• ESPN
Apr 21, 2025, 09:38 AM ET

The 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs have begun with 16 teams looking to be the last one standing after four grueling rounds of playoff hockey action. The Florida Panthers return to defend their championship, but will have to contend with regular-season powerhouses including the Winnipeg Jets, Washington Capitals and Edmonton Oilers.

The Toronto Maple Leafs will look to snap the longest championship drought in NHL history, and got off to a strong start in a Game 1 victory against their provincial rivals, the Ottawa Senators. In the Metropolitan Division, Nico Hischier and the banged-up New Jersey Devils lost their Game 1 to the Carolina Hurricanes, who have emerged as the Eastern Conference favorites. The Panthers will have to contend with their cross-state rival Tampa Bay Lightning, who have been one of the league's hottest teams in the second half, but do not play their Game 1 until Tuesday.

In the West, two of the favorites clash in the first round as the Dallas Stars take on the Colorado Avalanche ... with former Avs star Mikko Rantanen suiting up for the green and white of Dallas, but in Game 1 it was all Colorado in a 5-1 statement opening win. Meanwhile the Jets came back from down 3-2 to win 5-3 over the St. Louis Blues. The Vegas Golden Knights opened their series against the Minnesota Wild with a victory, while the Oilers face off with the Los Angeles Kings in Game 1 of their series tonight.

Last year's Conn Smythe Trophy winner, Connor McDavid, won the top award for playoffs MVP despite his team not winning the championship. This year, he hopes to win it again but on a happier note. Below, you can see all of the top favorites for Conn Smythe, as well as the odds for every team to win their opening-round series, advance to, and to win the Stanley Cup.

All odds accurate as of publish time. For more, go to ESPN BET.

Odds to win Conn Smythe trophy

The Conn Smythe is awarded to the player deemed to have been the most valuable to his team throughout the playoffs. Players listed with 200-1 odds or better. More odds available at ESPN BET.

Nathan MacKinnon, Avalanche: +900
Connor Hellebuyck, Jets: 12-1
Cale Makar, Avalanche: 16-1
Connor McDavid, Oilers: 16-1
Anthony Stolarz, Maple Leafs: 18-1
Jack Eichel, Golden Knights: 20-1
Leon Draisaitl, Oilers: 20-1
Aleksander Barkov, Panthers: 25-1
Alex Ovechkin, Capitals: 25-1
Auston Matthews, Maple Leafs: 25-1
Mitch Marner, Maple Leafs: 25-1
Sergei Bobrovsky, Panthers: 25-1
Andrei Vasilevskiy, Lightning: 30-1
Frederik Andersen, Hurricanes: 30-1
Kyle Connor, Jets: 30-1
Logan Stankoven, Hurricanes: 30-1
Matthew Tkachuk, Panthers: 30-1
Nikita Kucherov, Lightning: 30-1
Sebastian Aho, Hurricanes: 30-1
Kirill Kaprizov, Wild: 40-1
Mackenzie Blackwood, Avalanche: 40-1
Mark Scheifele, Jets: 40-1
Sam Reinhart, Panthers: 40-1
Seth Jarvis, Hurricanes: 40-1
Tomas Hertl, Golden Knights: 40-1
William Nylander, Maple Leafs: 40-1
Adin Hill, Golden Knights: 50-1
Brayden Point, Lightning: 50-1
Logan Thompson, Capitals: 50-1
Mark Stone, Golden Knights: 50-1
Adrian Kempe, Kings: 60-1
Andrei Svechnikov, Hurricanes: 75-1
Darcy Kuemper, Kings: 75-1
Dylan Strome, Capitals: 75-1
Jake Oettinger, Stars: 75-1
John Tavares, Maple Leafs: 75-1
Mikko Rantanen, Stars: 75-1
Pavel Dorofeyev, Golden Knights: 75-1
Roope Hintz, Stars: 75-1
Wyatt Johnston, Stars: 75-1
Anze Kopitar, Kings: 100-1
Brady Tkachuk, Senators: 100-1
Filip Gustavsson, Wild: 100-1
Jason Robertson, Stars: 100-1
Linus Ullmark, Senators: 100-1
Matt Boldy, Wild: 100-1
Miro Heiskanen, Stars: 100-1
Nico Hischier, Devils: 100-1
Pyotr Kochetkov, Hurricanes: 100-1
Tim Stutzle, Senators: 100-1
Brandon Hagel, Lightning: 150-1
Jaccob Slavin, Hurricanes: 150-1
Jacob Markstrom, Devils: 150-1
Jake Guentzel, Lightning: 150-1
Jordan Binnington, Blues: 150-1
Joseph Woll, Maple Leafs: 150-1
Kevin Fiala, Kings: 150-1
Martin Necas, Avalanche: 150-1
Matt Duchene, Stars: 150-1
Pierre-Luc Dubois, Capitals: 150-1
Sam Bennett, Panthers: 150-1
Shea Theodore, Golden Knights: 150-1
Thomas Harley, Stars: 150-1
Tom Wilson, Capitals: 150-1
Valeri Nichushkin, Avalanche: 150-1
Victor Hedman, Lightning: 150-1
Aliaksei Protas, Capitals: 200-1
Brad Marchand, Panthers: 200-1
Carter Verhaeghe, Panthers: 200-1