With the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs now complete and eight teams eliminated, the field of contenders for the Most Valuable Player award is starting to take shape. The focus is particularly sharp on one player whose exceptional performance in Game 7 broke several records.
This marks the first installment of the Conn Smythe Watch for the 2025 postseason. It`s worth noting that the Conn Smythe Trophy is awarded based on a player`s performance throughout the *entire* playoffs, not just the final series. The recipient is determined by a vote among an 18-person panel from the Professional Hockey Writers Association.
We surveyed over a dozen writers who are actively covering the playoffs to gauge their top three choices for the Conn Smythe Trophy. Below, we look at the current front-runners for MVP honors, along with players who are on the verge of entering the serious Conn Smythe conversation.
The Current MVP Front-Runner
Mikko Rantanen, RW, Dallas Stars
Rantanen`s `Revenge Tour` against his former team, the Colorado Avalanche, concluded spectacularly. He amassed 11 points (five goals, six assists) in the final three games of the series. This included a third-period hat trick and an assist on Wyatt Johnston`s tying goal late in Game 7, which secured the Stars` victory.
Rantanen made NHL history by becoming the first player to record four-point periods in consecutive games, whether in the regular season or playoffs. He`s also the first player to score a third-period hat trick in a Game 7 and the first with at least 10 points across Games 5 through 7 in a series. Overall, Rantanen has accumulated 12 points in seven games.
His performance justifies the eight-year, $96 million contract extension he signed after joining the Stars from the Carolina Hurricanes. Known for his regular-season prowess (705 points in 652 games), he has solidified his reputation as a clutch playoff performer with 113 points in 88 career postseason contests.
Nearly all surveyed writers ranked Rantanen first on their ballots, making him the undisputed favorite for playoff MVP at this juncture.
Other Top Candidates
Kyle Connor, LW, Winnipeg Jets & Connor McDavid, C, Edmonton Oilers
While a noticeable gap exists between Rantanen and these two players in the MVP race, both Kyle Connor and Connor McDavid are building strong cases.
The Jets winger, Kyle Connor, posted 12 points in seven games against the St. Louis Blues. His offensive output helped compensate for goaltending struggles (including a double Vezina winner being pulled multiple times on the road), guiding Winnipeg to a first-round victory.
Connor delivered an outstanding Game 7 performance, setting up two goals for Cole Perfetti and earning a secondary assist on Adam Lowry`s double-overtime winner. He stepped up significantly in the absence of injured linemate Mark Scheifele, helping the Jets advance past the first round for the first time in three postseasons.
It remains remarkable that Connor McDavid is the reigning Conn Smythe winner, having received the award after Edmonton`s seven-game loss to Florida in the 2024 Final. When the playoffs arrive, McDavid consistently produces points. The Oilers star has accumulated 110 points in 63 playoff games over the past five seasons, outpacing teammate Leon Draisaitl by 14 points.
McDavid led Edmonton with 11 points (two goals, nine assists) in their first-round win over the Los Angeles Kings. The Kings were hoping for a different outcome after losing to Edmonton in three consecutive first rounds. It was different in one way: McDavid averaged `only` 1.83 points per game against the Kings in this six-game series, down from his 2.00 points per game average in the previous three series wins.
Our voters placed McDavid slightly ahead of Connor on their ballots, positioning them clearly as the second and third choices behind Rantanen at this point in the playoffs.
Players Making Their Case
William Nylander, RW, Toronto Maple Leafs & Logan Thompson, G, Washington Capitals
Several voters expressed surprise at including a Maple Leaf player among the top MVP candidates, but William Nylander has warranted the recognition. Toronto advanced past Ottawa in the first round and won Game 1 against the Florida Panthers, largely due to Nylander`s offensive contributions.
Nylander has been the most impactful member of the Leafs` “Core Four” in the playoffs since 2020-21, scoring 20 goals in 36 games, seven more than Auston Matthews over that period.
