This edition (June 11, 2026) of NHL Trade Talk Recap includes three big recaps from our posts today. First, the Lightning’s Kucherov edged the Oilers’ McDavid for the Hart in a neck-and-neck vote. Pavelski’s name keeps popping up as a potential pick for the Maple Leafs’ coach. And the Oilers coaching job might slide toward a no-nonsense veteran like Darryl Sutter if the Babcock path remains complicated.
Kucherov Nips McDavid — Wins Hart by a Hair
Nikita Kucherov just won the 2025–26 Hart Trophy, squeezing past Connor McDavid by only 10 points — the tightest vote since 2001–02. Kucherov’s 130 points and how much he carried his team pushed him over the line. It’s his first Hart since 2019 and only the third time a player waited seven-plus years between wins.
It was razor-close: Kucherov 1.71 PPG to McDavid’s 1.68. And Kucherov led the trio in game-winners (8). Nathan MacKinnon and Macklin Celebrini rounded out the top four, with Nick Suzuki fifth. But really, this was a two-horse race down to the final ballots.
Nikita Kucherov Edges Out McDavid to Win 2025-26 Hart Trophy
Pavelski for Maple Leafs? Can It Work?
Joe Pavelski getting linked to the Maple Leafs bench naturally invites comparisons to Martin St. Louis. Pavelski was a late pick, and St. Louis was undrafted. But both turned into elite players and carry that instant locker-room credibility. But St. Louis showed up with big hardware and landed in a spot that gave him time to learn; Pavelski’s rep is grit, leadership and playoff chops, not trophies or pro-level coaching reps.
St. Louis had a runway and built on an offensive vision, while Pavelski’s style screams structure and hard work. He could be great — just depends on the situation. Give Pavelski time, the right staff, and patience, and he might grow into a top coach; drop him into Toronto’s pressure cooker, and even a legend can get chewed up.
Captain to Great Coach: Could Pavelski Win With the Maple Leafs?
Sutter in the Wings if Oilers’ Search Falls Apart
The Oilers’ coaching hunt is spiralling. Babcock’s resume is getting tied up by an NHLPA-requested investigation. Cassidy looks off the table. Laviolette’s in LA to take the Kings job. And that leaves the club scrambling. Frank Seravalli floated a pragmatic idea: call Darryl Sutter. He’s Alberta through-and-through, a two-time Cup winner, and someone who’d bring the hard-nosed structure Edmonton seems to want. And he does have the extra baggage Babcock would bring.
Would Sutter take it? Who knows? He’s been out since 2022-23 and is 67. But coaching McDavid and Draisaitl with a ready-made top-end roster is a tempting final run. He’d ruffle feathers. Still, compared with the Babcock drama, Sutter would be a blunt, straightforward option that buys no excuses and expects results.
A New Hard-Nosed, Stanley Cup-Winning HC Linked to the Oilers
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