Conn Smythe tracker after Stanley Cup Final Game 2: Can anyone dethrone Cale Makar?

Makar could soon be the king of the Cup champion.

Oh boy, after that complete evisceration, where do I even begin?

Let’s try this: On Saturday night, the Avalanche and Lightning took each other on in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final, and Colorado took a 2-0 series lead. Cale Makar had–

Hmm, no. I feel like I’m underselling it.

Another attempt: On Saturday night, the Avalanche (-160) positively demolished the two-time defending Cup champion Lightning, 7-0. They got off to a fast start, never looked back, and continued to enjoy more Blink 182.  The series feels over, and Colorado is the NHL’s new overlord.

Ah, there, that’s better.

With the Avs now two wins from the Cup, the discussion around their playoff MVP, the Conn Smythe winner, will only heat up. I have to say: I’ll be surprised if anyone snatches it from a superstar like Makar. The man at the forefront of one of the great team defensive performances we might have ever seen.

But, you never know. Let’s see where the race for the Conn Smythe stands after two games of the Cup Final. Spoiler alert: A big Avalanche has fallen on this list.

Conn Smythe tracker after Stanley Cup Final Game 1: Cale Makar is NHL’s next great D-man

We could be looking at the NHL’s next special blueliner.

Every great NHL team has two common characteristics: at least one great No. 1 center and at least one great No. 1 defenseman.

The Colorado Avalanche are in the Stanley Cup Final against the two-time defending champs in the Lightning (-1.5), so it’s obvious they’re pretty good. But they wouldn’t be here, and they wouldn’t be three wins away from the franchise’s first Cup in more than two decades if it weren’t for their top center Nathan MacKinnon and top defenseman Cale Makar.

As we get set for the rest of this potential barnburner of a series, it’s these two superstars who lead the way for the NHL’s top postseason honor: The Conn Smythe Trophy.

But before this series gets really heated, who else is in line for the prestigious award? Let’s dive in!