Poll: Who Will Win The 2026 Conn Smythe?
The 2026 Stanley Cup Finals could wrap up as soon as Sunday night, with the Carolina Hurricanes holding a 3-2 advantage over the Vegas Golden Knights. Both teams have been led to the finals by standout stars, building a strong pool of Conn Smythe Trophy candidates no matter who wins the Cup.
A strong performance in the Finals is the best way to stick in voters’ minds and no player has stood out more than Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal. The 38 year old has scored six goals and seven points in five games this series. That is more than Staal had scored through the entirety of the first three rounds – when he notched five points in 13 games. Playing under the lead of head coach Rod Brind’Amour – who spearheaded Carolina’s last Cup win in 2006 – Staal has found his next gear at exactly the right time.
But – Brind’Amour didn’t win the Conn Smythe in 2006, and Staal lacks scoring across the full postseason. A better standout could be playoff scoring leader Mitch Marner, who has blossomed into a playoff star in his first postseason run with the Golden Knights. He has recorded eight different multi-point games, including two four-point performances, en route to 29 points in just 21 playoff games. Marner has looked a cut above the rest for the last two months. That standing – marked by his lofty scoring – could be enough to earn Marner the Conn Smythe regardless of the series outcome. Connor McDavid was bestowed that honor in 2024, though he finished those playoffs with an incredible 42 points in 25 games. Marner’s chances would rise significantly should Vegas mount a comeback – one that would likely be led by his electric offense.
If the trophy does land in Carolina, MVP could go to any member of the Hurricanes best line: Taylor Hall, Jackson Blake, and Logan Stankoven. The trio has clicked perfectly in the postseason. Hall and Blake lead the Hurricanes in playoff scoring with 18 points in as many games, while Stankoven ranks fourth with 15 points. Brind’Amour has leaned on this line to dig Carolina out of the defensive end and double-shift in important moments of the game. Their impact allowed the explosive styles of Nikolaj Ehlers, Seth Jarvis, and Sebastian Aho to shine. Opponents simply can’t cover all of Carolina’s top performers – and that begins with the hard-nosed impact made by each of Hall, Blake, and Stankoven.
There appeared to be a clear Conn Smythe option in Carolina’s net, before the Stanley Cup Finals. Starter Frederik Andersen was in the midst of a stellar postseason after recording 12 wins and a .931 save percentage through 13 games of the first three series. But the wheels fell off in the Finals, where Andersen recorded a .815 save percentage in 162 minutes before being pulled partway through Game 3. Rookie replacement Brandon Bussi has stood out in two-and-a-half games since. He has set a .908 save percentage and could very well end up the piece that pushed the Hurricanes over the line. That may not be enough to earn Bussi MVP consideration, though his emergence has certainly pulled down Andersen’s odds.
The top-notch, two-way impact of Mark Stone and Jack Eichel, or even the solid performances before the Finals from Vegas starter Carter Hart, could also push voters to consider their choices. A Vegas win on Sunday night could respark the debate, too, offering one more chance for players to make their case for the award. With the season set to reach its peak, who do you think will take home playoff MVP?
Who Will Win The 2026 Conn Smythe Trophy?
Lineup Notes: Stone, Makar, Wedgewood
Vegas Golden Knights captain Mark Stone returns to action in Game 3 tonight on home ice, reported by ESPN’s Emily Kaplan. He had been dealing with a lower-body injury, missing five straight games.
Unable to come away with a win before heading out to Vegas, it only makes things more difficult for Colorado, as they’ll desperately try to get back on track tonight. Without their captain, the Golden Knights have gotten massive performances from Brett Howden, the 28-year-old netting nine goals this postseason, needing three more to match his entire output in the regular season. Pavel Dorofeyev, no longer such an underrated sniper, has also stood out with 10 goals, and finally, one can’t skip over Mitch Marner and Jack Eichel who are playing at an elite level.
The efforts have helped Vegas go 4-1 without Stone, tied 2-2 with Anaheim after his first absence which caused concern, but quickly sending them home afterward. Now, up 2-0 over the Presidents’ Trophy winners, a top forward is back in the mix, having posted seven points in nine playoff games thus far. Brandon Saad is likely to be the odd man out; the 33-year-old two-time Stanley Cup Champion added two helpers in five games while Stone was injured as a key veteran presence.
