One of the more intriguing storylines to track during the Stanley Cup Playoffs is usually the race for the Conn Smythe Trophy.
The award is given annually to the player voted the most valuable player to their team during the NHL postseason.
Now that we’ve reached the Stanley Cup Final, the prestigious trophy will be going to someone either on the Florida Panthers or Edmonton Oilers.
That we know for sure.
Generally, a player on the team that ends up winning the Stanley Cup is who will find themselves the MVP of the playoffs, but that wasn’t the case last season when Connor McDavid was voted the winner – and deservedly so – despite Edmonton losing to Florida in seven games.
Now the Cats and Oilers are back in the Final for what has been, to this point, an epic rematch.
Through four games, the Oilers and Panthers have gone to overtime three times and provided fans one of the most entertaining and dramatic Stanley Cup Final series in recent memory, to say the least.
As it stands, the race for the Conn Smythe is wide open. There is no clear-cut favorite, and both teams have more than one candidate who could take it home.
For Florida, you first have to look at Sam Bennett.
The pending unrestricted free agent leads all players with 14 postseason goals, three more than the next highest player.
Bennett has been incredibly impactful for Florida during their run to the Final, providing crucial minutes for the Panthers both at even strength and on the power play.
Additionally, his combination of high-end speed and the physical element of his game are what helps Florida add another critical layer to their aggressive, fast-paced defensive systems.
Another Panthers player who should certainly receive some consideration is veteran forward Brad Marchand.
The Trade Deadline addition has provided veteran leadership for Florida both on and off the ice while making steady contributions offensively, highlighted by his pair of overtime winners.
On the Oilers side, superstar Connor McDavid, who won the Conn Smythe Trophy last season, is always going to be a top contender, and this year is no different.
Through 20 playoff games, McDavid is tied for the league lead with 32 points. Between his overall production and ability to greatly impact the scoresheet on any given night, it’s no surprise that he’s once again in contention to take home the award.
However, a player who cannot be ignored any longer in this race is McDavid’s elite teammate, Leon Draisaitl.
In terms of playoff points, Draisaitl is right there with McDavid, tied with 32 points.
The difference in terms of offense is that Draisaitl has scored 11 times, second in the playoffs only to Bennett.
Of those 11 goals, Draisaitl has logged not one, not two, but four game-winning goals.
Interestingly, all four of those GWG have come during sudden death overtime, which is pretty remarkable.
It’s also a new NHL record.
Previously, three playoff OT goals had been the standard, a mark that had been held by four different players, including Florida’s Matthew Tkachuk from his amazing run in 2023 and current Oilers forward and former Ducks star Corey Perry, who had three OT goals during the 2017 playoffs with Anaheim.
Draisaitl has also scored four goals in four Stanley Cup Final games, with two of them among those aforementioned overtime winners.
That’s a far cry from the zero goals he scored during last season’s seven-game Final against Florida.
Certainly, what Draisaitl has accomplished so far this postseason is worth something in the eyes of the Conn Smythe voters.
So as we head into Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final, it appears the race for the Conn Smythe is as wide open as the Cup Final is itself.
Over the next week, someone is going to step up and separate themself from the rest of the pack.
However things end up playing out, if they go anything like the first four games of the Final have, it will be incredibly entertaining to witness go down.
Stay tuned.
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Photo caption: Jun 12, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers forward Sam Bennett (9) controls the puck against Edmonton Oilers right wing Kasperi Kapanen (42) and center Leon Draisaitl (29) during the first period in game four of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena. (Jim Rassol-Imagn Images)