With only four teams remaining in contention for the Stanley Cup, the competition for the NHL postseason`s most valuable player is intensifying and involves a larger group of candidates.
Here is the latest Conn Smythe Watch for the 2025 playoffs. We surveyed more than two dozen national and beat writers currently covering the conference finals, asking for their top three MVP picks after the first two rounds of play. All votes were gathered and tabulated before the commencement of Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals.
It`s important to remember that in the NHL, the Conn Smythe Trophy is awarded based on a player`s performance throughout the *entire* postseason, not solely the final championship series. The recipient is chosen by an 18-person panel comprised of members from the Professional Hockey Writers Association.
Leading the MVP Race
Mikko Rantanen, RW, Dallas Stars
For the second consecutive round, Rantanen sits atop the Conn Smythe Watch list, having played a crucial role in guiding the Dallas Stars to their third straight conference finals appearance. Across 13 playoff games, he leads all players in scoring with 19 points, including a postseason-high nine goals.
Rantanen was the only player to appear on every ballot we collected from the writers. Only two voters placed him anywhere other than first for the Conn Smythe – one national writer ranked him second, and a beat writer put him third on their ballot.
As Dallas coach Peter DeBoer commented, Rantanen appears to be playing `on a mission.` He was exceptionally dominant against his former teammates from Colorado, the team that traded him earlier this season rather than signing him to a contract extension. He continued to inflict damage against the Winnipeg Jets in the second round, highlighted by a Game 1 hat trick on the road.
Rantanen`s production cooled slightly later in the series against Winnipeg, registering one assist in the final three games. However, his significant accomplishments up to that point solidified his position as the clear MVP favorite in the eyes of our panelists. He is the first player in NHL history with five three-point games through a team`s first 10 playoff games in a single postseason. He set another NHL record by either scoring or assisting on 13 consecutive goals for his team. At one stage, Rantanen had factored in on 15 of 16 goals scored by Dallas.
One voter noted that his `crazy solo efforts he has had in a couple of games` make him an obvious choice.
Another voter simply stated: `It`s almost hard to believe the dominance he`s displayed.`
One significant factor favoring Rantanen is the compelling narrative surrounding him. His `revenge tour` against the Avalanche in the first round was part of a broader story about proving his worth following his substantial new contract with Dallas and demonstrating his ability to excel as an offensive star without sharing the ice with Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar.
`When you think about his journey this year, he`s been through a lot,` DeBoer said. `There`s been a lot written about him. There`s been a lot said about him. There`s been a lot of doubters out there.`
Thus far, Rantanen has effectively silenced those doubters.
Other Top Contenders
Frederik Andersen, G, Carolina Hurricanes
Connor McDavid, C, Edmonton Oilers
It`s worth reiterating here that the ballot tabulation was completed before Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals.
Andersen was the clear second choice among voters before facing the Panthers. He was ranked second for playoff MVP on 47% of the ballots we surveyed.
Prior to Game 1, he had surrendered only 12 goals in nine games, boasting a .937 save percentage and a remarkable 1.36 goals-against average. `His stats are mind-blowing when you think about how good Washington`s offense should have been in that series,` commented one voter.
After allowing five goals on 20 shots to Florida in Carolina`s Game 1 loss – though not all were entirely his fault – Andersen`s save percentage dropped to .919 while his goals-against average rose to 1.74.
It`s possible that Andersen and Florida goalie Sergei Bobrovsky could swap positions in this ranking as the series progresses. However, it was only one game, and Andersen`s statistics in home games leading up to that loss against the Panthers were notably strong.
McDavid was also included in the top three in the previous round`s watch. In the 2024 postseason, the Edmonton star became only the second player in NHL history to win the Conn Smythe in a losing effort, as the Oilers were defeated by the Panthers in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final. Now, he aims to become the fourth player ever – and the first since Sidney Crosby (2016-17) – to claim consecutive Conn Smythe trophies.
Through 11 games, McDavid has accumulated 17 points (three goals, 14 assists). His average of 1.55 points per game leads all players still competing in the postseason. Through 11 games last season, McDavid had 21 points. However, a defining characteristic of this Oilers` push to the conference finals is that they haven`t solely relied on McDavid and Leon Draisaitl to carry the load themselves. This might be reflected in the voting patterns.
Notably, McDavid is the favorite to win the Conn Smythe on ESPN BET, listed at +325 as of Tuesday night, slightly ahead of Rantanen (+350).