More lineup news from tonight’s Game 3:
- Stone’s opponents will also likely have a big boost tonight, as “all signs point to” Cale Makar returning, according to Kaplan. Missing the first two games of the series with an upper-body injury, Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar was cryptic on his status earlier today, but if there was ever a time he was needed, even if not back to full health, it’s tonight with their backs close to the wall. Skating 24:59 in his playoff action to this point, Makar’s usage may indicate his overall health for what lies ahead in Colorado’s hopes to turn the tide and advance to the Stanley Cup Final.
- While there was some speculation that the Avalanche could make a goalie change after losing the first two games, that’s not the case. Instead, Evan Rawal of The Denver Gazette was among those to note that Scott Wedgewood will indeed get the nod once again. The 33-year-old posted the best GAA (2.02) and SV% (.921) league-wide during the regular season but has lost three of his last four starts, allowing eight goals on 70 shots in that span.
Afternoon Notes: Stone, Devils, Korczak
The hole in the Vegas Golden Knights lineup will remain as they head into Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals. Winger Mark Stone will miss his fifth-straight game with a lower-body injury sustained in Game 3 of the second round, per Jesse Granger of The Athletic. He had three goals and seven points in nine playoff games prior to his injury.
Stone continues to fill a top role with the Golden Knights when healthy. He finished the regular season with 28 goals and 73 points in 60 games – a full-season pace of 39 goals and 100 points. Vegas has bumped Pavel Dorofeyev up to the top-line, and added Brandon Saad to the lineup, in Stone’s absence. Dorofeyev has excelled, with six goals and seven points since Stone went down. Saad has two assists, including on the opening goal of the Western Conference Finals. Vegas will continue to bank on their production while Stone targets a Game 3 return.
Other notes around the hockey world:
- The New Jersey Devils have picked up their third-year option with the ECHL’s Adirondack Thunder per a team announcement. New Jersey began their affiliation with the Thunder in the 2017-18 season, two seasons after the club relocated to the city in place of the Stockton Flames. Adirondack has made the postseason in five of their seven seasons in partnership with the Devils, going as far as the Conference Finals twice. They were knocked out of the 2026 Kelly Cup Playoffs in a first round series that went to seven games and featured three overtimes. Their lineup was led by Devils’ defense prospect Jeremy Hanzel and goaltender Jeremy Brodeur, son of Devils legend Martin Brodeur.
- Former New York Rangers prospect Ryder Korczak will continue his career in Slovakia’s top league. He has signed a one-year contract with HC Slovan Bratislava of the Tipsport Liga per a team announcement. Korczak spent last season on a one-year deal with Vlci Zilina. He finished the year with a team-leading 21 goals, and 44 total points, in 52 games played. The 2021 third-round pick was unable to continue his scoring spark into the AHL. He racked up 35 points in 117 games across two seasons with the Hartford Wolf Pack – and 10 games with the Syracuse Crunch. Korczak was a premier junior scorer, racking up 246 points in 248 games across six seasons in the WHL. He seems to have found the same spark overseas and should move into a key role on a Bratislava squad that finished second in Slovakia this season.
West Notes: Kuzmenko, Stone, Makar
The Los Angeles Kings’ mid-season trade addition of star winger Artemi Panarin could spell the end of pending UFA Andrei Kuzmenko‘s time in the organization, writes Eric Stephens of The Athletic. Per Stephens, Kuzmenko is “likely not needed” now that the Kings have committed to Panarin. Panarin, 34, scored 27 points in 26 regular-season games after his trade to Los Angeles, and signed a two-year, $11MM AAV contract extension to remain a King through 2027-28.
Kuzmenko, 30, is a pending free agent, and the fact that Panarin has signed an extension could mean Kuzmenko will have to look elsewhere to continue his NHL career. Kuzmenko underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus in February but returned in time for the playoffs. He had a stellar run after being acquired by the Kings in a mid-season trade in 2024-25, scoring 17 points in 22 regular-season games and six points in six playoff contests. But he wasn’t able to keep up that momentum in 2025-26, as he managed just 25 points in 52 games. Now, he’s reportedly more likely than not to need to continue his NHL career with another franchise.
