Conn Smythe Rankings: Sizing up MVP candidates among the final 4

Just like that, we're down to the final four.

With the conference finals of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs upon us, we're taking another crack at the shortlist of players who could take home the Conn Smythe Trophy next month. Several players on our previous edition didn't advance, so there's plenty of turnover. What a difference a few weeks can make.

The field got significantly smaller after the Edmonton Oilers were eliminated, as they iced three of the league's top four scorers through two rounds. But without further ado, here are the front-runners to take home the NHL's most coveted individual award.

5. Sebastian Aho

The Carolina Hurricanes have looked unstoppable for much of these playoffs but are getting by on the strength of their impressive depth rather than a single standout performer. Frederik Andersen has been great since taking over between the pipes and might fly up the list if he continues his five-game heater into Round 3 and beyond. Since his sample size is too small, we're shining a light on Aho, who's pacing Carolina with 10 points in 11 games and has only been held off the scoresheet three times in the postseason.

The Hurricanes are outscoring opponents 9-3 with Aho on the ice while commanding 57% of expected goals and 55% of scoring chances. As Carolina deals with several key injuries up front, Aho has been the constant for the Cup-chasing Canes and can truly establish himself as a Conn Smythe threat if he keeps contributing at a similar level against the Florida Panthers.

Another Conn Smythe option for Carolina down the road could be Jaccob Slavin, who has played a whopping 213 five-on-five minutes in these playoffs and has only been on the ice for four goals against compared to 17 goals for. His low point total will likely work against him in the eyes of voters, but he should be on the radar.

4. Sergei Bobrovsky

Bobrovsky's position on this list is the most fragile of the bunch. He can't lose a step if he wants to stay in the mix. But without knowing what lies ahead for Florida's surprise run through the Eastern Conference gauntlet, all we can do is commend the veteran netminder for an impressive showing so far. He's taken a lot of flak since signing a $70-million contract with the Panthers in 2019 but has made one thing abundantly clear this spring: He loves to be an underdog in the playoffs.

The man who shut down the record-tying Tampa Bay Lightning four years ago is back on the case, vanquishing the Boston Bruins in Round 1 and stonewalling the Toronto Maple Leafs with an utterly dominant series in Round 2. Bobrovsky was undeniably the X-factor against Toronto, posting a .943 all-situations save percentage to stymie the Leafs' high-flying attack while stopping 7.75 goals above expected in only five games.

He'll get no time to rest against a relentless Hurricanes squad, but Bobrovsky has proven time and time again he's up to the task this time of year.

3. Jack Eichel

Eichel is making the most of his long-awaited playoff debut, leading the hungry Vegas Golden Knights in scoring and ice time among forwards while posting dominant advanced stats through 11 games. He was especially impressive against Edmonton, living up to the highly anticipated clash with 2015 draftmate Connor McDavid by netting three goals and six assists, highlighted by a pair of three-point efforts in Vegas' wins in Games 3 and 5. Perhaps most impressively, Eichel was on the ice for only one goal surrendered against the Oilers' lethal attack.

Eichel made it clear that making an impact in the playoffs was a priority for him, and he's delivered in spades thus far while looking like the elite No. 1 center Vegas has craved since entering the league. What a story it'd be if Eichel led the Golden Knights to a Cup while winning playoff MVP in his first kick at the can.

2. Matthew Tkachuk

Tkachuk didn't register a goal in Florida's second-round beatdown of the Maple Leafs, but he still managed five assists to continue a remarkable playoff run and further cement his status as one of the world's best players.

He's fifth in playoff scoring - and first at even strength - while owning sterling underlying numbers to reinforce his importance to the red-hot Panthers. Florida is outscoring its opponents 12-3 at five-on-five with Tkachuk on the ice in these playoffs, and although he's stuck in a goal drought, the 25-year-old winger always finds a way to impact the game, whether it's through physicality, gamesmanship, or shutting down opponents' top players. If the Panthers continue this run beyond Round 3, it's hard to imagine Tkachuk anywhere but the top of this list.

1. Roope Hintz

Hintz carried over an explosive first round, producing seven points in a tight second-round series victory against the Seattle Kraken. He's now second in playoff scoring and first among players left in the competition. The dynamic Finn is posting eye-popping analytics and has delivered a handful of signature moments this postseason, including a four-point effort in Game 2 of Round 1 and the opening goal in Monday's Game 7.

It's become crystal clear Hintz is the offensive catalyst for the Dallas Stars through two rounds. In eight victories, he's contributed 18 points compared to a single goal in Dallas' five losses. The unheralded Hintz may not have been the favorite to claim playoff MVP at the start of the playoffs, but it's his trophy to lose right now.

(Analytics sources: Natural Stat Trick, Evolving-Hockey)