Only four teams are left in the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, each with unique paths to their respective Conference Final appearances. Whether it’s outstanding goaltending, overtime heroes, or role players chipping in for hits and timely goals, this NHL postseason has produced many exciting moments already.
The New York Rangers and Florida Panthers are battling in the Eastern Conference Final. The Dallas Stars and Edmonton Oilers are facing off in the Western Conference Final.
The winners will play in the 2024 Stanley Cup Final.
So, there’s still plenty of hockey to be played. But to this point, here are the leading contenders — two from ach remaining team — for the Conn Smythe Trophy as NHL playoff MVP.
Related: 3 reasons Sheldon Keefe is right coach for Devils
Carter Verhaeghe (Florida Panthers)
Carter Verhaeghe has seven goals through 12 postseason games, ranking third among skaters who are in the conference finals. Last season, he had four game-winners and, through two rounds, already has two. Often, it’s not how many goals a player gets but when he scores them. Verhaeghe, “Mr. Overtime,” has a knack for scoring timely goals, propelling the Florida Panthers to critical playoff wins.
Matthew Tkachuk (Florida Panthers)
Matthew Tkachuk is the only player in the top five in Stanley Cup Playoff scoring who is not a member of the Edmonton Oilers. After 12 games, The Panthers forward collected 16 points, the same pace he scored during last season’s drive to the Stanley Cup Final. Tkachuk is the heart and soul of the Panthers, with big hits, passionate, gritty play among his trademarks, as well as clutch scoring (two game-winning goals).
Jake Oettinger (Dallas Stars)
Jake Oettinger didn’t believe his regular season was up to his standard, which raised doubts about his ability to be a clutch goalie who could lead the Stars to a Stanley Cup championship. After two rounds, he’s 8-6 with the best goals-against average (2.10) of any netminder who played at least 10 postseason games. Overall, his .919 save percentage ranks behind only Igor Shesterkin of the New York Rangers for goalies in the conference finals.
Miro Heiskanen (Dallas Stars)
Miro Heiskanen, one of the most underrated defensemen in the NHL, currently leads the Stars in playoff scoring with 13 points in 14 games. During the regular season, he logged an average of 24:32 in ice time per game, but in the playoffs, he’s averaging 28:23 a game, which indicates how valuable his presence is in critical situations.
Chris Kreider (New York Rangers)
Chris Kreider leads the New York Rangers with seven goals in 11 playoff games. After a heroic third-period hat trick in Game 6 of the second round against the Carolina Hurricanes, it’s clear the heart and soul of the franchise is one of the key players behind the team’s march to the Eastern Conference Final.
Igor Shesterkin (New York Rangers)
Igor Shesterkin has the best save percentage (.926) and is tied with Sergei Bobrovsky of the Florida Panthers for the fewest losses (three) for any goalie still skating in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Rangers have plenty of Conn Smythe candidates, but Shesterkin tops the list and gives them an advantage in goal every single game, no matter the opponent.
Connor McDavid (Edmonton Oilers)
After two playoff rounds, Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid collected 23 points, with three goals and 20 assists, and was second among scoring leaders. During the 2022 playoff run, he recorded 23 helpers in 16 games and has a chance to surpass that in the Western Conference Final. If McDavid plays in the Stanley Cup Final, there’s a chance he will challenge Wayne Gretzky’s record for assists in a single postseason, which is 31.
Leon Draisaitl (Edmonton Oilers)
Leon Draisaitl is the leading scorer in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, with 25 points through 13 games, equal to a 1.92 points-per-game average. It sounds unbelievable, but if the Oilers advance to the Stanley Cup Final and continue scoring at this current pace, he could chase down Gretzky’s record of 47 points.