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Ranking the top 10 Conn Smythe Trophy candidates

By Patrick Schmidt

May 3, 2015; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Tampa Bay Lightning forward Tyler Johnson (9) stretches during the warmup period in game two of the second round of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports
May 3, 2015; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Tampa Bay Lightning forward Tyler Johnson (9) stretches during the warmup period in game two of the second round of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports /
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May 18, 2015; New York, NY, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning center Tyler Johnson (9) scores a goal against New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist (30) in front of New York Rangers right wing Martin St. Louis (26) during the first period of game two of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
May 18, 2015; New York, NY, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning center Tyler Johnson (9) scores a goal against New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist (30) in front of New York Rangers right wing Martin St. Louis (26) during the first period of game two of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

The Conference Finals are underway, so let’s take a look at the top candidates to win the Conn Smythe Trophy as the MVP of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Winning the Stanley Cup is the goal for every player and team in the NHL. However, claiming the Cup also comes with the chance of individual glory in the form of the Conn Smythe Trophy – a spotlight on a single player following the greatest team accomplishment.

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The postseason MVP award has been handed out since the 1965 Stanley Cup Playoffs. That year Montreal Canadiens center Jean Beliveau took the honors after scoring 16 points in 13 games to win his sixth of what would eventually become 10 Stanley Cups. Ever since Beliveau won the inaugural Conn Smythe, the Trophy has been claimed by a litany of Hall of Fame players, such as Steve Yzerman, Joe Sakic, Mark Messier, Mike Bossy and Nicklas Lidstrom, among others.

Five players have won the Trophy multiple times and, unsurprisingly, they’re among the best to ever play the game. Two-time winners include Bernie Parent, Bobby Orr, Mario Lemieux and Wayne Gretzky, while Patrick Roy was a three-time winner.

This year’s group of candidates features two players – Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane – with a chance to join that elite group, along with eight others gunning for the individual and team glory.

It’s not a prerequisite to win the Cup to be the Conn Smythe, as it’s been awarded to a non-Cup winner five times – most recently to Jean-Sebastien Giguere of the Mighty Ducks in 2003. However, every winner has at least reached the Stanley Cup Finals. Therefore the players listed here are all from the final four of Chicago, Anaheim, New York and Tampa Bay.

So, without any further ado, here are the top 10 contenders for this year’s Conn Smythe Trophy. After reading through the list of candidates, please leave your pick to win the postseason MVP in the comments section below.

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