Calm your jimmies, that distinction doesn't need to be made here because there is no unofficial Jay Cutler trophy for the player judged to be most valuable to a team that is not his own in the NHL playoffs.
For serious discussion on this, I have to wonder if if having Toews as a former winner and Kane (always going to be looked at as a candidate) on the same team might hurt Crawford's chances of winning a Conn Smythe even if they win it. Patrick Sharp has been quite good this year too as a possible dark horse candidate. Now I could see him winning it if the WCF are just an absolute war of the goalies and he out duels Quick, then completely shuts down whoever comes out of the East...but I think it would be tough for him to get the nod over other teammates.
Toews and Kane havent generated enough points for consideration and in 95% of cases the member of the Cup winner gets the Conn Smythe. Last 4 out of 10 Playoffs it was a goalie. Basically Crawford is a shoe in if the Hawks take it all.
It was a total hypothetical, but you make a good point, I can't see any goalie completely shutting down the Pens offense. Maybe Quick. In which case a bunch of writers will arbitrarily decide he should get a trophy.
Sharp has had a good playoffs though, and really they're only half over...Toews or Kane could easily have a big series or two and push their point totals up. I agree though that there isn't a true front runner for the Hawks right now that lets Crawford's name be up for discussion, but I don't think he's a shoe in to be the one to win it if they win the Cup.
And in the cases were the losing team won the conn smythe they were all goalies except for Reggie leach who scored 18 goals in the playoffs that year. 0% chance it goes to a pens or bruins player if the west wins.
Oh come on, Vokoun could get hurt. Meaning Crosby(whom they would LOVE to vote for) could put up sick numbers in a losing effort with Fleury in net=P
Possible, he just wouldn't have the added benefit of being every voter's favorite player.
I was on the fence about naming Chara or Krejci.
Silly right? You'd hope he doesn't get assigned to any of the games in Chicago.
