Edmonton Oilers

NHL Trade Talk Recap: Canadiens, Maple Leafs & Oilers

Canadiens win wild Game 7 in Tampa, Maple Leafs shake up with Sundin and Chayka, and McDavid sends a blunt message after Edmonton’s exit.

by
Old Prof
May 3, 2026

In this edition of NHL Trade Talk Recap, we review three of today’s posts. The Canadiens pull off a wild Game 7 in Tampa thanks to grit and a weird Newhook winner, the Maple Leafs are shaking things up with Sundin back and Chayka stepping in as GM, and McDavid wants to win in Edmonton, but he’s fed up with an “average” season. There’s plenty to unpack as the playoffs and offseason heat up.

Habs Pull Off Wild Game 7 — Weird, Gritty, and Somehow Brilliant

Montreal pulled off a wild 2-1 Game 7 win. It was tough from start to finish. Seven one-goal games in the series, four went to OT, and this one was all grind. Dobes was a brick wall with 28 saves, and the winner came from pure hustle, not pretty passing.

That winner was pure playoff weirdness. Hutson rips one, Vasilevskiy bats it away, the puck bounces off the end boards, and Alex Newhook dives at the airborne puck on the goal line. The puck ricochets off Vasilevskiy’s back and in. Scrappy, lucky, perfect timing. Montreal also survived Tampa’s power play and limited their chances all night, playing old-school playoff hockey. They clogged lanes, cleared rebounds, and trusted their goalie.

Now the young Canadiens head to Buffalo for Round 2. The Sabres are fast and stacked. But if Dobes stays hot and the Habs keep chipping in those ugly goals, this series could get more interesting than anyone expected.

3 Surprises from the Canadiens’ Game 7 Upset of the Lightning

Maple Leafs Shakeup — Sundin Returns and Chayka’s In

In big news, Elliotte Friedman announced a major hockey-ops shakeup today. The Maple Leafs will hold a full press conference tomorrow. Mats Sundin is returning as Senior Executive Advisor (full-time; family moving back to Toronto), and John Chayka becomes the new GM.

Sundin is coming in day-to-day. That matters because he actually gets what it means to be in Toronto. Chayka’s the young, analytics-first exec who thinks differently about roster building. Pairing his modern approach with Sundin’s franchise credibility could be a smart balance.

Structurally, Chayka will run hockey operations and report to MLSE president Keith Pelley, while Sundin works closely as a senior advisor. On paper, Chayka’s the boss, but the vibe seems more like a joint brain trust than a hierarchy.

Sundin Returns, Chayka Arrives — What This Really Means

Mats Sundin Maple Leafs — Mats Sundin, when he played with the Maple Leafs.

McDavid Wants to Win and Stay in Edmonton. But He’s Still Unhappy About the Season

Connor McDavid’s message didn’t change. He wants to win in Edmonton. But after the Oilers’ early exit to the Ducks, there was a harsher edge to it. He said the team took a step back this year, agreed with Leon Draisaitl that everyone (including himself) needs to be better, and made it clear he’s not sugarcoating things.

He admitted he wasn’t 100%, playing through an ankle fracture robbed him of that explosive first step he relies on. That made a real difference in the playoffs. McDavid pointed out that the regular season helps build habits and momentum, but the Oilers didn’t find consistency this year. They’ve got work to do starting Day 1 of camp.

McDavid’s not patient with “average.” With two years left on his deal, expect Edmonton to be busy this offseason trying to fix the gaps. If not, they risk losing the guy who’s carried them this far.

What Does Connor McDavid’s Honest Message After Early Exit Mean for the Oilers