Hurricanes Have Multiple Conn Smythe Favorites After 2 Rounds

When it comes to the Conn Smythe Trophy, there are usually one or two players who are making a strong case, even if it’s only been two rounds. Regarding the Carolina Hurricanes, they have multiple players who are making an early case to be the favorites. Between the second line and the goaltending, there is a lot to discuss when it comes to these four players in Raleigh.

Taylor Hall

The first name that comes to mind is Taylor Hall, who is playing like his MVP-like self from 2018. Through eight games, he leads the Hurricanes in assists (nine), points (12), and plus/minus with a plus-10. On top of that, he is tied for seventh in points and tied for sixth in assists for all skaters. In Round 2 alone against the Philadelphia Flyers, he tallied four assists, five points, and was a plus-5, along with the game-winning goal in Game 2.

Ever since Hall joined Logan Stankoven and Jackson Blake, he has seamlessly rewound the clock and is playing at a Hart Trophy level. Especially in the playoffs, he is part of the hottest line in hockey, which has tallied 31 points in eight games and is a combined plus-25. No matter if he’s setting up the play, scoring the goal, or playing key defensively, Hall has done it and more with the Hurricanes in his second playoffs in Raleigh.

Even his teammates know how pivotal Hall has been for them this postseason. After scoring the overtime winner in Game 2 against the Flyers, Seth Jarvis stated, “He’s been incredible. Almost more important than his goal was his block in the third with a couple of seconds left. You never know what happens there. For him to put his body on the line, and then get rewarded with a goal, I couldn’t be happier for the guy.”

It’s no surprise how much Hall is loved in the locker room. After joining the team in 2025 in the three-team trade with the Colorado Avalanche and the Chicago Blackhawks, Hall has fit in like he’s been here for five seasons, not a season and a half. While Mitch Marner leads all skaters with 16 points, and Jack Eichel with 14 assists, they’ve had to play 11 games to get there. Hall has his nine assists and 12 points in eight games.

Jackson Blake

When it comes to Blake, he is someone who has taken his game to another level in the playoffs. After tallying three goals and six points in 15 games during the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, he has already surpassed that with four goals, seven assists, and 11 points. He’s also tied for fourth on the team with a plus-7.

Regarding all skaters in the playoffs, Blake is tied for ninth in points with Martin Necas and 10th in assists, one behind Lane Hutson. In his second-ever playoffs, Blake has been an all-around dynamo for Rod Brind’Amour’s team. Not only was he the youngest player in Hurricanes history to score a series-clinching goal, but he was also named the NHLPA Playoff Performer of the Series. Against the Flyers, he had three multi-point games. He averaged 1.75 points per game and had six even-strength points. Both of those categories led the team, while being the first star in Game 4 and the second star in Game 1.

After scoring the game-winning goal in Game 4, Blake stated, “A lot went down on that goal. Slavo makes an unbelievable play. Then Stanks middle-lane drives and pushes those two defensemen back. Hallsy makes a play that not a lot of people can make there. Fortunately, I got the bounce and it went in…”

While Hall might have a slight edge when it comes to the Conn Smythe discussions, there is a case to be made for Blake, as his all-around game has put him up there in the conversation. While he doesn’t lead the Hurricanes in goals, assists, points, or plus/minus, Blake has shown how his game has gone to another level and is more evenly distributed with his production.

Logan Stankoven

Centering the two biggest point-getters for the Hurricanes is the red-hot Stankoven, who keeps scoring at will. While he has eight points, he leads the team in goals (seven) and is tied for the playoff lead with Nathan MacKinnon, Matt Boldy, Brett Howden, and Pavel Dorofeyev. Stankoven even had a 13-game point streak, which started in the regular season and carried into the playoffs. He scored a goal in all four games of Round 1 against the Ottawa Senators. Furthermore, he scored the opening goal in the first three games.

Stankoven scored 21 goals in the regular season, but could have easily scored 25 if not for the puck not going in for him. However, since the playoffs started, he cannot stop scoring. He scored two goals in Game 1 of Round 2 before being part of the three goals in Game 4 to send the Hurricanes to the Eastern Conference Final. Stankoven has been one of the best scorers in the playoffs, and it seems like no matter where he’s shooting, the puck goes in the net.

After scoring in Game 4 to help send the Hurricanes to the third round, Stankoven stated, “I thought the first period, I didn’t play great, just individually. We talked about it as a line in between periods; we had to be simpler. Even if we’re not scoring, just trying to create some momentum and some O-zone shifts. We did, and we were able to cash in a few times, so it was nice. Great to get back on the board.”

The fact that he had seven of his line’s 14 goals says how huge he’s been for that line and the Hurricanes through eight playoff games. The fact that he is almost a point-per-game in goals alone is staggering to think about. When it comes to the second line as a whole, all three guys of Stankoven, Hall, and Blake could have a case for the Conn Smythe.

Between Stankoven’s goals, Hall’s points and assists, and Blake’s all-around contribution, those three are leading the way offensively in Carolina. All of that being said, the Hurricanes can also not have eight wins without some stellar play in the crease.

Frederik Andersen

What is there to say about Frederik Andersen? Outside of his playoff-leading eight wins, 1.12 goals-against average (GAA), .950 save percentage (SV%), and two shutouts, Andersen is playing otherworldly in another universe. He is the best goalie of the playoffs by a wide margin. It does come as a surprise after his statistically worst regular season. However, he’s done a complete 180 degrees and is playing at a Vezina level.

The fact that he is 8-0-0 is mind-blowing for how well he’s played, along with allowing two goals or fewer in all of his starts. Furthermore, he’s only allowed 10 goals total in over 537 minutes of ice time. In the second round alone, Andersen went 4-0-0 with a 1.14 GAA and a .945 SV%. He averaged 21.5 saves a game while allowing only 1.3 goals on average in the four games. He was the epitome of a brick wall in the crease.

Out of the four Hurricanes players, Andersen could make the most sense if he can keep racking up the wins and still be a force in the crease. It’ll be interesting if he can stay in the high .900 SV% range, while allowing two goals or fewer per game. However, if he is anywhere in that realm, it’ll be tough not to pick the Danish netminder who has been solid for the Hurricanes in the playoffs since joining the team in 2022.

When it comes down to it, all four players make their own cases to be early favorites for the Conn Smythe Trophy after two rounds. While there is still a ton of hockey to be played, it’s not too early to consider who could be the Playoff MVP with the starts these guys have had to begin the postseason. If the Hurricanes make the Stanley Cup Final with these four continuing to lead the way, watch out for some hardware potentially making its way to Raleigh.