NHL Hockey 3d Briefing
×Last updated: March 18, 2026, 4:30 PM ET
NHL Playoff Race & Injuries
The race for postseason positioning intensified as major injuries struck key contenders across the league, threatening regular-season goals playoff projections espn.com. In Edmonton, star forward Leon Draisaitl, who had amassed 97 points in 65 games, is widely expected to miss espn.com the remainder of the regular season following a lower-body ailment sustained Sunday. Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Penguins are getting a boost as Sidney Crosby is slated to return espn.com against the Carolina Hurricanes after being sidelined since sustaining his own Olympics-ending lower-body injury, setting up a critical matchup that directly impacts their pursuit of a wild card spot playoff watch espn.com. Adding to the injury woes, Montreal's Kirby Dach exited Sunday's contest against Anaheim due to an upper-body issue following a high hit from Jeffrey Viel, creating further uncertainty for the Canadiens Dach exits espn.com.
Team Building & Prospect Signings
While the playoff chase heats up, several organizations focused on securing future talent, with the Washington Capitals signing espn.com highly touted prospect Cole Hutson to a three-year entry-level contract immediately after his sophomore season at Boston University concluded in the Hockey East tournament. Similarly, the Chicago Blackhawks finalized a deal espn.com with Sacha Boisvert, regarded as one of the organization's premier prospects, locking him up for three seasons. These signings contrast with the ongoing internal strategy discussions, such as the San Jose Sharks remaining in contention espn.com for either a wild card berth or the Pacific Division title late in the season.
International Hockey & Hall of Fame Matters
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman provided an update on international play, stating that "time will tell" regarding the potential invitation for Russia and its contingent of NHL players to participate in the 2028 World Cup of Hockey Bettman on Russia espn.com. This speculation comes as the league confirmed that the 2028 World Cup will utilize North American venues, specifically naming Calgary, Edmonton, and Prague as confirmed host cities World Cup sites espn.com. Away from league business, the Hockey Hall of Fame declined espn.com to award Jack Hughes the puck from his gold-medal-winning goal scored at the Milan Cortina Olympics, asserting that the item was not his property to claim.
Player Milestones & Fantasy Focus
Detroit’s Patrick Kane achieved a personal milestone, scoring twice in a 5-2 victory over Calgary to place him alone in fourth place on the all-time goals list for NHL players born in the United States Kane moves up espn.com. For fantasy managers navigating the final stretch, the weekly waiver wire strategy involved targeting players like Blake Coleman and Troy Terry based on favorable matchups fantasy pickups espn.com. Furthermore, as the postseason nears, fans are beginning to identify veteran players seeking their first championship, with Brent Burns leading the list of "old guys without a Cup" candidates for the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs OGWAC candidates espn.com.