Tag: Mikko Rantanen

Avalanche’s Cale Makar, the best player on the best team, was the only logical choice for Conn Smythe

The best player on the best team. The math here was easy.

The Avalanche beat the Lightning 2-1 to win the Stanley Cup on Sunday night, and their return to glory never would’ve happened if not for one man.

We’re talking about Colorado’s (-115) Norris Trophy defenseman and their inarguable best player. That same incomparable player who is now the official winner of the 2022 Conn Smythe Award (awarded annually to the NHL postseason MVP): the 23-year-old wunderkind blueliner, Cale Makar.

Here are some fun facts about Makar’s first Conn Smythe:

  • Makar becomes just the third defenseman in NHL history to win the Norris and the Conn Smythe in one season after the Bruins’ Bobby Orr (1970, 1972) and the Red Wings’ Nicklas Lidstrom (2002) previously managed the rare feat.
  • His 29 points are the fourth-highest ever by any defenseman during the postseason
  • Makar is the youngest defenseman to win the Conn Smythe in 52 years, with Orr first winning it at 22

Makar winning this year’s Conn Smythe should be no surprise to anyone who’s paid attention to Colorado’s exploits all year long. He was their catalyst when the Avalanche finished first in the Central Division and the Western Conference during the regular season. He was not only their premier shutdown man playing almost half of every game but their primary offensive initiator for a team that loves to get out and skate in transition.

When it came time for the Avalanche to make some memories in the postseason, it was business as usual for Makar — who continued his excellence seamlessly.

Colorado powered through a postseason slate of opponents that featured such stars as Roman Josi, Vladimir Tarasenko, Connor McDavid, and Nikita Kucherov, specifically because of Makar. Whenever the Avs needed an answer for any sort of play in his own end or as the de facto quarterback on offense, Makar was there in a pinch. Their forwards like Nathan MacKinnon and captain Gabriel Landeskog might get all the headlines, but it’s Makar who stirs the drink.

No team goes 16-4 throughout a postseason, especially one as chaotic as the NHL’s, without a budding all-time great on the blueliner. And that’s what Makar is — a budding all-time great.

The young defenseman got his first Norris Trophy and Conn Smythe this year. Given how his magnificent career has started, they almost certainly won’t be the last.

Here’s how NHL fans reacted to Makar’s historic, deserved Conn Smythe victory.

Conn Smythe rankings, Stanley Cup Final Game 5: Cale Makar in line for more greatness

The NHL’s leading superstar defenseman will likely get even more flowers.

After the high adrenaline, controversial mess that was Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final, Friday night at Ball Arena will mark the first time the Cup will be in the building for someone to take home.

That team is, of course, the Colorado Avalanche, which holds a commanding 3-1 series lead after its contentious overtime winner. Should Colorado dispatch the two-time defending champion Tampa Bay Lightning on Friday, they will have won their first Stanley Cup in over two decades. I can practically feel the goosebumps forming on my forearms.

With the Avs on the brink of such greatness, the underlying debate over who is most responsible for their playoff success will only heat up through the evening. Odds-makers with Tipico Sportsbook have a clear idea about a certain Colorado defenseman, but by no means are his teammates out of the picture for the postseason MVP award.

Let’s examine the current odds for the Conn Smythe with the Avalanche one win away from the Cup.

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.

7 important players to watch during the 2022 Stanley Cup Final

The stars will be out in full force in the Stanley Cup Final.

The stars will surely be out for the 2022 Stanley Cup Final.

Between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Colorado Avalanche, there is talent galore in this NHL playoff finale with history on the line. The Lightning have won back-to-back Stanley Cups with a third in a row looming large if they can win four more games.

Standing in their way, however, are the Avalanche, who have been denied time and time again to get to the later rounds of the playoffs but finally succeeded this year. These two teams were two of the best in the NHL all season long, and this Stanley Cup Final promises to be an explosion of talent not seen in some time.

And yet, which players should you be paying the most attention to? Here are the seven most important players you need to watch during the 2022 Stanley Cup Final.