NHL Playoffs 2012: Top Contenders to Win the Conn Smythe Trophy

By the end of this week, the NHL will be through the second round of the playoffs. As the NHL's final four is taking shape, so too are those players with MVP-caliber performances. 

As it happens in the postseason, goaltending has been a focal point and we are seeing emerging stars from coast to coast.

Sadly, most of these candidates will fall short of the Stanley Cup Finals and will not have the chance to have their names engraved on the Cup, let alone a shot at winning the Conn Smythe.

Regardless, here's a short list of players that are realistic contenders to win the Conn Smythe Trophy.  

Dustin Brown

Dustin Brown remains hot.

After an outstanding series against the Vancouver Canucks in the first round, he tallied two goals in Game 4 of the Kings second round sweep of the St. Louis Blues.

Hard to believe that, at one point during this season, Brown's name kept surfacing in trade rumors. With six goals, five assists and a plus-nine rating, the Kings would be nowhere without Brown's play.

Although goaltending may be the story out in L.A., don't write off Brown as a serious MVP candidate.  

Claude Giroux

While the Flyers' 2012 playoff season is suddenly in jeopardy, Claude Giroux continues to put up numbers. The Flyers are in peril heading home for Game 5 of their second-round series, trailing the New Jersey Devils 3-1.

Now Philadelphia will be without their most important player, as Giroux has been suspended for one game following an illegal hit on the Devils' Dainius Zubrus.

Offensively, Grioux has been the most dominating player this postseason. He's leaps and bounds ahead in scoring as his eight goals, nine assists and 17 points sit on top of the table.

If the Flyers can stay alive, Giroux will have a great shot at winning individual silverware. And again, Giroux's name could be a moot point in the Conn Smythe conversation as early as this evening. 

Braden Holtby

Washington Capitals goalie Braden Holtby is the No. 1 reason the Capitals ousted the defending Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins in Round 1.  

In that series, Holtby allowed 15 goals on 248 shots over seven games. His .933 save percentage propelled the Caps into the second round.

Again in the second round, he has been the story for the Caps against the New York Rangers.

The Caps are now trailing the Blueshirts 3-2 and will continue to need the real deal out of Holtby in Game 6 if they are to stay alive in the series.

Zach Parise

The New Jersey Devils are shocking the NHL by taking a 3-1 stranglehold of their series against the Flyers.

While always a significant talent and great regular-season player, right now you are seeing the best of Zach Parise.

When Parise is out there, he's clearly the best player on the ice. He has been driving to the net, winning pucks in tight areas and leading the upstart Devils.

Parise is currently third in scoring on the Devils with four goals and eight points, but if New Jersey continues to roll, he very well could end up leading his team in scoring and give them a chance to win the Stanley Cup.

Stats aside, Parise has been the most important player to the Devils thus far in the postseason and has his team oozing with confidence.

Jonathan Quick

There have been some remarkable goaltending performances thus far in the postseason, but Jonathan Quick may be sitting in the No. 1 spot if you have to pick a Conn Smythe winner right now.

After stunning the Presidents' Trophy-winning Vancouver Canucks in five games, Quick gave up a mere six goals in a four game, second-round sweep of the St. Louis Blues.

With a league-leading 1.55 goals against average in the postseason, the Avon Old Farms product has his eighth-seeded Kings thinking Cup as they head into the Western Conference finals.  

Dan Girardi

Maybe Dan Girardi is an outside, at-large bid to win the Conn Smythe, but have you noticed what he's been doing?

After Game 5 against the Capitals, Girardi has played 21:29 minutes a game, blocked a league-high 44 shots, dished out 36 hits, six points in 12 games and has an even rating. Furthermore, he has stayed out of the box, having only two penalty minutes all postseason. 

Not to mention, the undrafted All-Star plays against the opposition's top line night in and night out.

Hey, if defensive-minded defenseman Scott Steven's can take home the Conn Smythe in 2000, why can't a player like Girardi get serious consideration? 

Henrik Lundqvist

The more likely of the two Rangers to take home the Conn Smythe is Vezina Trophy-finalist Henrik Lundqvist.

Lundqvist has been locked in a goaltending battle with Washington's Braden Holtby and one of them won't come out alive.

With a Game 5 win, Lundqvist has a 1.70 goals against average and a .937 save percentage this postseason. After a brilliant series against the Ottawa Senators, he has been just as much of an asset in the second round as the Rangers look to close out the Caps in six.

Mike Smith

Mike Smith has taken the Phoenix Coyotes further than they have ever been as a franchise.

In the first round against the Chicago Blackhawks, Smith was the most critical part of the Coyotes success. He won three overtime games en route to dispatching of the 'Hawks in six games.

Now, he's the story again as the 'Yotes tossed aside the Nashville Predators in five games. Smith's 1.77 goals against average and .948 save percentage are outstanding.

One of two, Smith or Jonathan Quick, will play in the Stanley Cup Finals and when it's all over, you can bet that one of these two goalies will be up there in playoff MVP voting.