During most years, there seem to be one or two players who are in the driver's seat to be named the Conn Smythe Trophy winner. Usually, that player is a superstar whose numbers are so otherworldly that you can't ignore them. However, that's not the Carolina Hurricanes' style. Their roster is built for contributions from the entire lineup, not just a handful of players.
Before Game 6 started, the consensus was that Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal would win the Conn Smythe, though it felt far from certain. When the series ended and Commissioner Gary Bettman began his spiel before handing out the award, it became clear that the veteran was earning the honor. The ballots indicate that it was a runaway, with Staal earning 17 of the 21 first-place votes.
Staal finished the postseason with eight goals and 12 points in 19 games, which doesn't feel like a lot. His 12 points are the fifth-fewest for any skater and the second-fewest for a forward since the award was first given. However, Staal put in an all-time performance, becoming the 20th player in NHL history to score six goals in the Stanley Cup Final, opening the series on a five-game goal streak.
Some have pointed to the fact that Staal's win was more about his work during the Stanley Cup Final, while the award is meant to be about the postseason as a whole. Canes fans will be quick to mention that Staal's importance goes beyond the scoresheet. However, for the sake of all arguments, here are five other Hurricanes whose cases to win the Conn Smythe were also pretty solid.
Frederik Andersen
If Frederik Andersen had played the entire Stanley Cup Final and turned his series around, as he did against Montreal, the award would've been his to lose. He was easily the front runner through two rounds, and even his work at the end of the Eastern Conference Finals made it seem like he was going to run away with the Conn Smythe if he led the Hurricanes to the Stanley Cup.
All he did was start the postseason with eight straight wins, allowing ten total goals in their series against the Senators and the Flyers. He recorded a shutout in Game 1 in both rounds. He struggled in Game 1 against Montreal, but Andersen responded by allowing five goals in four wins once again, entering the Cup Final with a 12-1 record, a .931 save percentage, and a 1.41 GAA.
His run came to an end after the second period of Game 3, and after much speculation, it was revealed that he'd hurt his knee during Game 2. He finished with a .910 save percentage and a 1.89 GAA, both near the top of the league, and his three shutouts account for nearly half of the total for the league (7). Not to mention, he was the first player to be passed the Stanley Cup when they won it.
Nikolaj Ehlers
When Nikolaj Ehlers had a slow start this postseason, I don't remember many people being as concerned as they were when his regular season began the same way. Through three games against Ottawa, Ehlers had just one assist. Then, he was ruled out for Game 4 with an injury, his only missed game of the season. It wasn't exactly a banner start.
He showed a little sign of life with two points in Game 2 of the second round, but things still weren't completely there. Ehlers' turnaround began with his two-goal performance in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals, scoring the overtime winner to knot the series. From there, Ehlers went on a run. He recorded 14 points in the final 10 games, including a team-high nine against Vegas.
In his first postseason with Carolina, Ehlers finished tied for second on the team with eight goals and third in points with 18. Both numbers tied him for fifth in the league. Ehlers was a game-changer during the final two rounds. It's almost like he was one of the final puzzle pieces. He finished fifth in Conn Smythe voting, receiving four third-place votes.
Jackson Blake
In his second full season at just 22 years old, Jackson Blake led the Hurricanes in scoring this postseason with 20 points, sitting alone in third in both points and assists (13) in the NHL. It came on the heels of a breakout regular season, topping 20 goals and 50 points. It felt like Blake was there whenever the Hurricanes needed something big to happen.
While Blake was good in the first round against Ottawa, his postseason took off when they faced the Flyers. He led the Canes in points in the series (7), contributing to all three goals in the series-clinching game, including the overtime goal. Blake had at least four points in all four series, and he set a franchise record with seven multi-point games.
It's crazy to consider him the "forgotten" player on the team's most dangerous line this postseason, especially when he recorded the most points. Still, he didn't receive much love from the Professional Hockey Writers Association, finishing with just two third-place votes. However, I also would've placed him in third on my Conn Smythe ballot if I had a vote.
Logan Stankoven
I never want to hear another word about Logan Stankoven's height ever again. This man plays a foot taller than he is and possesses more heart on the ice than the average hockey player. There was nothing that could stop him, and he never backed down from a fight. His numbers were pretty good too, scoring the third-most goals of any player in the playoffs (11) to lead Carolina.
Stankoven opened the postseason at a torrid pace, scoring goals in each of the first five games, including the opening goal in the first three contests against Ottawa. Montreal thought they'd figured out how to stop him in the Eastern Conference Finals, only for him to turn around and torch them for four points in the final two games, including three points in Game 5
To finish his postseason run, Stankoven had a point in four of the six games in the Stanley Cup Final. His steal and finish in Game 2 began the comeback, and he helped ice Game 6 with his hard work to get the puck and find Blake in the second period. Stankoven was on the podium for the Conn Smythe, finishing third with 17 of a possible 105 points.
Taylor Hall
Taylor Hall is a perfect example to show people who think every #1 pick has to fit a certain mold. There is nothing wrong with the career that he has put together. Hall is a former MVP, and now, he's a Stanley Cup champion. He was the only other player to receive first-place votes, finishing in a distant second to the captain. Hall appeared on 19 of the 21 ballots for the Conn Smythe.
To begin the playoffs, Hall went on a six-game point streak, picking up nine points and recording multi-point games in three of the four contests in the opening round. Hall's only pointless game of the first two rounds was Game 3 against the Flyers, and he followed that with three assists in Game 4 in Philadelphia. His line was easily the team's best to that point.
Hall only had seven points between the Eastern Conference Finals and the Stanley Cup Final, though three of them came in Game 5 against Montreal, and his goal to open the scoring in Game 6 against Vegas served as the series-clincher. Hall was fourth in scoring this postseason with 19 points, almost all of which came at even strength. He would've been my pick for the Conn Smythe winner.
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