2026 NHL Conn Smythe Odds and Predictions

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The Conn Smythe market is one of the more interesting corners of the NHL postseason board because bettors are not just trying to identify the team that can survive four rounds. They are also trying to find the player most likely to own the playoff story by the time the Stanley Cup is handed out.

That is what makes this award tricky. Talent matters, but talent alone is not enough. A player needs the right role, the right production profile, and, more importantly, a realistic team path to stay alive deep enough in the bracket for this ticket to matter.

This year’s board gives bettors a mix of short-priced superstars, viable goalie plays, and a few midrange numbers that look more attractive once team context is factored in. Below is a look at the current odds, the favorites who deserve the most attention, the best value on the board, and the final Conn Smythe pick.

Because this market is tied so closely to postseason survival, bettors comparing Conn Smythe Trophy Odds should also look at the bigger championship picture before locking in a ticket. A player may have the talent to win playoff MVP, but the bet becomes much stronger when his team also has a believable title path, which is why checking the latest Stanley Cup Odds adds useful context to this award market.

What Is The Conn Smythe Trophy?

The Conn Smythe Trophy is awarded to the most valuable player in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. It covers the full postseason, not just the Stanley Cup Final, which is why bettors need to think beyond raw star power and focus on who can combine elite play with a deep playoff run.

Who Won The Conn Smythe Trophy 2025?

Sam Bennett won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2025 after helping the Florida Panthers secure their second straight Stanley Cup. He came from the Cup champion, not the losing finalist, and his playoff scoring gave him the edge in a postseason run that ended with Florida beating Edmonton.

Conn Smythe Trophy Odds

The current market comes from the Covers / BET99 odds board, and it reflects exactly what this award usually becomes: a mix of top-end stars on serious contenders and a few longer shots whose value is tied to team path.

At the top, this market is clearly led by Nathan MacKinnon, with Nikita Kucherov and Cale Makar sitting in the next tier. More importantly, the shortest prices are mostly attached to teams with legitimate Cup paths, which is exactly what bettors want in this award.

The board still feels wider than it first appears. Star skaters dominate the top, but the goalie lane is real with Andrei Vasilevskiy and Jake Oettinger, and there are a few midrange names like Jack Eichel and Rasmus Dahlin whose numbers look more playable once bracket position and team quality are factored in.

One of the smartest ways to evaluate Conn Smythe Trophy Odds is by pairing futures prices with current postseason form and matchup performance. Even elite stars can lose value quickly if their team starts sliding, so reviewing the latest NHL Picks can help readers understand which players are actually building momentum deep enough to stay live in this race.

Conn Smythe Trophy Favorites

The favorites are easy to identify, but they are not all equally appealing from a betting standpoint.

Nathan MacKinnon (+640)

MacKinnon is the clear market favorite because Colorado brings the cleanest overall team path into the playoffs. The Avalanche finished with the Presidents’ Trophy, led the league in goal differential, and MacKinnon enters the postseason as the offensive centerpiece after scoring 53 goals and 127 points.

That said, this is a short number in a volatile award. The path is obvious, but so is the price tax. If you are betting MacKinnon here, you are paying for the best player on the best regular-season team, and there is not much room for error once teammate vote competition from Cale Makar and Martin Necas is considered.

Nikita Kucherov (+1100)

Kucherov has one of the strongest cases on the board because he brings elite production and plays on a Tampa Bay team with both scoring depth and playoff credibility. He posted 44 goals and 130 points, and if the Lightning make a deep run, he is the most likely skater to drive the narrative.

The price is where things get interesting. He is not as short as MacKinnon, but the ceiling is not far behind. More importantly, Tampa gives him a real path to multiple rounds, which makes +1100 feel more balanced than some of the shorter prices above him.

Cale Makar (+1200)

Makar makes immediate sense if you want Colorado exposure without paying the MacKinnon premium. He already has a Conn Smythe on his resume, remains the Avalanche’s No. 1 defenseman, and still plays the kind of all-situations role that can take over a postseason if Colorado reaches the Final.

