NHL Hockey 3d Briefing
×Last updated: March 18, 2026, 12:30 AM ET
Playoff Races & Injury Woes
The Western Conference playoff picture remains fluid, with the San Jose Sharks' final positioning espn.com still open to a wild card berth or a Pacific Division finish, even as other teams solidify their brackets, according to current projections tracking lottery standings espn.com. Compounding the tension for contenders, Edmonton Oilers superstar Leon Draisaitl, who has collected an impressive 97 points across 65 games this season, is now likely sidelined for the remainder espn.com of the regular season due to a lower-body injury sustained Sunday. Further injury concerns arose in the East when Montreal Canadiens forward Kirby Dach was forced to exit Sunday’s contest against the Anaheim Ducks following an upper-body ailment after receiving a high hit from Jeffrey Viel prompting an early exit espn.com.
League Milestones & Future Planning
Detroit Red Wings forward Patrick Kane achieved a significant personal milestone, scoring twice in a decisive 5-2 victory over the Calgary Flames, which propelled him into sole possession of fourth place on the National Hockey League’s all-time goals list for players born in the United States cementing his scoring record espn.com. On the prospect front, the Chicago Blackhawks officially secured a three-year entry-level contract with Sacha Boisvert, regarded as one of their elite talents in the pipeline finalizing the deal espn.com, while the Washington Capitals also signed defenseman Cole Hutson to a similar three-year pact immediately following the conclusion of his sophomore season at Boston University finalizing his arrival espn.com.
International Hockey & League Governance
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman confirmed that the World Cup of Hockey will return in February 2028, with host cities already designated for Calgary, Edmonton, and Prague announcing the venues espn.com, though he stated that "time will tell" regarding the potential inclusion of Russian players and teams in the 2028 tournament addressing participation espn.com. Separately, U.S. Men’s National Team star Jack Hughes expressed his desire to reclaim the puck from the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, where it is currently on display after his gold-medal-winning overtime goal in the Winter Games requesting the keepsake espn.com.
Fantasy & Veteran Watch Lists
As the regular season winds down and playoff matchups start taking shape, fantasy hockey managers are advised to review weekly waiver wire pickups, with players like Blake Coleman and Troy Terry being targeted for potential matchup-based additions heading into the next slate of games guiding weekly adds espn.com. Meanwhile, fans are already identifying players eligible for sentimental rooting interest during the postseason, compiling lists of celebrated veterans such as Brent Burns who are still chasing their first Stanley Cup championship heading into the 2026 playoff format identifying Cup-less veterans espn.com.