The Conn Smythe Trophy 2023 tracker

[Fixed to Ruin]

My vote currently goes to McDavid or Brent Burns.

 

[Mitch nylander]

Of the remaining teams:

East
Florida: Sergei Bobrovsky
Carolina: Brent Burns (or Slavin)

West
Dallas: Roope Hintz
Edmonton: Leon Draisaitl (or Mcdavid)
Seattle: Yanni Gourde (or Grubauer)
Vegas: Mark Stone

 

[CN8]

Sometimes you get the feeling McDavid and Draisaitl dont play for the team, but for themselves and eachother. They leave a lot on table defensively, even I believe both have the tools to be very good 2-way. They kinda cheat on defense for points and leave others out to dry. This is causing also their goalies to look worse than they are. If McDavid doesnt start working enough both ways he will never be on the same level as Gretzky, Mario, Crosby IMO.


They havent lost yet.

The hope is one day he become the defensive legends like Gretzky and Mario who gave up points for great defence
Someone must be under 30

 

[Channelcat]

I don't see the Oilers moving on so I'll say Hintz

 

[chirrrs]

For Dallas I think it's really hard to argue against Heiskanen. Hintz has definitely stepped up and provided the most consistent scoring so he'd be my second pick, but Dallas' defense is completely different without Heiskanen. Dallas has some decent defenders after him, but even Lindell is a 2nd pairing defenseman. The rest are all 2nd/3rd pair tweeners and clear 3rd pairs. Fortunately, Dallas forwards for the most part do a great job of helping the defense out, so any lack of depth there is alleviated by a team effort. Without Heiskanen though, the defense seriously suffers. If you look at Dallas' 7-2 loss in Game 3, that game was scoreless up until the shot that hit Heiskanen in the face. He went straight down and Eberle had a clear shot to open the scoring. Once Heiskanen was out of the picture, Seattle went up 4-0 over the next 6 minutes and of course won the game 7-2. Other than that one game, Dallas has scored at least 4 in the rest of the games, and only allowed more than 3 in the series opener, a 5-4 OT Seattle win. Dallas without Hintz would have a tough time winning the series, but without Heiskanen I wouldn't give them much of a chance at all.

 

[nowhereman]

The hope is one day he become the defensive legends like Gretzky and Mario who gave up points for great defence
Someone must be under 30

He is no Gretzky or Lemieux and the game has change dramatically since the pre-cap 80s/90s, when you could stack a roster full of HHOFers to outscore your problems. Depth and all-around play are more important than ever. There is a reason almost every Cup winner of the cap era was led by dynamic two-way forces.

 

[CN8]

He is no Gretzky or Lemieux and the game has change dramatically since the pre-cap 80s/90s, when you could stack a roster full of HHOFers to outscore your problems. Depth and all-around play are more important than ever. There is a reason almost every Cup winner of the cap era was led by dynamic two-way forces.I

He is no Gretzky or Lemieux and the game has change dramatically since the pre-cap 80s/90s, when you could stack a roster full of HHOFers to outscore your problems. Depth and all-around play are more important than ever. There is a reason almost every Cup winner of the cap era was led by dynamic two-way forces.

I agree he will never be those two. It just won’t be based on the fact he couldn’t match his hem defensively. I’d say McDavid though is no worse than Ovi or Kucherov defensively

 

[jonlin]

The hope is one day he become the defensive legends like Gretzky and Mario who gave up points for great defence
Someone must be under 30

Gretzky cheated on D, but so did everyone in early 80`s. Mario actually backchecked. Jagr was the one who didnt. Let`s compare Crosby`s D against McDavid? Usually players of the same era are compared... Butthurt a bit because McJesus aint the savior you think he is? Offensively yes, but he is nowhere near a normal C. He cheats on the defensive end and a lot.
I actually think you could be my kid. Hopefully not though. Greetings to your mom!

