In the opening two games of the 2024 Stanley Cup Finals between the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers, a single player has undeniably captured the spotlight, solidifying himself as the leading candidate for the esteemed Conn Smythe Trophy.
None of them are Connor McDavid. None of them are Matthew Tkachuk either. Nor Leon Draisaitl. Nor Aleksander Barkov, Sam Reinhart, Evan Bouchard, Carter Verhaeghe, or Zach Hyman.
Florida goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky is the leading candidate for the Conn Smythe Trophy honors. He has only allowed one goal in the first 120 minutes of the series, playing a crucial role in helping the Panthers come within two victories of winning the coveted Cup for the first time in their franchise history.
Bobrovsky had a flawless performance in Game 1 on Saturday, stopping all 32 shots from Edmonton and helping the Panthers secure a 3-0 victory against the Oilers. However, in Game 2 last night, he was unable to prevent Mattias Ekholm from scoring at 11:17 of the first period. Despite this setback, Bobrovsky and his team rebounded strongly, scoring four consecutive goals and ultimately winning the game 4-1. This triumph gave the Panthers a 2-0 lead in the series.
Games 3 (Thursday, 8:00 pm ET, ABC) and 4 (Saturday, 8:00 pm ET, ABC) will take place in Edmonton, shifting the series. As a result, it’s clear that the Oilers cannot be underestimated in any way at this stage.
However, if Bobrovsky maintains his impressive performance, the Panthers may have a chance to sweep on Saturday or secure their first Cup victory in front of their home crowd in Sunrise next Tuesday (8:00 pm ET, ABC). Furthermore, the two-time Vezina Trophy winner could potentially earn some more personal accolades.
125% Bonus up to $3,125
Bonus Details »
Most Competitive Odds
Sports, Casino, Poker & Racebook
Conn Smythe Trophy Odds
- Sergei Bobrovsky, Florida Panthers -160
- Aleksander Barkov, Florida Panthers +500
- Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers +500
- Matthew Tkachuk, Florida Panthers +1600
- Evan Rodrigues, Florida Panthers +2000
- Carter Verhaeghe, Florida Panthers +2500
- Evan Bouchard, Edmonton Oilers +2500
- Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton Oilers +2500
- Sam Reinhart, Florida Panthers +6000
- Gustav Forsling, Florida Panthers +6000
See the rest of the Conn Smythe trophy odds and favorites at BetUS.
Are you unfamiliar with BetUS? Check out our BetUS sportsbook review to learn more about them. If you like what you see, you can bag one of several sizable sign-up bonuses to try them out.
Bobrovsky Bidding to Bring Netminders Back into Conn Smythe Spotlight
If Bobrovsky does go on to win the Conn Smythe Trophy, he will become the 18th goaltender to win the award and the first since Tampa Bay’s Andrei Vasilevskiy in 2021.
In recent years, it has become more uncommon for goaltenders to win the prestigious Conn Smythe Trophy, which is awarded to the most outstanding player in the playoffs.
After consecutive wins by Tim Thomas (Boston Bruins) and Jonathan Quick (Los Angeles Kings) in 2011 and 2012, Vasilevskiy stands as the sole goalie to claim the victory. Moreover, since the NHL lockout of 2004-05, only four goaltenders, namely Cam Ward of Carolina (2006), Thomas, Quick, and Vasilevskiy, have secured the coveted Conn Smythe Trophy out of a total of 18 postseasons.
Position Breakdown of Conn Smythe Trophy Winners
- Center: 19 (Latest: Ryan O’Reilly, St. Louis Blues, 2019)
- The most recent goaltender to achieve the feat is Andrei Vasilevskiy from the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2021, at the age of 17.
- The most recent defenseman who achieved the number 12 is Cale Makar from the Colorado Avalanche in 2022.
- The most recent winger to wear the number 10 jersey is Jonathan Marchessault, playing for the Vegas Golden Knights in 2023.
Should Bobrovsky win the award, it will undoubtedly strengthen his Hockey Hall of Fame credentials even more.
Since 1981, when the Vezina Trophy adopted its current criteria, multiple players have won the award. Among them are Patrick Roy, Ed Balfour, Dominik Hasek, Martin Brodeur, Thomas, and Bobrovsky.
All four of the first individuals mentioned have been inducted into the Hall of Fame. However, Thomas’s relatively short tenure in the NHL is the reason why it may take some time for him to be selected. Among this group, only Roy and Thomas have won the Vezina Trophy multiple times and have also secured the Conn Smythe Trophy at least once. Being in such esteemed company, if Bobrovsky achieves the same feat in the upcoming week or so, it will almost certainly guarantee his future inclusion in Toronto’s Hall of Fame.
125% Bonus up to $3,125
Bonus Details »
Most Competitive Odds
Sports, Casino, Poker & Racebook
Recent Conn Smythe Trophy Winners
- 2023: Jonathan Marchessault, RW, Vegas Golden Knights
- 2022: Cale Makar, D, Colorado Avalanche
- 2021: Andrei Vasilevskiy, G, Tampa Bay Lightning
- 2020: Victor Hedman, D, Tampa Bay Lightning
- In 2019, Ryan O’Reilly, a center player, represented the St. Louis Blues.
- 2018: Alexander Ovechkin, LW, Washington Capitals
- 2017: Sidney Crosby, C, Pittsburgh Penguins
- 2016: Sidney Crosby, C. Pittsburgh Penguins
- 2015: Duncan Keith, D, Chicago Blackhawks
- 2014: Justin Williams, RW, Los Angeles Kings
- 2013: Patrick Kane, RW, Chicago Blackhawks
- 2012: Jonathan Quick, G, Los Angeles Kings
- 2011: Tim Thomas, G, Boston Bruins
- 2010: Jonathan Toews, C, Chicago Blackhawks
- 2009: Evgeni Malkin, C, Pittsburgh Penguins
- 2008: Henrik Zetterberg, C, Detroit Red Wings
- 2007: Scott Niedermayer, D, Anaheim Ducks
- 2006: Cam Ward, G, Carolina Hurricanes
Other NHL Betting Information
Where Can You Bet on the NHL?
You can find NHL odds at the leading online sports betting sites all season long.
In addition to moneyline, over/under, and puck line odds available for each game, numerous sportsbooks now provide Stanley Cup futures odds, award odds, and a wide range of prop bets. These prop bets have gained popularity among NHL bettors.
Aside from BetOnline, we suggest the following sportsbooks for betting on the National Hockey League:
- BetDSI (review)
- BetUS (review)
- Bookmaker (review)
- Bovada (review)
- MyBookie (review)
- Sportsbetting.ag (review)
If you do not currently have an account with any of the books on this list, we recommend reading our reviews to assist you in deciding whether it is worth your interest and investment.
Interested in Learning More About NHL Betting?
Looking to learn more about the ins and outs of betting on the NHL? Check out our NHL betting guide.
Did you find this glimpse into the current Conn Smythe Trophy odds enjoyable? Make sure to bookmark our site to stay up-to-date with our NHL and Stanley Cup Finals content, so you won’t miss out on any of it.
Additionally, make sure to stay updated with Betting News on X/Twitter, Twitch, and TikTok, where you can find a wealth of daily NHL betting insights shared by our team.
- Betting News on “X”/Twitter
- Betting News on Twitch
- Betting News on TikTok
125% Bonus up to $3,125
Bonus Details »
Most Competitive Odds
Sports, Casino, Poker & Racebook