2026 Conn Smythe Trophy Picks: Top MVP Contenders for Every NHL Playoff Team

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The best playoffs in professional sports begin on Saturday, April 18, when the NHL postseason kicks off. It's a 16-win war to hoist the Stanley Cup, and the players who make it to the finish line do so with broken bones, collapsed lungs, and injuries you didn't know they had.

Of that group of warriors, only one can be named the MVP of the playoffs... the Conn Smythe Trophy winner.

Who is the best bet to win, if every team potentially wins? Here is a breakdown of my favorite MVP bets for all 16 teams — and my five best bets entering the NHL playoffs.

Conn Smythe Trophy best bets

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NHL playoff MVP picks: Eastern Conference

Boston Bruins Conn Smythe pick: Jeremy Swayman (+10000)

31 W | 2.71 GAA | .907 SV% | +10000 at BET99

If the Bruins are going anywhere, it's going to be because of Jeremy Swayman in net. The offense is not the bright spot on this seven-seed and Swayman has the potential to steal a series... plus he might be a Top-5 goalie in the postseason.

Buffalo Sabres Conn Smythe pick: Rasmus Dahlin (+4000)

19 G | 55 A | 74 PTS | +4000 at BET99

Rasmus Dahlin is getting Norris consideration and is the MVP of this second-seeded Buffalo Sabres team. He led the team in points following the Olympics with eight goals and 18 assists in 23 games and is going to play big minutes for a team that splits up ice time among its forwards.

Carolina Hurricanes Conn Smythe pick: Nikolaj Ehlers (+5000)

26 G | 45 A | 71 PTS | +5000 at BET99

I'm looking away from the top line, as each player's production will cannibalize one another. Instead, I'll take a PP1 player in Nik Ehlers, who is also playing with Jordan Staal, with the pair possibly having a bigger postseason role and more minutes.

BEST BET Montreal Canadiens Conn Smythe pick: Jakob Dobes (+25000)

29 W | 2.78 GAA | .901 SV%| +25000 at BET99

Although Nick Suzuki at 100/1 is also a very tempting play, I can't say no to a starting goalie who posted a .916 SV% down the stretch... at this inflated price. He should not be longer than Jacob Fowler, who is +17500. If you really want to back the Montreal Canadiens rookie goaltending, split up your initial wager and place half on Dobes and half on Fowler — Dobes falters and Fowler takes over (and goes on a run), you have that covered at a giant price.

Ottawa Senators Conn Smythe pick: Tim Stutzle (+5000)

34 G | 49 A | 83 PTS | +5000 at BET99

Tim Stutzle is the real offensive threat on this team, and some people love the Senators' chances of making a deep run. I like Stutzle at a longer price than Brady Tkachuk at 40/1.

BEST BET Philadelphia Flyers Conn Smythe pick: Travis Konecny (+25000)

27 G | 41 A | 68 PTS | +25000 at BET99

This is a monster price, which is still a buy in other places at 175/1. This Flyers team is on a heater and has a tough lineup to match up against. Travis Konecny should be the team's top offensive performer in the playoffs, as his style of hockey suits the postseason more than Trevor Zegras.

Pittsburgh Penguins Conn Smythe pick: Erik Karlsson (+10000)

15 G | 51 A | 66 PTS | +10000 at BET99

The Penguins role three lines heavily, which cuts into the forwards' playing time, which is why I'm looking at the blue line. Erik Karlsson was one of the hottest players after the Olympics, with 31 points in 24 games, which paced all defensemen — and was tied for ninth among all NHL skaters.

BEST BET Tampa Bay Lightning Conn Smythe pick: Darren Raddysh (+25000)

22 G| 48 A | 70 PTS | +25000 at BET99

Price is everything, and there is no way that a PP1 D-man on the Lightning should be 250/1. I'd play this number to 100/1. He is the new Victor Hedman, who won this award back in 2020.

NHL playoff MVP picks: Western Conference

Anaheim Ducks Conn Smythe pick: Cutter Gauthier (+20000)

40 G | 28 A | 68 PTS | +20000 at BET99

Goals mean more in the playoffs, and getting a 40-goal scorer at 200/1 is an easy choice. Will the Ducks get past a loaded West? Likely not. However, in the case they do, Cutter Gauthier is my betting favorite to lead this team in playoff goals.

Colorado Avalanche Conn Smythe pick: Scott Wedgewood (+15000)

30 W | 2.07 GAA | .920 SV% | +15000 at BET99

The Avalanche have a good goalie problem, and with the way Scott Wedgewood played down the stretch, while leading the league in GAA and SV%, I think he gets the Game 1 nod. The good thing for bettors here is that Mackenzie Blackwood is also 150/1, so splitting up a wager on both goalies gets you covered with the Stanley Cup Odds favorite.

BEST BET Dallas Stars Conn Smythe pick: Mikko Rantanen (+4000)

22 G | 55 A | 77 PTS | +4000 at BET99

Mikko Rantanen is one player I'm willing to get square with. He had nine goals and 13 assists in 18 playoff games last year, and I think the Dallas Stars can handle both the Wild and the Avalanche — it's been the Oilers they've struggled to beat. With Roope Hintz and Miro Heiskanen banged up, Rantanen could see even more offensive opportunities.

BEST BET Edmonton Oilers Conn Smythe pick: Connor McDavid (+1500)

48 G | 86 A | 134 PTS | +1500 at BET99

If the Oilers win the Cup, Connor McDavid is winning the Conn Smythe. Hell, he can win it, even as the runner-up. McDavid is a 1 of 1, and with a possible easier first-round matchup, Leon Draisaitl could be back just in time. It's not McDavid you're betting on here, it's the Oilers.

Los Angeles Kings Conn Smythe pick: Artemi Panarin (+20000)

28 G | 56 A | 84 PTS | +20000 at BET99

The Kings are very unlikely to make much noise in the playoffs, as they finished with the same amount of regulation wins as the Blackhawks, but Artemi Panarin is head and shoulders above anyone else on this roster in terms of offensive ability. If you're holding a (still alive) Panarin Conn Smythe ticket in June, your friends might just think you're sharp.

Minnesota Wild Conn Smythe pick: Kirill Kaprizov (+6000)

45 G | 44 A | 99 PTS | +6000 at BET99

Quinn Hughes' illness scares me from his 75/1 price, but getting a 45-goal forward in Kirill Kaprizov is not much different. If the Wild can get through the Stars, this team could go deep, and Kaprizov is going to be the body to lead them in points.

Utah Mammoth Conn Smythe pick: Clayton Keller (+15000)

26 G | 60 A | 86 PTS | +15000 at BET99

Clayton Keller might be the most underrated player in hockey. The Utah Mammoth have a winnable matchup vs. the Golden Knights, and would follow that with another Pacific Division team — the car is driving itself, and you're playing with house money. Getting the best player on any team at 150/1, in a pretty open playoff, is a win.

Vegas Golden Knights Conn Smythe pick: Carter Hart (+30000)

11 W | 2.71 GAA | .891 SV% | +30000 at BET99

Carter Hart might not be the Game 1 starter, but he deserves the look as he was incredible after the switch at head coach. This is another good spot to split up a wager and cover both of the Golden Knights' goalies, including Adin Hill.

Conn Smythe favorites

It's no surprise that the Stanley Cup odds favorite Colorado Avalanche lead the Conn Smythe charge, with Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar sitting first and third on the odds board, while Tampa Bay — the favorites in the East — also has two of the Top 5 favorites in Nikita Kucherov and Andrei Vasilevskiy.

And then, of course, is Connor McDavid... the best player in the world.

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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