From a betting angle, this is one of the more appealing prices among the favorites. He is attached to the same elite team context as MacKinnon, but at a better number. The concern is simple: if MacKinnon puts up the headline offensive totals everyone expects, Makar can do everything right and still lose the award battle inside his own locker room.

Andrei Vasilevskiy (+1800)

Vasilevskiy is the best goalie price near the top of the market, and that deserves real respect in this award. Tampa has the kind of team quality that can support a long run, and if the Lightning get into a tighter, lower-event postseason path, Vasilevskiy has the profile to become the story quickly.

The risk is obvious, but it is manageable. Goalies always carry a thinner margin because one rough series can wreck the ticket, and Kucherov is sitting right there as the offensive counterweight. Still, if you want a goalie on a serious contender instead of a pure flier, Vasilevskiy is the cleanest option.

Best Conn Smythe Trophy Betting Value

The best value range in this market sits just below the headline names, where team path and price start to line up more cleanly.

Jack Eichel (+2900)

Eichel stands out because Vegas still owns a realistic Western Conference path, but his number sits well beyond the elite tier. The Golden Knights won the Pacific, avoided an immediate collision with some of the heaviest West favorites, and Eichel remains the most natural face of a deep Vegas run after a 90-point season.

That makes +2900 more interesting than it first looks. He is not priced like a true top-shelf favorite, but his path is better than several shorter names on the board. The risk is that Vegas is still viewed a notch below Colorado and some of the other headline contenders, so the team has to validate the bracket setup.

Bettors looking for value in Conn Smythe Trophy Odds should also track how player prices move alongside team results during the playoffs. A short hot streak, a dominant goalie performance, or one explosive scoring series can reshape this board fast, and the updated NHL Scores and Odds page is a useful companion for following that market movement in real time.

Jake Oettinger (+3500)

Oettinger is one of the better value plays for bettors who want a goalie ticket without paying a premium. Dallas finished with one of the strongest records in the West, opens with home ice against Minnesota, and Oettinger has the kind of role that can reprice dramatically after one or two strong series.

The number works because the Stars have a believable Cup route and because goalies can jump this board quickly once the postseason starts. The downside is that Dallas has enough scoring depth to create competition from its skaters, but at +3500, that risk is easier to live with than it would be at a shorter number.

Top Conn Smythe Trophy Longshot

Linus Ullmark (+4500) is the longshot worth a look in this market. Ottawa is clearly not in the same tier as Colorado, Tampa Bay, or Dallas, but Ullmark gives the Senators a believable way to outperform expectations. If this team makes noise, it is most likely because the goaltending becomes the story.

That is also why the risk is so clear. Ottawa has to survive an upset path, and there is very little margin for error against a strong Carolina team. Still, longshot Conn Smythe bets need a realistic script, and Ullmark has one: steal a round, turn into the playoff headline, and let the market catch up later.

Since this award blends player evaluation with team futures logic, understanding the betting strategy behind Conn Smythe Trophy Odds can be just as important as identifying the right star. Readers who want a stronger foundation for futures betting can use the site’s NHL Betting Guide to get more context on how hockey markets work and how to approach long-range wagers with better discipline.

Conn Smythe Trophy Predictions

The best way to approach this market is to avoid paying top dollar unless the player’s path and role clearly justify it. MacKinnon is the cleanest favorite by team strength, and Makar is a strong alternative if you want Colorado exposure at a better price. Still, the best overall betting angle sits with a player whose price is strong enough to matter but whose team does not need a miracle run to cash the ticket.

That is why Nikita Kucherov stands out as the final choice. Tampa has the playoff viability, Kucherov has the production profile, and the number still leaves room for value compared with the shortest price on the board. He is the Lightning skater most likely to control the narrative if they make a deep run, and he checks the most important boxes in this market: role, path, and price.

Before placing any bet tied to Conn Smythe Trophy Odds, it also helps to study the team environment around each candidate. A player’s role, line support, and goaltending stability all matter in a long playoff run, and the NHL Teams section is a strong supporting resource for readers who want to compare contenders more closely before committing to a futures ticket.

Bet: Nikita Kucherov (+1100)

Recent Conn Smythe Trophy Winners

Recent winners give bettors a good reminder that this award usually follows star players on teams that make it all the way.