Evan Bouchard, Edmonton Oilers
When you accomplish something Bobby Orr, Paul Coffey, Nicklas Lidstrom, Ray Bourque or any other defenseman in NHL history has never done, well, what more evidence do you need in making your case for Stanley Cup Playoff MVP halfway through the tournament? Consider this: Bouchard is the first defenseman to record 20 points (five goals, 15 assists) through the first two rounds of the postseason. And it’s not just the stats; it’s the key times he has come up with them. Bouchard scored the lone goal in Edmonton’s 1-0 victory against the Los Angeles Kings in Game 4 of the Western Conference First Round, then had three assists in the series-clinching 4-3 win in Game 5. In the Western Conference Second Round against the Vancouver Canucks, he scored the overtime winner in Edmonton’s 4-3 victory in Game 2, scored the last-minute winner in Edmonton’s 3-2 victory in Game 4, then had a pair of assists in the series-clinching 3-2 win in Game 7. Case closed. — Mike Zeisberger, staff writer
Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton Oilers
The Oilers center is a proven postseason performer and is doing it again in this one. He leads all NHL playoff scorers with 24 points (eight goals, 16 assists) in 12 games. Draisaitl has at least a point in every playoff game this season, extending his streak to 12 games with an assist in a 3-2 win in Game 7 of the second round against the Canucks. Draisaitl’s streak is the third longest in Oilers history behind Wayne Gretzky (16 in 1988) and Mark Messier (13 in 1985 and 14 in 1988). Draisaitl has 101 points (39 goals, 62 assists) in 61 playoff games and is the third fastest player to reach 100 playoff points (60 games) behind Gretzky (46 games) and Mario Lemieux (50 games), which is pretty impressive company. — Derek Van Diest, staff writer
Miro Heiskanen, Dallas Stars
The defenseman leads the Stars with 13 points (five goals, eight assists) in 13 games, and is averaging 28:01 of ice time. That’s the most in the Stanley Cup Playoffs among skaters who have played more than four games. The Stars have been relying mostly on five defensemen in the playoffs, and Heiskanen is a big reason why they have been able to get away with that against the past two Stanley Cup champions, defeating the Vegas Golden Knights in seven games in the Western Conference First Round and the Colorado Avalanche in six in the second. Heiskanen led Dallas with eight points (four goals, four assists) in six games against Colorado. Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar, the 2022 Conn Smythe winner, had six points (three goals, three assists). — Nicholas J. Cotsonika, columnist
Wyatt Johnston, Dallas Stars
Even-strength goals, power-play goals, a short-handed goal, game-winning goals in regulation and an overtime goal: Johnston has checked all of the scoring boxes through the first two rounds of the playoffs. The forward, who turned 21 on May 14, has 11 points (seven goals, four assists) in 13 games, third on the Stars behind Heiskanen and forward Jason Robertson with (12 points; three goals, nine assists). It has been an outstanding postseason for a forward of any age, let alone someone in the early years of his NHL career. Johnston has played like a veteran and has been a big key on a deep Dallas team. — Tracey Myers, staff writer
