Cale Makar Should be Favorite to win Conn Smythe Trophy
The Colorado Avalanche have locked up their spot in the Stanley Cup Final after sweeping the Edmonton Oilers, and will now await the winner of the Eastern Conference Final between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Edmonton Oilers.
Now that we know one of the two teams that will play in the final, it's time to begin the discussion for who will win the Conn Smythe Trophy for the MVP of the playoffs.
While Nathan MacKinnon might be the name that comes to mind to a lot of people, I think it should be defenseman Cale Makar who should be the betting favorite once the odds are set.
Cale Makar's Historical Playoff Run
Cale Makar has been on an amazing run in the postseason, and has been a big reason why the Avalanche will have a chance to win their first Cup since 2001.
Not only has he been great in his own end, but he's been contributing on the offensive side of the ice.
In fact, there are only four instances in Stanley Cup Playoff history of a defenseman recording at least nine points in a four-game sweep. Cale Makar has two of them this year alone.
There are 4 instances of a defenseman recording at least 9 points in a 4-game sweep in Stanley Cup Playoff history.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 7, 2022
Cale Makar has 2 of them...this year. pic.twitter.com/aBLbsXWxDf
Need more stats to back up my claim? Last night's series clinching game against the Oilers became the first time that a defenseman recorded five points in that spot. Only Wayne Gretzky and John Anderson ever recorded more.
Cale Makar (1-4—5) became the first defenseman in NHL history to record five points in a potential series-clinching game. Only two skaters have posted more points in that scenario: Wayne Gretzky (7) and John Anderson (6). #StanleyCup #NHLStats: https://t.co/QRIRdhbUnm pic.twitter.com/o9fQ16zvGO
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) June 7, 2022
Oh don't worry, I have even more proof for you. Cale Makar and Devon Toews have been the key to the Avs success not just in the postseason, but in the regular season as well. In fact, the Avalanche are 63-9-6 overall when those two are on the ice.
Cale Makar and Devon Toews have both been in the lineup 78 times so far this season
— Dimitri Filipovic (@DimFilipovic) June 7, 2022
The Avalanche are 63-9-6 and have outscored opponents by 121 goals in those games
Finally, it's not like it's unheard of for defenseman to win the Conn Smythe award. Victor Hedman won it for the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2020, and Duncan Keith won it for the Blackhawks in 2015.
If Makar plays even half as good in the Final as he has the rest of the postseason, it'll be hard to give the trophy to anyone else. Of course, the Avalanche will have to win the series for that to happen. WynnBET currently has them set as -220 favorites to get it done.
You can track Iain's bets on Betstamp here.