Conn Smythe Rankings: Who else but McDavid to lead way?

We're undoubtedly in line for a fiery rematch between the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers in the Stanley Cup Final, which kicks off Wednesday.

Though only two teams are left standing, there's plenty of worthy players who could earn the title of playoff MVP. However, there's one clear standout (guess who) before the puck drops on the championship series.

Let's get into it.

5. Sam Bennett, Panthers

Previous: Unranked

Who had Bennett leading the league in playoff goals before the postseason started? Likely no one, but here he is lighting the lamp anyway.

Bennett has also spread the wealth, netting three goals against the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round, three versus the Toronto Maple Leafs in the second, and four during the Panthers' Eastern Conference Final clash with the Carolina Hurricanes. He's tied for the league lead in even-strength goals (seven), and his three power-play goals match Matthew Tkachuk and Carter Verhaeghe for the most on Florida. As if his scoring wasn't enough, he's been a menace to play against, ranking second among all players with 85 hits. Of course, Bennett's in tough to win the Conn Smythe, but it sure is fun to have him in the conversation at this juncture. Hockey is weird.

4. Sergei Bobrovsky, Panthers

Previous: Unranked

Bobrovsky is back to being a stalwart between the pipes, which is exactly what the defending Stanley Cup champions need against the high-flying Oilers. He has steadily improved in these playoffs, posting a .901 clip against the Lightning and a .902 versus the Maple Leafs before stymying the Hurricanes with a .935 save percentage in the conference final.

The veteran netminder ranks second among goalies with at least seven starts in these playoffs in both save percentage and goals against average. Bobrovsky is also second in goals saved above average (5.16) and goals saved above expected - notably outperforming Frederik Andersen, the only goalie ahead of him in the latter stat, in the conference finals. Bobrovsky has improved in every statistical category compared to his numbers through the first three rounds last spring, and that effort culminated in a Stanley Cup. Let's see what he's got up his sleeve this time.

3. Leon Draisaitl, Oilers

Previous: 3

No one needs convincing that Draisaitl rules. He's obviously elite, but it's difficult to choose him over his teammate, who's going absolutely sicko mode at all the right times. Still, that doesn't mean we can't take a moment to give Draisaitl his flowers.

Three players scored nine points against the Dallas Stars in the Western Conference Final: Draisaitl, Connor McDavid, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. The German superstar ranked second on the Oilers with 10 points in the first round versus the Los Angeles Kings and tied for the lead with six points in the second against the Vegas Golden Knights. All that combines for 25 points - good for the second-highest total this postseason. Draisaitl is also tied for fourth in goals, with two game-winners to his name. His underlying stats took a slight hit versus Dallas, but he still played extremely well. Maybe a monster Stanley Cup Final will help him step outside the shadow of his captain. Draisaitl does have some momentum thanks to a six-game point streak.

2. Aleksander Barkov, Panthers

Previous: Unranked

Every team wants a Barkov, but unfortunately for everyone else, there's only one of him to go around. Fans unfamiliar with his game got to witness a quintessential Barkov moment in the Eastern Conference Final: He shook off Hurricanes defenseman Dmitry Orlov behind Carolina's net, made a power move to the front, and found an open Verhaeghe with a backhand feed. The gorgeous play set up the game-winner that propelled Florida to its third straight Stanley Cup Final.

Barkov is a two-way force, as evidenced by his three Selke Trophies. He's won a whopping 57.9% of his faceoffs - and 61.5% in the defensive zone - while leading all players in draws taken (304) in these playoffs. The Finn is also a key part of the Panthers' penalty kill, which owns an outstanding 87.9% success rate this spring. The Panthers have outscored opponents 16-12 with Barkov on the ice at five-on-five despite his tough assignments against top players, and his 17 points are tied for fifth in the league. Barkov helped limit the Oilers' superstars last postseason, and if he does it again, he'll definitely build on his Conn Smythe case.

1. Connor McDavid, Oilers

Previous: 1

McDavid made it clear these Oilers aren't the same team that fell one win shy of lifting the Stanley Cup last spring. Namely, he said he and his teammates haven't been "as emotional," suggesting he's more dialed in than ever.

That focus and maturity were evident in his play in the Western Conference Final. McDavid doubled his goal total from the first two rounds, and his breathtaking breakaway tally in Game 5 stood as the series winner. His 26 points this postseason are the most among all players, and he paces the field with 22 even-strength points. In 2024, McDavid became the sixth player and second skater to take home the Conn Smythe as a member of the losing side. If Edmonton can get the job done this time, McDavid would be the slam-dunk pick to claim the title of playoff MVP again. That would put him in elite company as only the fourth player ever to win back-to-back Conn Smythes, joining Sidney Crosby (2016-17), Mario Lemieux (1991-92), and Bernie Parent (1974-75). Unsurprisingly, it would be hard to bet against McDavid at this point.

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

Keep an eye on:

• Evan Bouchard, Oilers
• Stuart Skinner, Oilers
• Matthew Tkachuk, Panthers