 

[CN8]

Gretzky cheated on D, but so did everyone in early 80`s. Mario actually backchecked. Jagr was the one who didnt. Let`s compare Crosby`s D against McDavid? Usually players of the same era are compared... Butthurt a bit because McJesus aint the savior you think he is? Offensively yes, but he is nowhere near a normal C. He cheats on the defensive end and a lot.
I actually think you could be my kid. Hopefully not though. Greetings to your mom!

Yikes I was wrong, you’re not a naive kid you’re a disgruntled old man. Lol

 

[jonlin]

Yikes I was wrong, you’re not a naive kid you’re a disgruntled old man. Lol

I`ll go with that. Keep your man-crush with McDavid the most complete 200ft center in history.

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

The winner is Gary Bettman. A complete train wreck of a playoffs.

 

[Osakahaus]

Knights: Eichel
Stars: Hintz/Heiskanen
Kraken: Gourde?
Oilers: Draisaitl
Panthers: Tkachuk/Bobrovsky
Canes: Aho

 

[EverTheCynic]

Gretzky cheated on D, but so did everyone in early 80`s. Mario actually backchecked. Jagr was the one who didnt. Let`s compare Crosby`s D against McDavid? Usually players of the same era are compared... Butthurt a bit because McJesus aint the savior you think he is? Offensively yes, but he is nowhere near a normal C. He cheats on the defensive end and a lot.
I actually think you could be my kid. Hopefully not though. Greetings to your mom!

To be fair, this is obvious to anyone with half a brain. McDavid isn't a real center, and he's a clear and obvious floater.

But, a lot of that is probably by design. I think they want McDavid playing higher up, or covering a winger instead of manning the high slot and supporting the D down low.

If it were me, I personally would have asked McDavid during his early years to play a more complete game. But that didn't happen, and he is who he is now.

Every team has that gamebreaker. Even really tight cloggy teams like LA and Minnesota. Fiala and Kaprizov. And McDavid is far and away the best of the bunch. As far as gamebreakers go, there really isn't a close second.

I'm done trying to argue with delusional tweener fanboys who don't really know hockey. If they wanna think McDavid is some kind of Forsberg playoff warrior, whatever. They'll never see argued reason if they can't see it with their own eyes. Pointless endeavour.

(Edit: Not bashing jonlin here)

 

[jonlin]

Every team has that gamebreaker. Even really tight cloggy teams like LA and Minnesota. Fiala and Kaprizov. And McDavid is far and away the best of the bunch. As far as gamebreakers go, there really isn't a close second.

I completely agree that he is a gamebreaker. He just needs a Stone, Lehtinen etc. on his wing. Otherwise his team will never succeed. He could become the best player in history if he would even try to play a 200ft game, but he doesnt. I dont argue about his offensive abilities - he is the best offensive player in decades. He just isnt as good he could be.

 

[EverTheCynic]

I completely agree that he is a gamebreaker. He just needs a Stone, Lehtinen etc. on his wing. Otherwise his team will never succeed. He could become the best player in history if he would even try to play a 200ft game, but he doesnt. I dont argue about his offensive abilities - he is the best offensive player in decades. He just isnt as good he could be.

Yeah for sure. Total agreement with ya.

Just to clarify, my last sentence was in regard to Oilers fans who disagree with you. Not with you. Lol.

 

[Macheteops]

Some bad takes in here regarding McDavid. He's above average defensively and trending up. His back check is as good as anyone with that speed.
He's relentless on the puck carrier

My issue is sometimes he loses his player in the D-zone when they don't have the puck. A lot of the time he ll be somewhat in position just doesn't seem to take his man or their stick

He didn't have a great series Vs LA but he's been better Vs Vegas in my opinion

When you have the puck as much as him you're gonna have some turnovers. He creates so much and isn't content with the "safe play" to the outside. He is looking to beat his man and create opportunities and with that will come turnovers. Anytime he beats a defender 1 on 1 it creates a odd man situation somewhere

I've seen him sharper with some of his passes but he is far from the reason the Oilers are down 3-2

 

[EverTheCynic]

Some bad takes in here regarding McDavid. He's above average defensively and trending up. His back check is as good as anyone with that speed.
He's relentless on the puck carrier

Literally everything you mentioned happens in open ice. Nobody on the planet doubts McDavid's ability to play in open ice. He's the best open ice player to ever put on skates.

