Is Mitch Marner The Best Pick For The NHL's Conn Smythe Trophy?

After the seismic developments of the previous few days, namely the likely downfall of Nathan MacKinnon and the Colorado Avalanche, the spotlight for the Conn Smythe Trophy watch has shifted to new hockey odds favorite Mitch Marner.

I should have written a disclaimer for Toronto Maple Leafs fans prior to the lede.

Does Marner, the leading scorer in these playoffs, constitute the best pick as the final beckons, or is another player going to rise to prominence?

NHL Playoffs Tracker: Series Results, Odds, Top Scorers, May 26 Schedule

The Vegas Golden Knights can advance to the Stanley Cup final on Tuesday. In the Eastern Conference final, the Carolina Hurricanes took the series lead. Here's your NHL playoff update.

Taylor Hall, LW, Carolina Hurricanes

Taylor Hall scored his first goal of the Eastern Conference final in Game 3 and his fourth of the post-season. He has 13 points in 11 games for 1.18 points per game, the fourth-most of those remaining.

Hall is unquestionably playing the best hockey of his career, which isn't surprising considering he's searching for his first Stanley Cup in his 16th NHL season.

Desperation suits the 34-year-old.

Mitch Marner, RW, Vegas Golden Knights

While by no means the shoo-in to win the Conn Smythe Trophy, a couple of more dominant performances will make it possible, albeit unlikely, for Marner to win even if the Golden Knights don't win the Cup.

Presuming he advances to the Stanley Cup final, a pretty safe bet considering only four teams have overturned a 3-0 series deficit, Marner will be in pole position to capture the coveted honor.

Leading the playoffs in points (21) and points per game (1.40), he plays an influential role in every aspect, including being a linchpin on a penalty kill that is the second-best of the remaining teams (87.2 percent).

By Gary Pearson, BetMGM

The Hockey News

This story was originally published May 26, 2026 at 11:50 AM.