It is unlikely that Crosby can keep that level of play up for the entire playoff run ...

Well, yeah, eventually the Penguins are going to have to play a real team. Right?

That being said, the Kid is definitely playing himself into EARLY Playoff MVP considerations.

Posted by some kid on 04/21/10 at 10:20 AM ET

At this point…the choice is sort of a no-brainer.

Zetterberg has been playing really well, too, and Craig Anderson has kept the Avs in that series.

11 points in 4 games, though.  Jesus.  What a human.

Posted by Flashtastick56 from Milford, CT on 04/21/10 at 10:27 AM ET

I realize no one thinks they will make it to the second round, let alone the Cup finals… but if we’re going 1st round Conn Smythe’s Craig Anderson has to be mentioned right?

Posted by jibblescribbits from Denver, CO on 04/21/10 at 10:39 AM ET

Can’t argue with those stats, Sid is playing like a beast atm.

But outside of the Leastern Conference, Drew Doughty’s gotta get some consideration. He’s been running the LA powerplay that’s eviscerated the Canucks, as well as keeping the Sedin line fairly quiet… and he’s faced far stronger opposition than Crosby.

Without Doughty (and Andrew Alberts, playoff LVP), the Canucks would probably be leading that series, even though they haven’t been playing that well so far.

Posted by fredster from manchester on 04/21/10 at 10:39 AM ET

No individual has been a true MVP 3-4 games in so far. Anderson has done a great job of fighting off the sharks almost by himself.

Posted by redxblack from Akron Ohio on 04/21/10 at 10:43 AM ET

I love Doughty so far too but it is hard to ignore numbers like Sid has put up. Especially if you like numbers more than the sport where they come from.

Posted by Steve Strowbridge from St. John's, NL, CA on 04/21/10 at 10:44 AM ET

If Craig Anderson had any offensive firepower in front of him, he’d easily be the lead candidate for the Smythe and we’d all be laughing about how the Sharks got swept.

Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 04/21/10 at 11:25 AM ET

If Craig Anderson had any offensive firepower in front of him, he’d easily be the lead candidate for the Smythe and we’d all be laughing about how the Sharks got swept.

Anderson’s been standing on his head against Los Tiburones, something I didn’t even consider before the playoffs started. Sure, I though tSan Jose would drop a game because, well, it’s San Jose, but I didn’t think Anderson would be the one keeping CO in it.

Posted by Aphaea from Pennsylvania on 04/21/10 at 11:55 AM ET

Anderson has been excellent, but if anyone says that Sid hasn’t been remarkable, then they truly have no clue about the game.

Posted by cs6687 on 04/21/10 at 12:12 PM ET

Picking Crosby took a lot of work.  Real in depth analysis TPSH.  Keep up the good work, your Pulitzer awaits.

Posted by yreland from Van Dieman's Land on 04/21/10 at 12:22 PM ET

The Sens present no challenge without Kuba, Kovalev, Michalek and no goaltending to speak of.  While Sid is playing well, I don’t think (unlike the absolutisms of his maestro, the infamous cs6687) he’s the obvious choice.  I agree that Doughty stands out and I would even say that Boucher’s numbers are worthy of a look.  He’s outplayed the greatest goalie ever through four games.  Zetterberg has also elevated his game and should be mentioned.

And kudos to yreland for sublime honesty… I like it.

Posted by ProjectMayhem on 04/21/10 at 01:27 PM ET

While Sid is playing well, I don’t think (unlike the absolutisms of his maestro, the infamous cs6687) he’s the obvious choice.

Not what I said. I just said the people who dismiss Sid’s play because it’s Sid and they hate him have no clue about hockey. It’s way too early, but you can make a case for Anderson and Sid. Neither is a bad choice.

Posted by cs6687 on 04/21/10 at 02:03 PM ET

The playoffs are a 16 to 28 game marathon. Picking an early Conn Smythe leader at the 3 to 4 game mark is like picking your Hart Trophy winner 10 games into the season. (And how many at that point would have picked Henrik Sedin to be in consideration?)

There are some great strories thus far—Sidney Crosby, Craig Anderson, Pekka Rinne, Brian Boucher, Henrik Zetterberg—but let’s at least wait until the end of the first round before putting somebody on the Conn Smythe fast track.

Posted by Matthew McCallum from Redding, California on 04/21/10 at 06:54 PM ET

I’m not dismissing Sid because he’s Sid.  I’ve watched most of Pittsburgh’s games so far in these playoffs and Crosby has made a difference every shift out there. 

My mitigating factor that makes me think Anderson is more deserving at this point is that I think the Senators are the worst team in the playoffs.  Granted, you’re supposed to put up points against bad teams and I can’t say that Crosby wouldn’t have as many points against another opponent, I just think Anderson has been slightly more valuable to the Avalanche than Crosby has been to the Penguins.

Still too early to tell, but it’s a fun mental exercise.

Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 04/21/10 at 07:03 PM ET

I will argue that perhaps Pekka Rinne has been as good or a better goalie in the playoffs so far than Craig Anderson - but with far fewer shots against.

Posted by PuckStopsHere on 04/21/10 at 07:09 PM ET

Rinne very well may be outplaying Anderson, but I think he’s been more important in the two wins that the Avalanche have so far than Rinne has been in Nashville’s two wins.

Not saying Rinne’s performances haven’t been great or haven’t done much to contribute to those wins, but I am saying that the Sharks have outplayed the Avalanche much more than the Blackhawks have the Predators.  Nashville’s d-corps is much more solid than Colorado’s, so Rinne doesn’t have to be as good.

Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 04/21/10 at 07:18 PM ET

I have never seen a goalie play the way Anderson did in the 1-0 OT win a few nights back. 

Rinne has been good and honestly might be the best goaltender overall in the league when he’s on, but so far, Anderson has been unbelievable.

Posted by Chris from NOHS from Columbus, OH/Grand Rapids, MI on 04/21/10 at 07:34 PM ET

Picking an early Conn Smythe leader at the 3 to 4 game mark is like picking your Hart Trophy winner 10 games into the season.

I’m almost positive PSH had a Hart, Norris, Selke, Lady Bing, and Conn Smythe winner picked around 10 games into the season.

Posted by Chris from NOHS from Columbus, OH/Grand Rapids, MI on 04/21/10 at 07:36 PM ET