Conn Smythe Trophy Odds (Cale Makar of Avalanche Set as Betting Favorite Ahead of Stanley Cup Final)
The Stanley Cup Final matchup is set!
The Tampa Bay Lightning will be attempting to win the NHL Final for the third straight season, but standing in their way is the odds on favorite, the Colorado Avalanche.
The Stanley Cup isn't the only trophy players will compete for. They'll also be battling for the Conn Smythe Trophy, which is given to the MVP of the playoffs. Unlike similar awards in other North American professional sports, this trophy is given to the best player throughout the entire postseason, not just the final series.
That means, we already have a good idea of how is in serious contention to win it. Let's break down the latest consensus odds to win the Conn Smythe Trophy.
Conn Smythe Trophy Odds
- Cale Makar +180
- Nathan MacKinnon +215
- Nikita Kucherov +400
- Andrei Vasilevskiy +400
- Steven Stamkos +900
- Micko Rantanen +2000
- Gabriel Landeskog +2200
- Victor Hedman +2200
- Pavel Francouz +4000
Cale Makar Favored to Win 2022 Conn Smythe Trophy
For anyone whose been paying attention to the NHL Playoffs, it should come as no surprise that Cale Makar is the betting favorite at +180. He has the most points in the postseason for the Avs, and he's done it as defenseman!
He's having a historic postseason run, and if the Avalanche win the series, it's hard to imagine anyone else winning the Conn Smythe. The only other potential option, would be if Nathan MacKinnon wins the series on his shoulders alone. He has the second most points in the playoffs behind Makar, with 18.
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
If the Lightning go on to win, Nikita Kucherov is the bet to make at +400. He has most points in the playoffs between both teams in the Final with 23, and the next closest on the Lightning is Ondrej Palat with 16. Goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy is having a solid postseason, but he's putting up numbers more similar to the 2020 season when he didn't win Conn Smythe, and he hasn't quite reached the numbers of 2021, when he did win the award. Unless he steals multiple games for the Lightning in the Final, I'd stay away from betting on him.
It should truly be as simple as that. If you think the Avs will win, bet on Makar at +180. If you think the Lightning will win, take Kucherov at +400.
You can track Iain's bets on Betstamp here.