NHL Hockey 3d Briefing
×Last updated: March 17, 2026, 10:30 PM ET
Playoff Picture & Injury Concerns
The Western Conference playoff race remains volatile as the Edmonton Oilers espn.com face a potentially devastating blow with star forward Leon Draisaitl, who has amassed 97 points through 65 games, expected to miss the remainder of the regular season due to a lower-body injury sustained Sunday. Meanwhile, the race for the final postseason berths sees the San Jose Sharks espn.com keeping both a wild card slot and a Pacific Division title within reach, according to the latest projections, while the Anaheim Ducks' espn.com slim chances of winning their division are still being calculated. Injuries also struck the East, as Montreal's Kirby Dach exited Sunday’s game espn.com against the Ducks following an upper-body issue resulting from a high hit delivered by Jeffrey Viel, adding to the league’s mounting list of sidelined stars as teams jockey for seeding espn.com.
US Hockey & Player Milestones
Detroit Red Wings forward Patrick Kane achieved a significant milestone espn.com by scoring twice in a 5-2 victory over Calgary, vaulting him into sole possession of fourth place on the all-time goals list for National Hockey League players born in the United States. Elsewhere, American prospects are signing contracts as the Washington Capitals espn.com secured Cole Hutson to a three-year entry-level deal immediately following the conclusion of his sophomore campaign at Boston University in the Hockey East tournament Saturday. Further solidifying the league's depth, the Chicago Blackhawks espn.com announced a three-year entry-level agreement with Sacha Boisvert, who is regarded as one of the organization's premier prospects espn.com.
League Governance & International Play
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman offered a non-committal stance regarding the participation of Russian players in the 2028 World Cup of Hockey, stating that "time will tell" if the nation will receive an invitation to the event espn.com. This discussion arises as the NHL confirmed the host cities for the 2028 tournament, which will feature games played in Calgary, Edmonton, and Prague espn.com during February of that year. On a separate, more personal note, Team USA gold medalist Jack Hughes revealed his desire to retrieve the puck from his overtime-winning goal, which is currently on display at the Hockey Hall of Fame espn.com in Toronto, demonstrating the personal significance attached to international achievements espn.com.