Other notes from the Western Conference:
- Vegas Golden Knights forward Mark Stone did not skate in today’s optional practice at Ball Arena in Colorado, reports SinBin Vegas. Stone had skated prior to Vegas’ game one victory over the Avalanche, which was his first time skating with the team since he suffered a lower-body injury in the second round against the Anaheim Ducks. Head coach John Tortorella did not provide an update on Stone’s status, and it is unclear what his timeline to return to the Golden Knights’ lineup is. The 34-year-old is one of Vegas’ best all-around players, and had 28 goals and 73 points in 60 games during the regular season.
- Head coach Jared Bednar did not provide an update on the status of injured star defenseman Cale Makar today, indicating that his status remains questionable for game two of the Western Conference Final. Makar missed game one and his replacement in the lineup, Jack Ahcan, played just 7:34 time on ice. Colorado’s next option to replace Makar in the lineup beyond Ahcan is Nick Blankenburg, who the team acquired from the Nashville Predators shortly before the trade deadline. Blankenburg is a right-shot defenseman who scored 24 points in 61 games this season.
Latest On Mark Stone
Injured Vegas Golden Knights star Mark Stone skated with the team’s scratches this morning. Per Jesse Granger of The Athletic, this is the first time Stone has skated with the team since suffering his lower-body injury. After the skate, head coach John Tortorella was asked about Stone’s status but did not provide any update.
The injury in question was suffered in game three of the team’s second-round series against the Anaheim Ducks. The Golden Knights were still able to fend off the Ducks and win the series despite losing Stone, but the Avalanche present an even greater degree of challenge.
For Vegas to stand the best chance of getting past the Presidents’ Trophy winners to reach their third Stanley Cup Final in franchise history, they’ll likely need Stone back in the lineup.
The 34-year-old winger is among the game’s best all-around forwards when healthy. He has consistently produced around a point-per-game rate since arriving in Vegas, while also playing stellar two-way hockey.
While he has struggled to stay healthy during the regular season – he has hit 80 games played in a season just once in his career – his efforts in the playoffs have helped the Golden Knights make deep playoff run after deep playoff run.
This past season, injuries limited Stone to just 60 games played. But in those 60 contests, Stone reached new heights in terms of impact. He scored 28 goals and 73 points, which is a 38-goal, 100-point 82-game scoring pace.
Stone was also a regular member of the team’s penalty-kill rotation up front. Stone has been a finalist for the Frank J. Selke Trophy twice, and has appeared on Selke ballots nine times throughout his career. His two-way impact is unquestioned – but his availability has been a persistent source of worry.
Vegas will have their hands full stopping the Avalanche’s high-flying attack, especially if star defenseman Cale Makar, who will miss game one with an injury, can return in short order. A healthy Mark Stone would be one of the Golden Knights’ most valuable assets in their fight to slow down the Avalanche, so today’s news is certainly a step in the right direction for the team.
Photos courtesy of Lucas Peltier-USA TODAY Sports
Playoff Notes: Luukkonen, Veleno, Stone
The Buffalo Sabres have a major decision to make in the crease ahead of tonight’s winner-take-all Game 7 against the Montreal Canadiens.
Following a chaotic Game 6 that saw the Sabres erupt for an 8-3 victory to force a deciding match, all eyes are on the net. Starter Alex Lyon suffered a brutal outing on Saturday, getting pulled midway through the first period after surrendering three goals on just four shots. This came on the heels of a shaky Game 5 performance where Lyon allowed five goals on 23 shots.
The early hook proved to be a turning point. Head coach Lindy Ruff turned to Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, who completely stabilized the crease. Luukkonen turned aside all 18 shots he faced in relief, working as a brick wall while Buffalo’s offense rallied from a 3-1 deficit. While Ruff has yet to officially name his starter for tonight, Luukkonen’s flawless relief appearance makes him the logical candidate to receive the nod with the season on the line.
Additional playoff notes:
- On the other side of the ice, Montreal forward Joe Veleno appears to be tracking toward a return. Veleno was a participant at morning skate and looks available to re-enter the lineup for tonight’s crucial matchup, providing the Canadiens with some valuable bottom-six depth and versatility.
- Out west, the Vegas Golden Knights have some mixed injury news. Forward William Karlsson was spotted on the ice practicing, a highly encouraging sign for his availability moving forward. However, it wasn’t all good news, as both Mark Stone and defenseman Jeremy Lauzon were absent from the practice. Their ongoing absences remain a significant storyline to watch as the postseason progresses.
