Sergei Bobrovsky is firmly in the Conn Smythe conversation
The Florida Panthers would not have made it to the Stanley Cup Final last year without the excellence of goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky.
The veteran found a way to bring Florida back from the dead in the first-round series against the Boston Bruins and was the easiest choice for a Conn Smythe Trophy winner for the playoff MVP if the Panthers had knocked off the Vegas Golden Knights in the Stanley Cup Final. They didn’t, but now they have a chance to win the whole thing again in a Final matchup with the Edmonton Oilers.
Bobrovsky might not be the sole reason his team has gotten this far, as he was last year. But he has still played a huge role. The 35-year-old leads all playoff goaltenders with a .915 save percentage and is second only to Juuse Saros of the Nashville Predators with a 2.08 goals-against average. Bobrovsky has played 12 more games.
It was like old times for Bobrovsky and the Panthers in Game 1 of the Final on Saturday. Edmonton dominated, while Florida struggled to contain them or put together much offense of their own. It didn’t matter. Bobrovsky stopped all 32 shots he faced and made a few highlight-reel saves to keep the Oilers off the board.
This angle of Sergei Bobrovsky's ridiculous save 😳
📺: ABC/ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/PniJktQsRz
If the Panthers win the Cup, is Bobrovsky a lock for the Conn Smythe?
Frank Seravalli: Taking a longer view and perspective, Sergei Bobrovsky, two Vezina Trophies, has gotten to a Final last year. If he’s able to play at anywhere near the level that he did in Game 1, what kind of legacy are we talking about in terms of Sergei Bobrovsky and the Pantheon?
Josh Clipperton: He’s going to be right up there. This guy’s career, he sort of resurrected in a lot of ways. There was a lot of talk about that contract, buyout talk… Now, he’s standing on his head, got them to the Final last year. He’s going to be right up there in the conversation of top ten I’d say… If he gets this, he gets the Conn Smythe probably if they win as well… Bobrovsky is obviously in there…
But it is the sum of all parts when it comes to this process. It’ll be interesting because there are still probably six or seven names that I am thinking about depending on who wins.
You can watch the full episode here: