The NHL playoffs have just begun, but it's never too early to look toward the future. While one team will be lifting the Stanley Cup by season's end, that isn't the only hardware that will be handed out. The Conn Smythe Trophy also will be given to a player deemed to be the MVP of the playoffs. It's never easy to be able to predict who will win the award. It typically goes to the team that wins the Stanley Cup, however, that is not always the case. There have been five times in NHL history where the trophy has gone to a member of the losing team. With the first round series beginning Monday, let's take a look at the early favorites for the 2022 Conn Smythe. MORE: Who is the favorite to win the Conn Smythe in 2022? Entering the postseason, there is a pair of Avalanche stars that are the frontrunners to win the award. Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar are the two betting favorites at the beginning of the playoffs. The Avs hold the best odds at winning the Cup, which helps the argument that one of those two will earn the Conn Smythe. Odds courtesy of PLAYER ODDS Nathan MacKinnon +1037 Cale Makar +1355 Auston Matthews +1457 Jonathan Huberdeau +1525 Mikko Rantanen +1575 Aleksander Barkov +2103 Jacob Markstrom +2308 Darcy Kuemper +2069 Johnny Gaudreau +2103 Connor Sandy Leon Jersey McDavid +2378 MORE: Who has won the Conn Smythe in the past? A number of the NHL legends have a Conn Smythe to their name. The trophy has been handed out every year since it became an award in 1965, except for 2004-05 when the NHL had its season canceled because of a lockout. The award is not always guaranteed to go to a player on the winning team. There have been five times in its history that the honor has gone to a player on the losing club. MORE: PLAYER TEAM YEAR Andrei Vasilevskiy Tampa Bay Lightning 2021 Victor Hedman Tampa Bay Lightning 2020 Ryan O'Reilly St. Louis Blues 2019 Alex Ovechkin Washington Capitals 2018 Sidney Crosby Pittsburgh Penguins 2017 Sidney Crosby Pittsburgh Penguins 2016 Duncan Keith Chicago Blackhawks 2015 Justin Williams Los Angeles Kings 2014 Patrick Kane Chicago Blackhawks 2013 Jonathan Quick Los Angeles Kings 2012 Tim Thomas Boston Bruins 2011 Jonathan Toews Chicago Blackhawks 2010 Evgeni Malkin Pittsburgh Penguins 2009 Henrik Zetterburg Detroit Red Wings 2008 Scott Niedermayer Anaheim Ducks 2007 Cam Ward Carolina Hurricanes 2006 N/A* N/A* 2005 Brad Richards Tampa Bay Lightning 2004 Jean-Sebastien Giguere Mighty Ducks of Anaheim 2003 Nicklas Lidstrom Detroit Red Wings 2002 Patrick Roy Colorado Avalanche 2001 Scott Stevens New Jersey Devils 2000 Joe Nieuwendyk Dallas Stars 1999 Steve Yzerman Detroit Red Wings 1998 Mike Vernon Detroit Red Wings 1997 Joe Sakic Colorado Avalanche 1996 Claude Lemieux New Jersey Devils 1995 Brian Leetch New York Rangers 1994 Patrick Roy Montreal Canadiens 1993 Mario Lemieux Pittsburgh Penguins 1992 Mario Lemieux Pittsburgh Penguins 1991 Bill Ranford Edmonton Oilers 1990 Al MacInnis Calgary Flames 1989 Wayne Gretzky Edmonton Oilers 1988 Ron Hextall Philadelphia Flyers 1987 Patrick Roy Montreal Canadiens 1986 Wayne Gretzky Edmonton Oilers 1985 Mark Me sier Edmonton Oilers 1984 Billy Smith New York Islanders 1983 Mike Bo sy New York Islanders 1982 Butch Goring New York Islanders 1981 Bryan Trottier New York Islanders 1980 Bob Gainey Montreal Canadiens 1979 Larry Robinson Montreal Canadiens 1978 Guy Lafleur Montreal Canadiens 1977 Reggie Leach Philadelphia Flyers 1976 Bernie Parent Philadelphia Flyers 1975 Bernie Parent Philadelphia Flyers 1974 Yvan Cournoyer Montreal Canadiens 1973 Bobby Orr Boston Bruins 1972 Ken Dryden Montreal Canadiens 1971 Bobby Orr Boston Bruins 1970 Serge Savard Montreal Canadiens 1969 Glenn Hall St. Louis Blues 1968 Dave Keon Toronto Maple Leafs 1967 Roger Crozier Detroit Red Wings 1966 Jean Beliveau Montreal Canadiens 1965 * = 2004-05 did not have a winner because ofthe NHL lockout Kyle Cody Jersey