 2023 Conn Smythe Trophy?

The Conn Smythe Trophy has been awarded to the Most Valuable Player in the Stanley Cup Playoffs since 1964. Instead of being limited to a certain series, the award covers the entire playoffs. The list of former Smythe winners is impressive, and one more name will be added to that list in June.

While we await the Stanley Cup Finals to be set, we are looking to get some futures bet in before then. If you are looking to do some hockey betting, this future bet could be a great chance to boost your profits.

Below we will briefly break down the top five candidates, sharing their case to win it along with their odds.

If you’re wondering how the Panthers have had such success in this year’s playoffs, look no further than Bobrovsky. The veteran goalie has been incredible in the postseason, allowing 2.15 goals per game and saving 93.5% of shots. Those numbers are impressive, especially considering he has seen the most shots than any goalie in these playoffs. If you believe in this Panthers team, Bobrovsky is the best bet to win the Conn Smythe Trophy.

There were a lot of questions about Eichel coming into the season, as he had an ugly exit from Buffalo and played just 55 games over the previous two seasons. Injuries were mounting and experts viewed him as a question mark, but those doubts are gone now. He has been Vegas’s top weapon in the playoffs, with six goals and ten assists so far. Those numbers are even more impressive when you factor in that he is 70th in shifts during their run (315). Expect to see a lot of him in the Finals, which makes him a great bet at +280.

The Panthers stunned the NHL by trading away star forward Jonathan Huberdeau and key defensemen MacKenzie Weegar for Tkachuk in the offseason. The move was made after a disappointing first round exit for Florida, and for most of this season it seemed like a bad trade. Those doubts have been put to bed as the 25-year-old has led this Panthers offense in the playoffs. Tkachuk has the thirteenth most points (19), the fifth most goals (7), and the second most assists (12) in this postseason. The team just plays better when he’s on the ice, as evidenced by his playoff-leading +/- of 12. Bobrovsky is the favored Panther to win the Conn Smythe, but at +550, taking Tkachuk offers a ton of value.

Mark Stone has been a big part of Vegas’s charge through the playoffs. He has 19 points so far but has been especially good in their current matchup with Dallas. He has three points through the first three games of the series and has been a big part of each win. However, Stone will be competing against teammates Eichel and Marchessault. That means he’ll need to outperform both AND likely have Vegas win the Stanley Cup. While the odds are tempting, he will need to do a lot to separate himself through the remainder of their run.

The veteran center has been fantastic for Vegas during the postseason, with three points over their last two games. He has two multi-goal games during their run, including three that helped eliminate the Oilers in game 6. He has nine points over his last five games, meaning his is one of the hottest players still in the playoffs. While he’s not considered nearly as big of a favorite as the rest of this list, his ability to score in bunches could help win him the Conn Smythe. While he won’t be our top choice, placing a smaller bet on him could be a wise move.