The Conn Smythe Trophy 2023 tracker

[SeanMoneyHands]

Auston Matthews
Mitch Marner

 

[paulmm3]

I'd vote for Matt Tkachuk or Draisaitl at this point but lots of playoff hockey left.

 

[5minutemajor]

Which is pretty crazy. You actually believe that there's two players - on the same team, that should be considered the "MVP of the Playoffs" when there's a bunch of other matchups with players carrying their teams?

Like, you're saying that you think that the "Nr 2" on the Panthers is more valuable than any other player carrying their teams in the playoffs?

Exactly. You DO comprehend.

 

[snag]

Auston Matthews
Mitch Marner

Hmm....didn't know a player could receive an individual award for being the most valuable on someone else's team's cup run.

 

[BB88]

I know the impact Heiskanen has on the backend. I still think what Hintz does upfront with the minutes he plays is more impressive. They even split Hintz-Robertson and Hintz is producing even more. Robertson not so much. That tells you what kinda player he is.

Heiskanen is literally playing half the game.

I’d bet Dallas has far better chance to beat Seattle without Hintz than they do without Heiskanen

 

[OilersFanatics505]

Miro at this rate is the Stars candidate if they do win it all. As good as Roope has been, it's hard to look past Miro given his play this post season, and the minutes he is logging. It's unreal.

Edmonton: Leon
Florida: Tkachuk
Vegas: Stone
Seattle: Grubauer? They're so deep and get contribution from everyone so it's hard to pick one player.

Haven't watched much of the Hurricanes/Devils series to give an opinion. As for Toronto ... well I won't bother given they're down 0-3.

This might be the most level headed take

 

[doublechili]

Gotta be Slavin for the Canes if they go all the way. He's just been absolutely dominant on the back end and that's how the Canes are winning these games.

Slavin is the first name that came to mind for me. Granted, I'm an Isles fan so I got a better chance to watch him than most. He was the MVP of that series, and it seems like he's kept it up against the (lesser ) Devs. Of course, the chances of a guy like Slavin actually winning the Conn Smythe are slim and none....

 

[Derailed75]

Anyone have Jordan Matinook on their bingo card?

 

[AhosDatsyukian]

Slavin is the first name that came to mind for me. Granted, I'm an Isles fan so I got a better chance to watch him than most. He was the MVP of that series, and it seems like he's kept it up against the (lesser ) Devs. Of course, the chances of a guy like Slavin actually winning the Conn Smythe are slim and none....

Yeah we’re so lucky to have him and I’m happy he flies under the radar so we can get him on a relative bargain contract. Kinda like Pelech. People just don’t pay attention to defensive minded defensemen nearly as much especially in smaller markets. And yeah probably won’t win it but if the Canes win the cup and don’t have someone step up as a scorer or in net it may be hard to choose someone else and he could be the guy they pivot too.

 

[JAS 39 Gripen]

Exactly. You DO comprehend.

Wow, that sure is something….

 

[TheGoldenJet]

McDavid with another multi point game, now just one point off the playoff scoring lead.

 

[EverTheCynic]

McDavid with another multi point game, now just one point off the playoff scoring lead.

He had 5 even strength points and was a minus player until this last game. Despite putting up points, he was brutal in the LA series. Doing absolutely nothing outside of assisting on the PP.

This is about the Conn Smythe. Stop being a delusional fanboy, it makes you look silly.

Maybe he gets into that conversation over the playoffs, but he sure as hell isn't there now.

 

[Dust]

He had 5 even strength points and was a minus player until this last game. Despite putting up points, he was brutal in the LA series. Doing absolutely nothing outside of assisting on the PP.

This is about the Conn Smythe. Stop being a delusional fanboy, it makes you look silly.

Maybe he gets into that conversation over the playoffs, but he sure as hell isn't there now.

He was fine in the LA series. If it was anyone else they'd say he played a good series, we just have unrealistic expectations for Mcdavid that when he's only "good", people over react and call him brutal. Leon is the obvious choice right now for the Oilers, but would any of us be all that surprised if Mcdavid kicked it up a level and won it?

 

[EverTheCynic]

He was fine in the LA series. If it was anyone else they'd say he played a good series, we just have unrealistic expectations for Mcdavid that when he's only "good", people over react and call him brutal. Leon is the obvious choice right now for the Oilers, but would any of us be all that surprised if Mcdavid kicked it up a level and won it?

I disagree, he was not fine in the LA series. But that's me. I thought he was struggling real hard with the neutral zone taken away.

I think it depends on the team. As people are starting to realize, teams who trap and low zone collapse take away McDavid's biggest strength. His speed. Turning the game into one where chances come from outside battles, which is not one of his strengths.

