Conn Smythe Power Rankings: Vasilevskiy aiming to go back to back

The Stanley Cup Final is upon us; thus, our list of Conn Smythe candidates has been considerably shortened.

Several stars on the Edmonton Oilers and New York Rangers had their playoff MVP candidacies dashed after being eliminated in Round 3. If either team had advanced, some combination of Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Igor Shesterkin would easily make the top three on our list. Sadly, that trio's otherwordly postseason efforts were all for naught, and the star-studded rosters of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Colorado Avalanche boast an impressive collection of worthy candidates.

Without further ado, here are our top-five Conn Smythe candidates with only one round to go.

5. Connor McDavid

Surprise, McDavid still made the cut.

Although his playoff is over, the world's most dynamic player deserves recognition. After all, he's still probably going to lead the postseason in scoring despite playing only 16 games. McDavid's 33 points are the 10th-highest total in postseason history. Adjusted for points per contest, his 2.06 rate is the ninth-best playoff showing ever, and four players ahead of him on the list played fewer than 10 games.

It's incredibly rare for someone on a losing team to win the Conn Smythe, let alone a player receiving a vote when bowing out before the final. That said, it's not unprecedented. Erik Karlsson got a nod for his Herculean efforts in 2017 when the Ottawa Senators were eliminated in the Eastern Conference Final.

4. Nikita Kucherov

Kucherov is Tampa's most dynamic offensive threat and sits fifth in playoff scoring after three rounds. He could soar up the rankings with a big final but comes in fourth for now due to lesser advanced stats and extra games played over the players ahead of him on the list.

If Tampa three-peats, Kucherov will be a primary reason why. He has six more points than the second-most productive Lightning skater (Ondrej Palat), and he's the driving force behind the club's lethal power play with 10 points on the man advantage.

Kucherov will cement his status as one of the greatest playoff performers of his generation if he wins the Conn Smythe. Over 65 postseason games from Tampa's first Cup run until now, Kucherov's registered a whopping 85 points to bring his career per-game mark to 1.15 in the playoffs. Add in a potential third championship ring and a postseason MVP, and that's a surefire Hall of Fame resume.

3. Nathan MacKinnon

MacKinnon's stats aren't as eye-popping as some others, but the Avalanche superstar has only played 14 games as Colorado has cruised to a 12-2 playoff record. He's averaging 1.29 points per contest and is completely tilting the ice in his team's favor analytically.

The 26-year-old has clearly stated his desire to win a championship in recent years, and few players appear to want it more. He's crafted some signature performances this postseason, and the hockey world can reasonably expect him to find another level on the biggest stage.

MacKinnon will certainly be on the Conn Smythe shortlist if he maintains his production level and guides Colorado to the Cup. However, he'll have to outdo one of his teammates to take home the hardware.

2. Cale Makar

Despite already earning two Norris Trophy nominations and winning a Calder Trophy in the early stages of his career, the 2021-22 postseason has somewhat felt like a coming-out party for Makar. Everyone knew the sky was the limit for the dynamic defender when the Avs drafted him fourth overall in 2017, but now the entire hockey world is witnessing his ascent from superstar to a potential all-time great. Even Wayne Gretzky said Makar's impact at both ends of the ice is reminiscent of none other than Bobby Orr.

Makar enters the Stanley Cup Final sitting sixth in scoring and first - by a landslide - in average ice time among the remaining players. He's recorded two-and-a-half more minutes per game than Lightning workhorse and perennial Norris adversary Victor Hedman. Makar's influence on every contest is remarkable, as evidenced by his natural talents and dominant underlying stats. If he wins the Conn Smythe, he'll be the first 23-year-old blue-liner to capture the award since - yup, you guessed it - Orr in 1972.

1. Andrei Vasilevskiy

Vasilevskiy surged to the top of our list after outdueling Shesterkin in the Eastern Conference Final, reminding us that he's still the best at his position against his toughest challenger.

The Bolts' netminder is posting ridiculous numbers again this postseason and has proven he's the ultimate playoff X-factor when faced with must-win situations. Vasilevskiy's refusal to wilt in big games has led the way for Tampa Bay's lauded postseason grit and resilience. He's a virtual lock to take home his second consecutive Conn Smythe if he shuts down Colorado's high-octane attack with similar numbers to what he's already posted this spring.

Philadelphia Flyers legend Bernie Parent (1974-75) is the lone goalie in league history to win the award in back-to-back years. Furthermore, Patrick Roy, Sidney Crosby, Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Orr, and Parent are the only players with multiple Conn Smythes in their trophy cases. That's unfathomably rarified air.

Vasilevskiy's reputation to date already has him fast-tracked for the Hall of Fame, but his legacy will enter the greatest goalie of all-time discussion if he repeats as playoff MVP.

(Analytics source: Natural Stat Trick, Evolving Hockey)