Carolina Hurricanes: Top 5 Conn Smythe Candidates

The Conn Smythe trophy is handed out at the end of the Stanley Cup playoffs to the league’s most valuable player in the playoffs. Today, we look at who could potentially be awarded the Conn Smythe trophy should the Carolina Hurricanes go on to win the Stanley Cup.

The last active Carolina Hurricane to win the Conn Smythe was goaltender Cam Ward in 2006 (his rookie season) following the Carolina Hurricanes’ first and only Stanley Cup win. Justin Williams, however, has won far more recently. Williams won the Playoff MVP merit in 2014 when he won his third Stanley Cup, and second while playing for the Los Angeles Kings.

The Hurricanes have a roster full of talent, heart, leadership, and just about every other factor that goes into determining who should win the Conn Smythe trophy. Having to choose just five players from that roster will be a challenge, and I am by no means diminishing any individual player’s contribution to the team.

That being said, this Top 5 list is purely my own opinion, but I think most of you will agree with the choices I make. I’m basing these choices on each individual’s contribution to the Hurricanes’ success this postseason, not necessarily on points, goals, hits, saves, etc.

5. Warren Foegele

Warren Foegele has come out of absolutely nowhere this postseason. Having registered just 10 goals and 5 assists for a combined 15 points in  the regular season, Foegele has now notched 5 goals and 4 assists for a combined 9 points in 11 playoff games played.

The rookie forward has also set a franchise record this postseason. On April 18th, 2019, during Game 4 of the first round in the 2018-19 playoffs against the Washington Capitals, Warren Foegele scored the fastest postseason goal in franchise history at 17 seconds.

Based on his stellar play and record-setting postseason, Warren Foegele would definitely be foreseeable as a Conn Smythe recipient, especially if the rookie forward can continue to contribute on the same level for the remainder of the playoffs.

4. Jordan Staal

Jordan Staal is yet another forward that seems to have found his stride in the playoffs. Staal missed a significant portion of this season with a concussion, but still managed to put together a 28-point performance in 50 regular season games played.

Staal has been an absolute beast in both the latter half of the season and in the playoffs. He has already tied his postseason best performance of 9 points, notching 4 goals and 5 assists in 11 playoff games played so far this year.

On top of Staal’s offensive prowess, the 30 year-old Center has been a leader both on and off the ice, and has played a huge part in the Hurricanes’ penalty kill. Most of, if not all of Staal’s points this postseason have been in clutch moments, and have been a huge help in pulling the Hurricanes past both the Washington Capitals and the New York Islanders.

2. Justin Williams

Hopefully you’re not surprised that Captain Clutch himself, Justin Williams, has made this list. Williams is arguably the best leader in recent Carolina Hurricanes memory.

Williams has played a huge role in the current atmosphere of unity between the Carolina Hurricanes all season long. Not only has he led on the ice, Williams has been a leader off the ice, in the locker room, and on the bench.

Having won the Stanley Cup three times with two different teams (Carolina Hurricanes in 2006, Los Angeles Kings in 2012 and 2014), Williams knows what it takes to win, and has instilled in the team a culture of teamwork, camaraderie, and selflessness.

I can’t say enough about what Williams has done for the Hurricanes, and I’m sure he’ll continue to do the same for as long as he’s lacing up the skates.

Honorable Mentions

As I’ve said before, in this article and many others, every single player on this team has contributed to the Hurricanes’ current success. There have, however, been quite a few standouts that may not be considered a Conn Smythe finalist, but deserve recognition nonetheless.

Jordan Martinook is the first of these individuals. Similar to Justin Williams, Jordan Martinook has brought a whole new level of energy to the Carolina Hurricanes. Martinook has been dubbed a ‘glue guy’ by head coach Rod Brind’amour, and I couldn’t agree more. Jordan Martinook is beloved by both the fans and his teammates, and I personally am excited that Waddell has managed to sign him for another 2 years.

The next honorable mention goes to both Petr Mrazek and Curtis McElhinney. A huge reason why the Hurricanes have missed the playoffs in seasons past has been the lack of solid, consistent goaltending.

Mrazek and McElhinney have both delivered and provided the Hurricanes with the confidence to play their game without worrying about the net. Both goalies have been phenomenal this season and in the postseason, and it would be an absolute crime to leave them out of this article.

The final honorable mention has to go to Brock McGinn. His postseason heroics in Game 7 against the Washington Capitals have more than earned him a spot in this list. You could argue, very easily, that without Brock McGinn’s diving save in the late 3rd period of Game 7, the Hurricanes would’ve been eliminated from playoff contention.

Not only did McGinn save the game in that particular play, he scored the game-winning goal in double overtime of Game 7 off of a pass from Justin Williams, effectively eliminating the defending Stanley Cup Champions, and securing the Hurricanes’ spot in Round 2 of the playoffs.

1. Jaccob Slavin

Jaccob Slavin has evolved into an elite defenseman. It shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone that Jaccob Slavin is my number one choice for Conn Smythe recipient.

Slavin has been an absolute phenom all around the ice this postseason. Slavin has posted 11 assists in 11 playoff games played; the 25 year-old defenseman needs only two more to tie the franchise record of 13, currently held by legendary Carolina Hurricanes blueliner Frantisek Kaberle.

Only six other defensemen in league history have topped Slavin’s point totals throughout the first 10 games of a postseason: Bobby Orr, Brian Leetch, Al MacInnis, Paul Coffey, Larry Murphy, and Larry Robinson. These are absolutely legendary names to be associated with, and I can think of no better player to award the Conn Smythe trophy to than Jaccob Slavin.

Like I said in the beginning of this article, narrowing down this list to just five names (honorable mentions excluded) was EXTREMELY difficult. With a roster this full of heart and leadership, this is one of the best problems one can have as a writer or analyst. The Hurricanes have quite a series ahead of them against the Boston Bruins, but I have no doubt in my mind that they will come out winners on the other side, regardless of the results of the next 4-7 games.

Question for CC Readers: Do you agree with this list? If not, who would your Top 5 Carolina Hurricanes Conn Smythe finalists be?