NHL Hockey 24-Hour Briefing
×Last updated: March 12, 2026, 11:53 AM ET
PWHL Expansion and TV Exposure
The Professional Women's Hockey League is set for its first national television broadcast as a PWHL Detroit game will be televised in the United States, marking a significant milestone for women's professional hockey. Meanwhile, the Ottawa Charge are exploring a potential partnership with the NHL's Senators to secure their future in the city, as their current arena faces downsizing during upcoming renovations. The collaboration would provide the PWHL team with a stable home venue while leveraging the Senators' NHL infrastructure.
NHL Playoff Picture
As the regular season winds down, analysts are examining potential playoff matchups, with the Stars-Oilers rivalry drawing particular attention as a possible conference finals preview. Updated Stanley Cup playoff projections and draft lottery standings are being closely monitored by teams positioning themselves for postseason positioning or lottery odds. The competitive landscape continues to shift as teams jockey for playoff seeding in both conferences.
Player Contract News
The Utah Mammoth have secured their offensive core by re-signing forward Nick Schmaltz to an eight-year, $64 million contract extension. The deal prevents the talented forward from reaching unrestricted free agency this summer and represents a significant investment in the team's long-term success. Schmaltz's commitment provides stability to the Mammoth's forward group as they prepare for the upcoming season.