The Conn Smythe Trophy 2023 tracker

[ORRFForever]

Jack Eichel hasn't scored in 10 straight playoff games.

It is close but I feel this has to be Marchessault.

I'm not sure it's close.

Eichel has been very good but you can't argue with the stats Marchessault is putting up.

 

[SI90]

Marchessault and Tkachuk are the front runners for me

 

[WetcoastOrca]

It’s still Bob as the front runner for me.

 

[toddkaz]

It's pretty clearly Eichel at this point, assuming Vegas wins. Tkachuk and Bobrovsky have been no shows in the final.

Marchessault has been great but so much of his scoring has been a result of Eichel's puck carrying / playmaking.

Eichel 0 GWG.

 

[Gunnersaurus Rex]

Marchessault if Vegas wins
Tkachuk if Florida wins

 

[BoHorvat 53]

Tkachuk/Marchessault have separated themselves from the pack.

 

[TheImpatientPanther]

Still Bob, Tkachuk and Marchessault, last few games should decode it.

 

[Dr Beinfest]

Tkachuk/Marchessault have separated themselves from the pack.

You sure about that? Bob had a lemon of game 2 but also basically just stole game 3, and if it’s supposed to be for the whole playoffs… Bob stole many other games going into this.

Bob is absolutely in the “even if you lose the cup you might still win the conn smyth” conversation. Don’t forget, Gigure had a lemon in 2003 game 6.

 

[WatchfulElm]

My personnal odds :

Tkachuk : 40%
Marchessault : 35%
Bob : 15%
Eichel : 6%
Stone : 3%
Hill : 1%

 

[BattleBorn]

You sure about that? Bob had a lemon of game 2 but also basically just stole game 3, and if it’s supposed to be for the whole playoffs… Bob stole many other games going into this.

Bob is absolutely in the “even if you lose the cup you might still win the conn smyth” conversation. Don’t forget, Gigure had a lemon in 2003 game 6.

If this ends in 5/6, I don't think Bob has a shot. It's a media/vibe in the room thing, not a deserving thing. Though I don't think he'd deserve it in a loss, anyway.

 

[Three On Zero]

Eichel
Tkachuk
Marchessault
Bobrovsky
Hill

 

[thaman8765678]

It's Tkachuk or Marchessault for sure. I know Bobrovsky is important, but Tkachuk is having a historical playoffs with how clutch his goals are.

 

[Dr Beinfest]

If this ends in 5/6, I don't think Bob has a shot. It's a media/vibe in the room thing, not a deserving thing. Though I don't think he'd deserve it in a loss, anyway.

There’s hockey still to play, and what I’d say is this is one of the first times where it’s really hard to actually pick someone from each team. Verhaeghe is a dark horse if he has a great finish - he might be 7 points behind the lead but he is tied in GWG.

A lot of this really depends on how things play out still, and that’s wild going into Game 4.

 

[BattleBorn]

There’s hockey still to play, and what I’d say is this is one of the first times where it’s really hard to actually pick someone from each team. Verhaeghe is a dark horse if he has a great finish - he might be 7 points behind the lead but he is tied in GWG.

A lot of this really depends on how things play out still, and that’s wild going into Game 4.

No disagreement at all, but let's bump the thread and get some activity since all those Leafs fans are in hockey hibernation.

 

[pelderhostiga]

Yet another stolen game by Bobrovsky, yet another game where Tkachuck is invisible for most of the time but is remembered for his heroics in the last few minutes. But it doesn't matter since most NHL awards are based on narratives and stories.

 

[BoHorvat 53]

You sure about that? Bob had a lemon of game 2 but also basically just stole game 3, and if it’s supposed to be for the whole playoffs… Bob stole many other games going into this.

Bob is absolutely in the “even if you lose the cup you might still win the conn smyth” conversation. Don’t forget, Gigure had a lemon in 2003 game 6.

Bob has a .863 save percentage in these finals. He's been elite leading up to these finals, but has definitely left something to be desired compared to previous rounds. You look at a game like today's, season on the line down 2-1, Vegas hits the post like a minute and a half before Tkachuk ties the game and for the moment has effectively saved their season. The guy has just been ridiculously clutch throughout these playoffs.

Yet another stolen game by Bobrovsky, yet another game where Tkachuck is invisible for most of the time but is remembered for his heroics in the last few minutes. But it doesn't matter since most NHL awards are based on narratives and stories.

Heroics in the last few minutes is being clutch. Mr. Game 7, Justin Williams won a Conn Smythe with the Kings for exactly that - being clutch. I hate clichés, but I think one that is true is that a lot of players (and stars) shrink as the moment gets bigger - Tkachuk is the total opposite.

 

[Felidae]

For Vegas. It's hard to argue with Marchessault statistically, but I notice Eichel more as a presence.

I still have to give it to Bobrovsky for the Panthers though. No denying how clutch Tkachuk has been for us

but almost every game since round 2, Bob is the most noticeable player on the ice throughout the entire 60 minutes. More often then not facing more shots in both quality and quantity then the opposing goaltender yet coming out on top. He's had to make multiple huge saves nearly every game.

 

[Dr Beinfest]

Bob has a .863 save percentage in these finals. He's been elite leading up to these finals, but has definitely left something to be desired compared to previous rounds. You look at a game like today's, season on the line down 2-1, Vegas hits the post like a minute and a half before Tkachuk ties the game and for the moment has effectively saved their season. The guy has just been ridiculously clutch throughout these playoffs.

Bob has had the highest workload against him. Most shots. Most saves. Most wins. The only goalie who has been objectively better (that wasn’t out early) is Adin Hill. But if you want to talk about being “most valuable,” Adin Hill isn’t even close - he has a team playing defense in front of him. Bob does not.
Also re: the series save %. Anybody who watched Game 1 knows he was fine and that 4th goal came about in Panther high risk play. His stats are artificially lowered by game 2, where pulling him took any opportunity to rebound with some extra saves. That lemon is powerful.
People seem to forget… when Gigure did his thing, it was Brodeur who repeatedly shut the Ducks out.

 

[ORRFForever]

Marchessault if Vegas wins
Tkachuk if Florida wins

^ This ^ It's that simple.

 

[Hank Plank]

Yet another stolen game by Bobrovsky, yet another game where Tkachuck is invisible for most of the time but is remembered for his heroics in the last few minutes. But it doesn't matter since most NHL awards are based on narratives and stories.

Scoring goals at critical times is bad. Interesting take.

 

[5minutemajor]

Eichel 0 GWG.

Eichel is one crucial goal away from the Conn Smythe. The way he elevates the others (not that they would be bad otherwise!) and drives the play, just wow!

 

[fredligh]

No love for William Karlsson?

 

[jonlin]

Tkachuk has been clutch pointswise, but he actually disappears for long stretches during games. I have Bob as the frontrunner still. Vegas is such an overall-good team that actually no player stands out over the others. They are a competing team with lots of good players. Panthers without Bob wouldnt even be here. Vegas probably would, even is 1-2 players were missing.

 

[Ignatius]

I don't think the Panthers win the cup unless Bob wins the Smythe, he will need to play at a level that earns him the Smythe in order for the Panthers to win the Cup.

 

[Sentinel]

Tkachuk has been clutch pointswise, but he actually disappears for long stretches during games. I have Bob as the frontrunner still. Vegas is such an overall-good team that actually no player stands out over the others. They are a competing team with lots of good players. Panthers without Bob wouldnt even be here. Vegas probably would, even is 1-2 players were missing.

Except Marchessault stands out and without his eleven goals Vegas would not be here either.