Conn Smythe Odds: Connor McDavid Locked in as the Favorite Before Game 7

For the 18th time in the history of the Stanley Cup Final, a series has gone to Game 7, and this year's Game 7 will be played tonight.

The Edmonton Oilers forced Game 7 on Friday night with a 5-1 win over the Florida Panthers. As they enter tonight's game, the Oilers will look to complete the near impossible and finish their comeback from a 3-0 series deficit.

With the series being turned upside down since the end of Game 3, the Conn Smythe Trophy race has, as well. After the first three games of the series, it looked like Sergei Bobrovsky had the honor all but locked up. Since then, things have changed to the point that -- win or lose -- the best player in the world, Connor McDavid, is the clear overwhelming favorite to win the Conn Smythe.

Let's take a look at the Conn Smythe odds via the NHL odds on FanDuel Sportsbook.

Conn Smythe Odds

Connor McDavid, Oilers (-3500)

Connor McDavid led the charge for the Oilers to get back into this series, and he's now one game away from completing the improbable comeback. Win or lose tonight, the Conn Smythe Trophy looks to be his.

The 27-year-old has done everything in his career -- except win a Stanley Cup. He's a three-time Hart Trophy winner, five-time Art Ross Trophy winner, four-time Ted Lindsay Award winner, and a one-time Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy winner.

All you can imagine as a player; he's done it before the age of 30. But nothing means more than the Stanley Cup. And if the Oilers complete the comeback tonight, it's going to earn him the Conn Smythe Trophy along with holding the Cup in his hands.

McDavid was scoreless in Game 6 but still leads both the playoffs and the Stanley Cup Final in points. Through six games of this series, he has 11 points on three goals and eight assists. Overall in these playoffs, he sits at 42 points -- 8 goals and 34 assists. The assists are already a playoff record, and he could add more to his tally tonight.

If Edmonton loses Game 7 and McDavid wins the Conn Smythe, he will be the first player since Jean-Sebastien Giguere in 2003 to earn the honor while not being on the title-winning team.

With McDavid at -3500 odds, it's going to take an all-time Game 7 from someone on Florida to even make this a conversation -- in addition to a Florida series win. This is McDavid's award no matter the result. He's been undeniably the best player in these playoffs and in the Stanley Cup Final.

Aleksander Barkov, Panthers (+1200)

Aleksander Barkov has been the best player for the Panthers for every series of these playoffs, leading his team offensively and defensively.

The Panthers' captain paces the team in points with 22, scoring 8 goals and dishing out 14 assists through 23 games.

On the defensive end, he's leading the entire playoffs with 31 takeaways -- which ties for the most of a player in one postseason over the past decade. Barkov has done his part for the Panthers, as shown by his goal in Game 6 -- the only one scored by Florida. He also had another goal taken off the board early in the game, which may have made that game very different had it counted.

If Florida wins the series, Barkov would check all the Conn Smythe boxes as the best player on the winning team. The only reason he's unlikely to be going home with the hardware is due to the incredible play of McDavid.

If you believe in the Panthers win tonight and think the NHL won't award the Conn Smythe to a player on the losing team, then Barkov is the bet to make at +1200 odds. A great Game 7 performance by the 28-year-old to bring his team the first Stanley Cup in franchise history would make this market interesting.

Looking for more NHL betting opportunities? Check out all of the NHL odds at FanDuel Sportsbook.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.