NHL Playoffs 2012: Top 10 Players in the Running for the Conn Smythe Trophy

This week begins the 2012 Stanley Cup Final between the New Jersey Devils and Los Angeles Kings.

We have been tracking the favorites for the Conn Smythe Trophy ever since the second round of the postseason got under way.

Remember that the award is for the most valuable player throughout the entire Stanley Cup playoffs, not just the final round. Players from the losing team in the final have won the trophy before, the most recent being J.S. Giguere, who won in 2003 with the Anaheim Ducks even though the Devils captured the Stanley Cup that year.

Now, with just two teams remaining in the hunt, here is a look at the top 10 contenders for the Conn Smythe Trophy listed in order. These positions are subject to change as the final round unfolds.

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