Players Making Their Case
Jake Oettinger, G, Dallas Stars
Leon Draisaitl, C, Edmonton Oilers
These two players received the next highest number of votes outside the top three contenders.
It was noteworthy that one beat writer ranked Oettinger first overall on their ballot, with Rantanen third. This could reflect some recency bias: Rantanen performed much of his damage towards the end of the first round and early in the second, while Oettinger was a difference-maker in all four of the Stars` victories against Winnipeg, including a crucial Game 7 where he stopped 22 of 23 shots. As dominant as Rantanen was in Game 7 against the Avalanche in the first round, Oettinger made 25 saves and was outstanding late in that elimination game to preserve the win.
Overall, Oettinger has a .919 save percentage and a 2.47 goals-against average through 13 games for Dallas. However, he has ground to make up in the voting; the Stars goalie appeared on only three ballots in total, receiving one first-place and two second-place votes.
Draisaitl is close behind McDavid in scoring with five goals and 11 assists in 11 games for the Oilers. He made the top three on four ballots, earning two second-place and two third-place votes.
Working in his favor are two critical overtime goals: one in Game 4 against the Los Angeles Kings in the opening round to tie their series, and another in Game 2 in Las Vegas to give the Oilers a 2-0 series lead. He also provided the primary assist on Kasperi Kapanen`s series-clinching goal in Game 5 against Vegas.
These significant moments counterbalance one of Draisaitl`s less favorable points in the postseason, when Reilly Smith of the Golden Knights scored with just 0.4 seconds left in Game 3 on a shot that deflected off Draisaitl`s stick.
One aspect to consider regarding Draisaitl`s MVP case is the praise he is receiving for his strong two-way game. As the Oilers have transformed into one of the best defensive teams in the postseason, achieving back-to-back shutouts to eliminate the Golden Knights, Draisaitl could earn recognition for his defensive contributions.
`You often think of those guys who are putting up a lot of points, they neglect the defensive responsibilities,` Edmonton coach Kris Knoblauch commented before the conference finals. `Leon has never neglected his defensive responsibilities. In fact, if I was to show clips on how to backcheck and how to work, getting above the opposition, Leon would be the leading guy on all the clips that I can find, and he`s the one who does it the best.`
Knocking on the Door
Jaccob Slavin, Carolina Hurricanes
Andrei Svechnikov, Carolina Hurricanes
Sergei Bobrovsky, Florida Panthers
Brad Marchand, Florida Panthers
Finally, some Panthers players appear on the list! In fairness, this is a testament to the balance and depth Florida has demonstrated through two rounds. The team had 11 players with at least six points by the end of their series win against the Leafs.
Bobrovsky didn`t possess stellar numbers entering the conference final (.901 save percentage), partly due to four games where he allowed four or more goals. However, `Playoff Bob` has emerged when needed most – notably in the final four games of the Maple Leafs series and in Game 1 against Carolina, where his performance was potentially the decisive factor in their 5-2 victory.
`I try to stay with one moment and not try not to think about the future or past,` he said after Game 1. `So it`s one moment, one save at a time. And that`s pretty much it.`
Marchand was tied for the team lead in points (12) after two rounds and made a strong statement in the MVP race with his game-winning goal in Game 7 against Toronto. He also scored a critical overtime winner in Game 3 after the Leafs had taken a 2-0 series lead.
Both Marchand and Bobrovsky were included on two ballots. Bobrovsky received one second-place vote.
Svechnikov also appeared on two ballots, both receiving third-place votes. The Hurricanes winger ranked second in the postseason with eight goals after two rounds.
Slavin recorded two goals and two assists in 10 games, including the overtime winner in Game 1 against the Capitals. He has had an exceptional season, including a widely praised performance in the 4 Nations Face-Off for Team USA. He also received a glowing endorsement from Capitals coach Spencer Carbery after Carolina eliminated Washington. `How he`s not in the Norris Trophy conversation every single year, it doesn`t seem right,` the coach stated. `He`s one heck of a player.`
Honorable Mentions
Seth Jones, Florida Panthers
Eetu Luostarinen, Florida Panthers
Jones has been very effective for the Panthers, particularly in their Game 7 victory in Toronto. Through two rounds, Luostarinen was tied with his linemate Marchand for the team lead with 12 points, and now leads the team with 13 points after his goal in Game 1 against Carolina – remarkably, his 12th point in just eight road playoff games.
Gareth Tenby