Top prospects for Conn Smythe Trophy from Western and Eastern Conferences: NHL Playoffs 2011
The Conn Smythe Trophy has always been a valuable and prized possession of the person who it is awarded to after the Stanley Cup finals have finished.
Since its introduction into the National Hockey League playoffs in the 1964-65 season, the trophy has become a well-known and widely recognised tradition in the world of hockey.
Members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association vote to elect the player they perceive as the most deserving and most valuable to his team whether they win the Stanley Cup or not during the final between the Western and Eastern Conference teams. It
is handed to the nominated player before the presentation of the Stanley Cup to the winning team as a sign of individual appreciation.
There are a number of players so far who would be likely candidates for the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoffs have reached the Conference final stages. It is safe to mention a few players from each side that would most probably be the winners of it.
Unlike other major league sports, the Conn Smythe Trophy does not consider the player a Most Valuable Player just for a specific series or achievement, but it is recognition of one’s performance throughout the postseason which makes winning it even more
tough.
Ryan Kesler (Vancouver Canucks)
There are few players in the League that can be termed as ‘all-rounders’ and Ryan Kesler is a perfect example of that. His defensive strategies during Vancouver Canucks’ quarter-final series against the defending Stanley Cup champions, Chicago Blackhawks
worked like a charm and redirected them back on the straight path avoiding a horrific collapse.
He began his scoring in the semi-finals against Nashville as he scored twice including the overtime game-winner to extend their lead to 2-1 in game three. Kesler is in top form to shutdown San Jose Sharks when they meet in the Western Conference finals.
Roberto Luongo (Vancouver Canucks)
Having had his best regular season yet, Roberto Luongo proved to be excellent in the playoffs as well. His shutout streak in the opening matchup games of both series has been a good luck charm for the Canucks. We will just have to see if it can happen in
the initial game of the Western Conference finals against San Jose Sharks.
Martin St. Louis (Tampa Bay Lightning)
Not mentioning Martin St. Louis in this list would be a great shame as his offensive playing has taken Tampa Bay Lightning to a completely new level.
The team that was ranked as the least expected to go deep into the playoffs, defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins with three consecutive wins and eliminated the top seed Washington Capitals in a clean 4-0 sweep.
St. Louis was slashed in the Pittsburgh series by a few Penguins’ players. Since then, he has been scoring goals in almost every game which goes on to prove that sometimes it takes a little hit to spark that player inside of you.
There are a number of other players that can be mentioned but only if talking about a specific series. Overall, the above-mentioned players mentioned should and probably have the best chances at winning the Conn Smythe Trophy this time around.
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