Is Mitch Marner the Conn Smythe Trophy winner, win or lose?
The play of star winger Mitch Marner in his first year with the Vegas Golden Knights has been the story of the Stanley Cup Final, as the Knights hold a 2-1 series lead over the Carolina Hurricanes.
Marner recorded the fastest hat trick in the history of the Final on Saturday night to help Vegas build up a four-goal lead in the second period before ultimately having to win in overtime.
In 2024, Connor McDavid became the sixth player in NHL history to win the Conn Smythe trophy as Stanley Cup Playoff MVP while losing the final. Marner is certainly a lock if Vegas hangs on to win the series, but what if Carolina stages a comeback?
Could the Hurricanes’ by-committee approach to production mean that Marner could still win the Conn Smythe even if the Golden Knights don’t take the Cup?
On Tuesday’s episode of Daily Faceoff LIVE, host Tyler Yaremchuk and co-host and former NHL goaltender Carter Hutton were joined by NHL insider David Pagnotta to discuss whether or not Marner could take home the Conn Smythe even if Carolina rallies and takes the series.
Carter Hutton: The other one for me is the performance of Mitch Marner the other night. Like at this point, is he potentially Conn Smythe winner win or lose? What’s your take on that?
David Pagnotta: I mean, win for sure. Lose, I don’t know if it’s at that level yet. I mean, he’s been great, with 28 points, another record that he set, the most in a first year with a new team in a playoff run. But that’s… I don’t know if he’s there yet Like this is not Connor McDavid level from a couple years ago. I know he’s getting there, but… [it] depends like if he goes off for another four points each night, in at least the next two games. Then okay, then you’re probably in that category If Carolina wins the next two or three or whatnot, then you’re probably in that in that conversation, but you know, I’m still looking at Stankoven perhaps on on Carolina’s end. It’s going to be tricky because you don’t have that guy on count on Carolina that’s really stood out significantly. You’ve got guys that have done well, but you haven’t had guys that have excelled at that extra level and Yeah, it’s an interesting one. I mean, I have Vegas in six, so my mind is already on it’s gonna be Mitch, but I Want to see somebody on Carolina step up here in a big way.
You can watch the full segment and the rest of the episode here…