That's not what we are talking about. If that is what you are hearing, you're not catching what's being thrown.

 

[jonlin]

Some bad takes in here regarding McDavid. He's above average defensively and trending up. His back check is as good as anyone with that speed.

Care to check some statistics on his 5vs5 play. He is average at best as a 1C and his FO% too. His PP-stats are off the charts though. He is beeing scored upon a lot, but outscores opponents. His CF% and FF% 5vs5 isnt anything special. GA are also pretty high. His statistics look more like an elite winger`s than a 1C`s. If he would even try to defend they would probably be a lot better, but he tries to outscore the opponent and probably prop his points, so he cheats a bit on D.
And yes - he is the best scorer/player of his generation, but he could be even better if wouldnt cheat on D. Atleast for his team. More Hart`s though when cheat.

 

[daver]

To be fair, this is obvious to anyone with half a brain. McDavid isn't a real center, and he's a clear and obvious floater.

But, a lot of that is probably by design. I think they want McDavid playing higher up, or covering a winger instead of manning the high slot and supporting the D down low.

If it were me, I personally would have asked McDavid during his early years to play a more complete game. But that didn't happen, and he is who he is now.

Every team has that gamebreaker. Even really tight cloggy teams like LA and Minnesota. Fiala and Kaprizov. And McDavid is far and away the best of the bunch. As far as gamebreakers go, there really isn't a close second.

I'm done trying to argue with delusional tweener fanboys who don't really know hockey. If they wanna think McDavid is some kind of Forsberg playoff warrior, whatever. They'll never see argued reason if they can't see it with their own eyes. Pointless endeavour.

(Edit: Not bashing jonlin here)

He seems to be such a unique talent that I am not sure this makes sense. It would be kind of like getting OV or Stamkos to do something other than set up in their office on the PP.

He is a pure offensive force and should be used as such as like Jagr and peak OV, the threat of them going the other way was worth the risk if them not doing much on the defensive side of things.

 

[JUSTGIROUXIT]

Radko Gudas AINEC.

 

[MVP of West Hollywd]

McJesus has been amazing since the first few games of the playoffs. Drai however, has been finishing more than creating, even during his goal streak I thought McDavid was driving the play more other than the first few games.

 

[BoHorvat 53]

Oilers - Draisaitl (Would understand McDavid, but 13 goals in the first 2 rounds is insane with games left)
Vegas - Stone
Dallas - Heiskanen
Kraken - Gourde/Schultz
Canes - Slavin (pretty comfortably, he's been astounding shutting down other team's top lines)
Panthers - Bobrovsky/Tkachuk

The only teams with a clear leader would be the Hurricanes, Stars and Golden Knights imo, with every other team being a toss up in terms of options.

 

[Aaaaaaaaaaaaa]

McDavid has passed Draisaitl, in my opinion. He's playing a 200 foot game at 100% and has been for awhile. They will win tonight and in game seven as long as the rest of the team shows up and chips in. One guy, as good as he is, can't carry everyone or play net.

Care to check some statistics on his 5vs5 play. He is average at best as a 1C and his FO% too. His PP-stats are off the charts though. He is beeing scored upon a lot, but outscores opponents. His CF% and FF% 5vs5 isnt anything special. GA are also pretty high. His statistics look more like an elite winger`s than a 1C`s. If he would even try to defend they would probably be a lot better, but he tries to outscore the opponent and probably prop his points, so he cheats a bit on D.
And yes - he is the best scorer/player of his generation, but he could be even better if wouldnt cheat on D. Atleast for his team. More Hart`s though when cheat.

Watch a game instead of guessing.

 

[Bounces R Way]

My vote will be going to @Summer Rose

 

[Castle8130]

Eichel has been dominant in the second round for Vegas