Each year, the Professional Hockey Writers Association votes on the winner of the Conn Smythe Trophy. In this vote, the writers evaluate a player’s entire performance throughout the playoffs.
With the Caroline Hurricanes up 3-2 in the Stanley Cup Final against the Las Vegas Golden Knights, it’s time to evaluate who has earned this honor. Many players have stepped up in big moments this year, but there are four in particular who are indisputably valuable this postseason.
Neither Carter Hart nor Frederick Andersen made this short list. Both goaltenders were exceptional through the first three rounds, coming up big again and again. Hart has a .909 save percentage. Andersen has a .910 save percentage. There is no way Vegas or Carolina gets to the final without these performances, but as the Stanley Cup Final progressed, both Hart and Andersen have conceded too many goals to win the Conn Smythe this season.
So, who will?
Carolina’s Captain Comes In Clutch
Jordan Staal has scored in each of the five games of the Stanley Cup Final. Throughout the postseason, Staal has been effective at shutting down some of the most elite forwards in the league. In addition to his defensive play, Staal has scored eight goals and put up 12 points in 18 games. The goal that puts him ahead in the consideration for this trophy was his performance in Game 4. Staal scored twice, with his second goal being the game-winner.
In addition to these clutch moments, Staal has been giving it his all on every shift. Staal is winning 56.4% of his faceoffs, and he remains in the top five in hits this playoffs with 84 hits in 17 games. Jordan Staal is still playing big minutes, averaging 18 minutes a night. Staal is also playing key shorthanded minutes, over three minutes in Game 4, on Carolina’s elite penalty-kill unit, which is killing 91.2% of the power plays it faces.
Hall’s Playoff Heroics
Caroline Hurricanes forward Taylor Hall has been making noise all playoffs. Playing on a line with Logan Stankoven and Jackson Blake has emphasized his talents these playoffs. Hall has six goals and 18 points, tied for third in the league, in 18 games. In the Stanley Cup Final, he has a goal and an assist. In the first three rounds, the Canes’ top line was quiet, leaving room for Hall’s line to step up. Hall and his line made Carolina’s cup run possible, scoring a combined 51 points so far. He is also a plus-12 in the playoffs, fourth in the league.
In 18 games played, Hall has assisted on or scored the game-winning goal five times.
Jack Eichel Elevates
Jack Eichel has been one of Vegas’s most important factors in the playoffs. He is second in the league in scoring with 22 points in 21 games. In Game 5, Eichel assisted on both of the goals scored by Vegas. He averages 22 minutes a game, playing important roles on the power play and shorthanded.
Eichel may have only scored two goals in the playoffs, but he’s generating important offense for Vegas with his playmaking. He has 50 shots on goal and leads the league in assists with 20. In addition to his playmaking, Eichel has been exceptional defensively; he has 25 blocked shots in the playoffs. Eichel has played a key role in Vegas’s 81.3% effective penalty kill. With the potential loss of William Karlsson, he will only become more important to Vegas.
Mitch Marner Magic
Perhaps the most obvious candidate for the 2026 Conn Smythe is Vegas’s Mitch Marner. In 21 games played, he has notched 10 goals and 29 points. He leads the league in points, having seven more than Jack Eichel. Marner has two game-winning goals in the playoffs so far. He has also had two playoff hat tricks, one against Anaheim in Round 2 and most recently in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final.
With this hat trick, Marner set a new NHL record for fastest hat trick in the Stanley Cup Final, beating Maurice “Rocket” Richard’s record by 11 seconds. Marner’s historic performance in Game 3 pulled him ahead in this race. He is going above and beyond to set his teammates up. Between Marner’s impressive goal scoring and elite playmaking, he has been arguably the most valuable player in the playoffs.
Mitch Marner is the one player, this season, who could possibly win the Conn Smythe even if his team does not win the Stanley Cup.
Tune in to watch Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final Sunday, June 14, at 8 pm EST.
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