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Who are the leading Conn Smythe Trophy candidates after Round 1?
The 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs have been full of star performances. Sportsnet’s Ryan Dixon sorts through the players who’ve brought their best to identify potential Conn Smythe Candidates.
Last year’s Conn Smythe Trophy winner is at it again.
Despite how incredible the performance was, it might require an extra second to recall who was named MVP of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs. That’s because, for just the second time in 21 years, the Conn Smythe recipient played for a squad that did not claim the championship.
That player, of course, was Edmonton Oiler Connor McDavid and he’s up to his old post-season tricks again, torching the Los Angeles Kings for 11 points in six Round 1 contests. In fact, during this four-year run of Edmonton ending L.A.’s season, McDavid has 47 points in 24 games, leaving him one sweet feed or terrific tuck away from recording an even two points per game against the Kings.
The stakes rise, and somehow No. 97 gets better.
As usual, Leon Draisaitl is right beside his Oiler teammate in terms of turning in another strong second season. And Edmonton’s studs are just two of the players who’ve brought their best so far in the playoffs.
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With that in mind — and with one round plus one second-round game in the books — we’re here to provide an early list of 2025 Conn Smythe candidates.
(Note: the rankings do not factor in how likely a player’s team is to advance to the Stanley Cup Final. It’s a reflection of how the player has performed to this point).
Mikko Rantanen, Dallas Stars
Through four games versus his old Colorado pals, Rantanen managed just a single assist. In Games 5, 6 and 7, though, he put up an incredible five goals and six assists for 11 points in three outings.
His third-period hat trick (and four-point frame) in Game 7 — which helped Dallas erase a 2-0 hole — is the signature performance of these playoffs so far.
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Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers
McDavid leads the playoffs with 10 even-strength points in six outings. Most of his damage came early in the series versus Los Angeles, when he had 1-3-4 in a wild Game 1 loss and 1-2-3 in a must-have Game 3 victory. McDavid’s nine assists lead the post-season, as do his 1.83 points-per-game.
His all-time playoff points-per-game mark is up to 1.60 and ranks third in NHL history among players with 75 career games, just a hair behind Mario Lemieux (1.61) for second place. Wayne Gretzky, naturally, tops the list (1.84).
Kyle Connor, Winnipeg Jets
Connor is tied with Rantanen and William Nylander for the playoff scoring lead with 12 points. All three guys have played seven games, though let’s not forget Connor played the final two-plus contests versus St. Louis without his usual running make, Mark Scheifele.
Connor is also tied with Nylander with six first assists this spring, none of them more important than the puck he put toward the St. Louis goal that was re-directed by Cole Perfetti to force overtime in Game 7 with three seconds left in the third.
The winger also has two game-opening goals.
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William Nylander, Toronto Maple Leafs
Nylander has four even-strength goals in the playoffs, more than everyone in the league save Matt Boldy (five) on the bounced Minnesota Wild. As noted, the Swede is also tied for the post-season scoring lead (12 points) and knotted with Kyle Connor for most first assists (six).
Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton Oilers
The Oilers trailed by two goals after 40 minutes of Game 4 and were in real danger of falling behind 3-1 in the series. However, Draisaitl collected his second and third primary assists of the game on third-period goals by Evan Bouchard, then netted the extra-time winner himself for a monster four-point night in a huge spot.
He’s got 10 points in six games, once again showing his enormous value when it matters most.
Sebastian Aho, Carolina Hurricanes
You could make the case for a few Canes — Andrei Svechnikov has five goals; Jaccob Slavin has three points to go with his usual stellar defensive play; Frederik Andersen had a .936 save percentage versus the Devils before getting injured in Game 4 — but we’ll give the nod to Aho.
Carolina’s top centre put up eight points in five contests versus New Jersey and his last one — a double-overtime power-play marker — ended the series.
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Thomas Harley, Dallas Stars
With No. 1 guy Miro Heiskanen injured, Dallas needed Harley to step up and the 23-year-old did just that. Harley scored twice in the seven-game win over Colorado, with both goals coming in Stars victories.
No player has more total time on ice in the 2025 post-season than the Stars D-man (197:06).
Dylan Strome, Washington Capitals
Strome recorded a point every time out in Washington’s five-game win over the Montreal Canadiens. In all, Strome put up nine points in the series, giving him the second-best points-per-game in the NHL (1.80) behind only McDavid (1.83).
Matthew Knies, Toronto Maple Leafs
The Leafs have been searching for a playoff difference-maker and the hulking Knies just might be it. His four goals are second on the team behind Nylander’s five and the six-foot-three, 227-lbs winger is leading the way when it comes to big boy hockey in the corners and in front of the net for the Buds.
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Seth Jones, Florida Panthers
With Aaron Ekblad suspended for four of Florida’s six playoff games so far, Jones has really had to carry a big load. No Cats player is averaging more than his 26:01 of ice time per night. He has also added two goals and is plus-4 facing top competition on the other side of the puck.
Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
With four goals in five playoff outings, Ovechkin has carried his greatest-sniper-of-all-time act from the regular season into the playoffs. Ovechkin scored the overtime winner to get the Caps rolling in Game 1 — his second marker of that contest — and opened the scoring in the Game 5 home-ice victory that clinched the series for Washington.
Logan Thompson, Washington Capitals
It feels wrong to not have at least one goalie on this list. And while, as noted, Carolina’s Frederik Andersen has a case, he was injured in Game 4 and did not return in the series.
Thompson was injured, too, being forced to leave Game 3 with just over five minutes left in the contest when teammate Dylan Strome ploughed into him following a Canadiens goal.
It didn’t look great for Thompson in the moment, as he required help leaving the ice and was not putting any weight on his left leg.
However, Thompson returned for Game 4 and allowed just three goals in the final two contests of the series. In all, he finished the first round with 1.136 goals save above expected/60 minutes, second only to Andersen (1.272).