He recorded points in every game this postseason except for Ottawa goalie Linus Ullmark`s Game 5 shutout. However, “Willy Styles” rebounded strongly in Game 6 with two goals and an assist to eliminate the Senators. He has scored three goals and added two assists in the Leafs` Game 1 wins in both rounds, acting as both a pacesetter and a finisher.
Logan Thompson is the only goaltender who appeared on any of our surveyed ballots, receiving votes from a few writers. The Capitals goalie posted a .923 save percentage and a 2.23 goals-against average in five games against the Canadiens. His ability to play five games was remarkable, especially after being helped off the ice during Washington`s Game 3 loss. Thompson returned for the Capitals` wins in Games 4 and 5, allowing just three goals on 47 shots.
These were the only additional players mentioned on voters` ballots. However, others could certainly play their way into the conversation as the postseason progresses.
On the Verge of Breaking Through
Evan Bouchard, D, Edmonton Oilers & Leon Draisaitl, C, Edmonton Oilers
The Oilers managed to eliminate the Kings in Game 6 without a single point from Leon Draisaitl, but he quickly made his presence felt in Game 1 against Vegas with an assist and his fourth goal of the postseason (the game-tying marker). Draisaitl is currently tied for the second-most points in the postseason with 12 through seven games.
Evan Bouchard trails only the eliminated Cam Fowler (formerly of St. Louis) among defensemen in playoff points. Given the Oilers` success, his powerful “Bouch Bombs” will continue to be a factor. Bouchard has nine points (four goals, five assists) in seven games.
Jack Eichel, C, Vegas Golden Knights & Mark Stone, RW, Vegas Golden Knights
The dynamic duo for the Golden Knights. Mark Stone leads Vegas with four goals, while both players have accumulated six points.
They had a slow start against St. Louis but have found their stride, recording points in four consecutive games, including two goals from Stone in Game 1 against Edmonton.
Wyatt Johnston, C, Dallas Stars & Jake Oettinger, G, Dallas Stars
Mikko Rantanen has rightly captured the headlines, but Wyatt Johnston`s contributions to the Stars should not be overlooked. His power-play goal gave Dallas a crucial 3-2 lead late in Game 7 against the Avalanche. He has seven points through seven games.
Jake Oettinger was solid in the closing moments of Game 7 and has posted strong numbers throughout the postseason with a .911 save percentage and a 2.85 goals-against average.
Mitch Marner, RW, Toronto Maple Leafs
Marner is close behind teammate Nylander with nine points in seven games, including eight assists. He leads the team with five power-play points. What might a Conn Smythe Trophy be worth in a contract year?
Sam Bennett, C, Florida Panthers
Bennett leads the Panthers with four goals in six games. As the Maple Leafs know well, he frequently makes an impact beyond the scoresheet, sometimes in ways that significantly alter the game.
Frederik Andersen, G, Carolina Hurricanes & Jaccob Slavin, D, Carolina Hurricanes
Andersen benefits from playing behind a strong defensive team with an aggressive forecheck that limits opponent chances. However, when shots do get through, the veteran goalie has been exceptional, posting a .935 save percentage and a 1.45 goals-against average this postseason.
Jaccob Slavin secured the Game 1 victory for the Hurricanes in their second-round series against the Capitals with an overtime goal. His other postseason goal was a momentum-killing tally in Carolina`s 5-2 Game 4 win over New Jersey. But Slavin`s impact is primarily defensive; he leads the Hurricanes in minutes (24:28) and is the anchor of their dominant penalty kill. He also likely benefits from positive voter sentiment following his strong performance in the 4 Nations Face-Off.
Alex Ovechkin, LW, Washington Capitals & Dylan Strome, C, Washington Capitals
Dylan Strome leads the Capitals with nine points and was one of the top scorers in the first round. Alex Ovechkin won the Conn Smythe in 2018 during the Capitals` Stanley Cup run. He recorded four goals and an assist in their five-game series win over the Montreal Canadiens. They will need more impactful performances from him in a tight series against the Hurricanes.
If Ovechkin were to carry the Capitals deep into the playoffs, voters might find it hard to resist capping his NHL record-breaking season with another playoff MVP award.
Rupert Hartwell 
Benedict Kingsley