You can't stop him, but you can take the wind out of his sails. So it depends on the team. I think Dallas could pose similar problems to him that LA did. But he'll do better against a team like Vegas, who tends to be a lot more aggressive and man to man.

And I wouldn't be surprised if he won it. There's not a lot of teams left that are built and structured to pose the same problems for him that LA did.

 

[Nathaniel Skywalker]

Lol at mcdavid. Easily drai

 

[Duke74]

He was fine in the LA series. If it was anyone else they'd say he played a good series, we just have unrealistic expectations for Mcdavid that when he's only "good", people over react and call him brutal. Leon is the obvious choice right now for the Oilers, but would any of us be all that surprised if Mcdavid kicked it up a level and won it?

Yep. For some odd reason, everyone's overlooking McDavid. Not sure how you can overlook the best player in the game.

 

[McShogun99]

Crazy to think that Mcdavid is only 1 point behind his teammate for the playoff scoring lead even though he hasn't looked great so far these playoffs.

My selection so far by team.

Edmonton: Draisaitl
Vegas: Stone
Dallas: Hintz
Seattle: Grubaer
Carolina: Slavin
NJD: Hughes
Florida: Tkachuk
Toronto: Marner

 

[oXo Cube]

Yep. For some odd reason, everyone's overlooking McDavid. Not sure how you can overlook the best player in the game.

He's only being overlooked because he has been somewhat overshadowed by another player on his own team.

Still lots of games left to play though and McDavid has been slowly but consistently catching up for awhile now.

 

[Duke74]

He's only being overlooked because he has been somewhat overshadowed by another player on his own team.

Still lots of games left to play though and McDavid has been slowly but consistently catching up for awhile now.

If you take his first two games away, he's been the better player of the two I think.

 

[Mitch nylander]

Crazy to think that Mcdavid is only 1 point behind his teammate for the playoff scoring lead even though he hasn't looked great so far these playoffs.

My selection so far by team.

Edmonton: Draisaitl
Vegas: Stone
Dallas: Hintz
Seattle: Grubaer
Carolina: Slavin
NJD: Hughes
Florida: Tkachuk
Toronto: Marner

Agree with all, only changes I'd have are Morgan Rielly for Toronto and Burns for Carolina.

As a Leafs fan, with Mitch in my user name, I'd say that the statline, and his play tell different stories. He was very poor in game 1-3 this series, has been leading all forwards in giveaways. In the first series, while he led the team in points and played quite well, ROR/Rielly/Matthews, were more impactful. Love the guy but I'd have Mo ahead right now.

Slavin and Burns are a wash for me, both have been excellent. I lean towards burns as he's leading carolina dman in scoring and is 3rd on the canes in points. He's leading their defence in minutes as well. But both have strong cases.

Outside of that, the list is perfect to me.

 

[jonlin]

Updated points:

• Leon Draisaitl 18
• Roope Hintz 18
• Connor McDavid 17
• Matthew Tkachuk 16
• Evan Bouchard 15
• Mitchell Marner 14
• Mark Stone 11
• Auston Matthews 11
• Morgan Rielly 11
• Jason Robertson 11

My Top3:

1. Roope Hintz
2. Leon Draisaitl
3. Matthew Tkachuk

Reasoning: Hintz have been outstanding - 7 more points than the next in Dallas. He also play way less minutes than the other 2. He has a FO at 58.23% and 10 of his points are 5vs5. The guy play all situations and is good 200ft.
Draisaitl play 23min/game, Tkachuk 21min/game and hintz 17min/game.

 

[traffic cone]

Updated points:

• Leon Draisaitl 18
• Roope Hintz 18
• Connor McDavid 17
• Matthew Tkachuk 16
• Evan Bouchard 15
• Mitchell Marner 14
• Mark Stone 11
• Auston Matthews 11
• Morgan Rielly 11
• Jason Robertson 11

My Top3:

1. Roope Hintz
2. Leon Draisaitl
3. Matthew Tkachuk

Reasoning: Hintz have been outstanding - 7 more points than the next in Dallas. He also play way less minutes than the other 2. He has a FO at 58.23% and 10 of his points are 5vs5. The guy play all situations and is good 200ft.
Draisaitl play 23min/game, Tkachuk 21min/game and hintz 17min/game.

They play more because their team relies on them more. They are more valuable.

 

[ORRFForever]

He's only being overlooked because he has been somewhat overshadowed by another player on his own team.

Still lots of games left to play though and McDavid has been slowly but consistently catching up for awhile now.

Exactly.

 

[Duke74]

McDavid busts out tonight big time and takes a commanding lead, putting this discussion to bed and everyone else in his rearview mirror.

 

[CN8]

McDavid busts out tonight big time and takes a commanding lead, putting this discussion to bed and everyone else in his rearview mirror.

He’s not there yet but I’m guessing by the end of this series if the oilers win it will be a toss up between him and Leon