2013 Stanley Cup Conn Smythe Trophy Odds and Predictions: Favorites, Dark Horses and Sleepers

2013 Stanley Cup Conn Smythe Trophy Odds and Predictions – Favorites, Dark Horses and Sleepers: With the fighting and other unique nuances that hockey brings to the table, it is only fitting that the Stanley Cup playoffs features one of the more unique individual awards in professional sports. While either the Boston Bruins or Chicago Blackhawks will get to hoist the Stanley Cup, one player will be honored with the Conn Smythe Trophy. The award is given at the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals, but it isn’t given to the player that was the most valuable in the series. Instead, the award encompasses a player’s performance for the entire postseason.

Granted, no player has ever earned the honor and not at least reached the finals, but five players have taken home to Conn Smythe despite being on the losing team with goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere being the most-recent player to win the award in a losing effort back in 2003. In addition, goalies have earned the honor in each of the past two seasons, and goalie Patrick Roy is the only three-time Conn Smythe winner. That being said, players from every position have won the award in the past, and with that in mind, here is a closer look at the frontrunners and other contenders for the 2013 Conn Smythe Trophy.

The Favorites

Boston center David Krejci had 10 goals and 33 points during the regular season, and during the postseason, he already has nine goals and 21 points. Krejci leads all players in both categories during the Stanley Cup playoffs, and while other members of the Bruins’ offense have run hot and cold, he has been the steady, driving force of the team’s scoring attack. If he continues to pad his playoff-leading point total and the Bruins go on to win the series, Krejci’s overall body of work will be very tough to ignore.

While Chicago’s offensive attack has gotten contributions from a variety of individuals, the staple at the backend of the Blackhawk’s stout defense has been goalie Corey Crawford. Ironically, he was one of the team’s question marks heading into the postseason, but he has handled the pressure and then some. In fact, his 1.74 goals against average in the playoffs leads all eligible goalies, and his .935 save percentage is the second best. Crawford doesn’t make a ton of eye-popping stops, but he doesn’t give up soft goals and stops almost 100 percent of the shots that he is supposed to. His rock solid, reliable play has Chicago in position to win the Stanley Cup, and it has Crawford in position to win the Conn Smythe if the Blackhawks win the series.

The Dark Horses

Who says the Bruins need 2011 Conn Smythe winner Tim Thomas in net to win another championship? First-year starter Tuukka Rask was solid during the regular season, and he has been brilliant in the playoffs. His 1.75 goals against average during the postseason is the second best, and his .943 save percentage is tops among eligible goalies. Granted, he was a little shaky in the first round, but Rask has only gotten stronger. In fact, Rask spearheaded Boston’s sweep of Pittsburgh in the conference finals by posting a pair of shutouts and holding the NHL’s best offense to just two total goals all series. If he comes up with another effort like that against Chicago, he will win the Conn Smythe and the Blackhawks will win the Stanley Cup.

After somewhat of a shaky start to the postseason, Chicago’s Patrick Kane has found his stride heading into the finals. In addition to being tied for the team lead with 14 points, the former No. 1 overall pick, netted the game-tying goal in Game 4 of the conference finals and followed that up with a hat trick that included the game-winning, series-clinching goal in double-overtime of Game 5. Needless to say, Kahne has some momentum on his side, and if the Blackhawks’ right wing keeps lighting the lamp in the Stanley Cup Finals against a tough Boston defense, he could power his way to the Conn Smythe Trophy.

He had just one game-winning goal during the regular season, but Boston right wing Nathan Horton already has three during the playoffs. In fact, his production has skyrocketed across the board, and after managing just 22 points all year, his 17 points in the postseason are the second most of any player. Horton has seven goals and 10 helpers during the Bruins’ run to the finals, and if he ends up leading all players in points when all is said done, he can make a strong case that he deserves the Conn Smythe Trophy.

The Sleepers

While an argument can be made that the defensive presence of Zdeno Chara makes him the most valuable player on Boston’s team, he is still facing an uphill battle when it comes to winning the Conn Smythe simply because his impact is tough to measure in statistics. Granted, he does have nine assists during the playoffs, but it is his willingness to give up his body to block a shot or his uncanny ability to wrestle away a puck from any player on the ice in big situations that make Chara such a special player. Plain and simple, Chara’s combination of size, speed, strength and attitude allow him to disrupt opposing offenses and frustrate even the most-skilled goal scorers. If he can just net a big goal or two in the series to go along with all his defensive contributions, the big blueliner could earn himself the Conn Smythe nod.

Coming into the playoffs, Chicago right wing Bryan Bickell was an afterthought on a talented Blackhawks’ team. Now, he is a potential X-factor in the Stanley Cup Finals and a sleeper contender for the Conn Smythe. After all, we are talking about a guy that managed just nine goals all year but already has eight in the postseason. Bickell’s eight goals are tied for the second most of any player during the playoffs, and if he continues his surprising scoring surge and ends up leading all players in postseason goals, he will definitely put himself in the Conn Smythe conversation.

Get expert NHL picks, tips and predictions daily from World Champion Handicapper Sonny LaFouchi(aka The LEGEND) only on NSAwins.com! Plus check out daily vegas odds to win the 2013 Stanley Cup!