Golden Knights Recall Braeden Bowman, Mark Stone Remains Out
The Vegas Golden Knights will continue to be without star winger Mark Stone in Tuesday night’s Game 5 against the Anaheim Ducks. Stone will remain out of the lineup with an undisclosed injury that kept him out of Game 4 per Jesse Granger of The Athletic. Stone left Game 3 at the end of the first period. It was not clear where his injury was sustained, though he seemed to be nursing his left leg at the end of his final shift. Defenseman Jeremy Lauzon will also remain out of the lineup with an upper-body injury sustained in Game 6 of Vegas’ first round matchup against the Utah Mammoth.
Veteran winger Brandon Saad filled in for Stone on Sunday. His line – completed by Tomas Hertl and Keegan Kolesar – was outshot four-to-one and on the ice for no goals. That quiet performance, and a Game 4 loss, has prompted Vegas to recall winger Braeden Bowman from the AHL’s Henderson Silver Knights.
Bowman had a surprising breakout this season. He scored at a point-per-game pace through the start of Henderson’s season, prompting the first call-up of his career in mid-November. The undrafted-rookie was an immediate impact, netting seven points in his first eight NHL games and proving he could bring the grit and work ethic needed to earn a lineup role. Bowman stayed up with Vegas’ lineup for 54 games, ultimately scoring eight goals and 26 points. He was returned to Henderson in April and caught fire once again – netting 18 points through the Silver Knights’ final 14 games of the season.
The Golden Knights will struggle to make up for Stone’s absence. The Vegas captain scored 28 goals and 73 points in 60 games this season – a full-season scoring pace of 38 goals and 100 points. He sat out of 17 games between October and November, and an additional five games in March, due to injury. The Golden Knights struggled in his absence, setting a 8-9-5 record and getting outscored 59-to-66. Vegas won’t have any room for those struggles now, as they sit tied at two wins with the Ducks.
Bowman has continued to produce for Henderson in the postseason. He has four points in six games, third-most on the Silver Knights behind Trevor Connelly and Lukas Cormier. If a move between leagues brings another scoring spark, the Golden Knights could find a timely X-factor addition in the young winger. Meanwhile, Ben Hutton will continue to support the defense in Lauzon’s absence. Hutton recorded 15 points, 28 hits, and 55 shot blocks in 55 regular-season games. He won’t match Lauzon’s bruising presence – but should continue to provide serviceable depth in must-win games.
Injury Notes: Stone, Ducks, Sabres
The Vegas Golden Knights will be without their captain tonight in Game 4 against Anaheim, as Mark Stone won’t play, to be replaced by Brandon Saad, noted by Jesse Granger of The Athletic.
It was apparent just yesterday that such was a possibility, as Stone left Game 3 early as a result of a non-contact lower-body injury. Averaging 19:26 so far in the playoffs, good for third among Vegas forwards, losing Stone for any extended period would have major implications in the remainder of the series, as the Ducks look to even things up at 2-2. A crucial piece of their power play, Stone, who turns 34 in just three days, has managed to play in all nine playoff games so far, coming away with seven points.
Despite never playing in more than 66 regular season games as a Knight, Stone has missed just one playoff game with the team. In 94 such appearances, always rising to the occasion, he has 79 points. Obviously taking a lot for the veteran to miss out in the spring, it raises real concerns on his status the rest of the way.
Another veteran with ample playoff experience (111 games), Saad is expected to slot into the third line, his first postseason action of the year. A two-time Stanley Cup champion and former standout scorer, the winger is now fully embracing an energy role under John Tortorella, with just nine points in 49 games this year. Invigorated by the opportunity, he’ll be one to watch as the group marches ahead without their leader, as few depth forwards have a resume as strong as his own.
Elsewhere across the league:
- Vegas’ opponents in Anaheim also have movement in regards to their captain, as Radko Gudas is a game-time decision to return, based on morning lines shared by Zach Cavanaugh of The Sporting Tribune. The soon-to-be 36-year-old hasn’t played since Game 1 against the Oilers in the opening round, dealing with a lower body injury. Assuming back into the fold, he’ll be in a third pairing deployment alongside rookie Tyson Hinds, who only made his NHL debut last month. It appears that Drew Helleson will step out of the lineup as a result, the 25-year-old righty skating in eight postseason games so far and coming away with one helper in limited usage. Helleson is thought to be dealing with an undisclosed injury.
