Conn Smythe odds ahead of NHL Playoffs (Don't bet on a goalie)

The most exciting postseason in North American professional sports has arrived: the NHL Playoffs.

One of the betting markets we need to take a look at are the odds to win the Conn Smythe. Unlike other sports like MLB, NBA, and NFL, the Conn Smythe is given to the MVP of the entire playoffs, not just the Stanley Cup Final.

That means that the first round of games are important in deciding who will win it all.

Let’s take a look at the odds to win the 2023 Conn Smythe.

Odds to win Conn Smythe Trophy

Conn Smythe Trophy tends

There are a few important things to keep in mind when betting on who will win the Conn Smythe Trophy. One of them is an often repeated opinion that you should just bet on the goalie of the team that you think is going to win the Cup.

Recent history would show that betting on a goalie is actually a bad strategy. This isn’t like the NFL where you just want to take the QB of the winning team to win MVP.

In fact, only one goalie has won the Conn Smythe Trophy in the past 10 years. It was Andrei Vasilevskiy for the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2021.

The other thing you should consider is that it there have been a few instances of it going to a member of the losing team. It’s been a while since it has happened, but the Conn Smythe has gone to a member of the losing team five times in the history of the trophy. The last time it happened was in 2003 when Jean-Sebastian Giguere had a .945 save percentage in the playoffs when the Anaheim Ducks lost to the New Jersey Devils in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals.

2023 Conn Smythe Trophy prediction

The time has come for me to make my pre-playoff Conn Smythe Trophy prediction.

Obviously, this should lineup with who I think is going to win the Stanley Cup. I have gone on record as saying the Carolina Hurricanes are the best team in the NHL this year, despite the Boston Bruins’ record setting regular season.

So, I’m looking at the Hurricanes roster and one time jumps out to me; Sebastian Aho.

He led the Hurricanes with 36 goals this season and second in total points with 67.

If the ‘Canes win the Cup, you can be assured that Aho is going to fill the nets of their opponents throughout their postseason run.

At +3000, he has the best odds of all players on the Hurricanes, and for good reason.

Give me Aho at +3000.

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Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.