Poll Results: Who's Leading The Conn Smythe Trophy Race?

The Conn Smythe Trophy, for MVP of the NHL playoffs, is always a highly debatable award, and many player received votes in the poll. Here's how the results broke down:

1. David Krejci - Boston Bruins (51%): With players such as Patrice Bergeron, Tyler Seguin, Zdeno Chara and Tuukka Rask on the roster, Krejci sometimes gets lost in the shuffle. Generally a solid secondary offensive option, Krejci has an amazing ability to turn it up a notch in the postseason. When Boston won the Stanley Cup in 2011, he had 23 points in 25 games. This year, Krejci leads all playoff scorers with 17 points already after 12 games. Good thing too, as the goals from many of those star players I listed have dried up this post-season and Krejci has had to do most of the heavy lifting for the Bruins up front.


2. Jonathan Quick - Los Angeles Kings (18%): I mentioned Quick's numbers in a previous post, but they bear repeating: 1.50 goals against average, .948 save percentage, 3 shutouts, 8 wins. He leads the NHL in all four  categories. The reigning Conn Smythe winner has simply been a rock for the Kings, allowing only 20 goals total through 13 games. Only two players in history, Flyers goalie Bernie Parent (1974-75) and the great Mario Lemieux (1991-92) have won the Smythe in consecutive seasons, but if the Kings can get there again, don't be surprised if Quick becomes the third. The way he's playing is simply historic.

3. Sidney Crosby - Pittsburgh Penguins (8%): I was a bit surprised to see Crosby so low in the poll, but I suspect the excellent play of Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang may have split the vote. It doesn't change the fact that Crosby has been simply deadly so far in the playoffs, scoring 15 points in just 10 games. Since coming back from a terrible jaw injury, Crosby has continued at his amazing pace from the regular season when he finished third in league scoring with 56 points in only 36 games. Conn Smythe Trophy voters tend to pick different players when a team wins the Cup multiple teams, and seeing how Malkin won it in 2009, there's a good chance Crosby could get his name on it this year.

4. Other (13%): I had Logan Couture on the poll, as he had an excellent playoffs, but he didn't receive any votes and was eliminated anyways, making the point moot. There are many other players that are worth mentioning however. First and foremost has to be Corey Crawford in Chicago. Crawford's numbers are right there behind Quick's. In addition I wouldn't be surprised to see Malkin and Letang pull ahead of Crosby if they have a good series against Boston. Likewise for Nathan Horton of the Bruins who is top 5 in playoff scoring and has an excellent +14 so far.