- Knotted 1-1 in their series and headed into a hostile Montreal environment tonight for Game 3, the Buffalo Sabres might change things up among their bottom six forwards, observed by Bill Hoppe of The Times Herald. Head coach Lindy Ruff did not provide specifics, but trade deadline acquisition Sam Carrick looks likely to be suiting up after missing 15 games with an arm injury. It’s a nice update after initial thoughts that the 34-year-old had no shot at returning during the second round. Drafted back in 2010, Carrick has just 10 playoff games under his belt, coming as an Oiler two years ago. His nearly 55% faceoff win rate would be a welcome addition, the exact reason Buffalo surrendered third and sixth-round selections to the Rangers in March. If Carrick is good to go, it may bump out Tyson Kozak. The 23-year-old has provided spot-duty on the fourth line, bringing energy but winning a sub-par 43.3% on the dot across six playoff games.
Injury Updates: Stone, Tippett, Abols
While the Golden Knights regained the lead in their series against Anaheim on Friday night, it wasn’t all good news. Steve Carp of The Sporting Tribune mentioned that captain Mark Stone exited with an apparent lower-body injury on a non-contact play in the first period and didn’t return, ending his night with just 4:24 of playing time. The 33-year-old quietly set a career high in points per game this season, checking in at a 1.22 mark in 60 appearances. He hasn’t been quite as productive in the playoffs but he still has three goals and four helpers in nine games so far. Head coach John Tortorella didn’t have any further updates following the game and it wouldn’t be surprising if more information isn’t available until Sunday’s Game 4.
Other injury news from the playoffs:
- If the Flyers want to stave off elimination today against Carolina, they will have to do so without the services of one of their top wingers again. Jackie Spiegel of the Philadelphia Inquirer relays (Twitter link) that Owen Tippett has already been ruled out of the lineup. The 27-year-old has yet to play in this series due to an undisclosed injury. Tippett finished the regular season tied for third in team scoring with 51 points although he had a quiet first round against Pittsburgh with only a goal and an assist in six outings. Still, his absence has been felt over the first three games and will last at least one more contest.
- Flyers winger Rodrigo Abols has resumed skating as he works his way back from a fractured ankle sustained back in mid-January, notes NHL.com’s Adam Kimelman (Twitter link). The 30-year-old had locked down a regular role in Philadelphia’s lineup over the first half of the season, chipping in with 10 points and 49 hits in 42 games before being sidelined. At this point, he’s still likely a long way from returning but the fact that he’s back on the ice is a good sign in his recovery process.
Golden Knights To Activate Mark Stone
The Vegas Golden Knights will have their captain back tonight. According to Danny Webster of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the Golden Knights will activate Mark Stone from the injured reserve ahead of tonight’s contest against the Pittsburgh Penguins, and he’ll make his return to the lineup.
Stone is only one week removed from being placed on the injured reserve, although it was made retroactive to March 1st. He has been managing an upper-body injury, his second of the season, that has affected his games played.
The 33-year-old winger has been exceptional for Vegas this year when healthy. Despite missing 22 games due to injury, Stone remains third on the team in scoring with 21 goals and 60 points with a +17 rating. Given how the team has been playing lately, they could certainly use a boost to the lineup.
Since returning from the Olympics, the Golden Knights have managed a 2-6-0 record, dropping to third place in the Pacific Division. During that stretch, the team has only managed 2.38 GF/G, meaning an influx of offense from Stone will be welcomed.
Assuming Stone can remain healthy for Vegas’ 17 remaining games in the 2025-26 season, he should help the team capture its fifth Pacific Division title. At the time of writing, the Golden Knights are three points back of the Anaheim Ducks and tied with the Edmonton Oilers, although the Oilers have the edge in a tiebreaker.
Still, even if Vegas is unable to finish atop the Pacific Division, they shouldn’t be in any danger of falling out of the postseason conversation. Despite their recent performance, the team holds a five-point lead over the Los Angeles Kings, along with five additional wins in regulation.