NHL Hockey 3d Briefing
×Last updated: March 18, 2026, 7:32 PM ET
Playoff Picture & Injury Woes
The race for playoff positioning intensified across the league as key stars faced health setbacks ahead of the final stretch. Penguins star Sidney Crosby espn.com is slated to return to the lineup against the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday after being sidelined following a lower-body injury sustained during the Olympics, a contest that carries significant weight in the Eastern Conference wild-card chase as Pittsburgh attempts to catch Carolina espn.com. Conversely, Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl espn.com, who has already amassed 97 points in 65 games this season, is projected to miss the remainder of the regular season due to a lower-body injury suffered Sunday, raising serious concerns about the Oilers’ ability to secure a favorable seed. Adding to league injury reports, Montreal forward Kirby Dach espn.com exited Sunday’s game against the Ducks following an upper-body injury resulting from a high hit delivered by Jeffrey Viel, leaving the Canadiens scrambling for forward depth.
League Statements & Future Events
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman confirmed espn.com that the league is still determining whether Russian players will be eligible for the 2028 World Cup of Hockey, stating that "time will tell" regarding the participation of NHL stars from that nation. This discussion follows the announcement that the 2028 World Cup of Hockey espn.com will utilize three host cities: Calgary, Edmonton, and Prague, marking the return of the tournament in February 2028. Separately, in a matter of historical distinction rather than ongoing play, Detroit's Patrick Kane espn.com moved into sole possession of fourth place on the all-time goals list for U.S.-born NHL players after scoring twice in a 5-2 victory over Calgary. Furthermore, the Hockey Hall of Fame espn.com clarified it will not be presenting Jack Hughes with the puck from his gold-medal-winning Olympic goal, asserting the item is not his property to claim.
Franchise Moves & Fantasy Outlook
As teams look toward the offseason and potential roster restructuring, the Chicago Blackhawks secured espn.com a three-year entry-level contract with Sacha Boisvert, considered one of the organization's premier prospects. Meanwhile, projections for the bottom half of the standings remain volatile, with reports suggesting that the San Jose Sharks still have a path espn.com to either a wild-card berth or the Pacific Division title, alongside ongoing draft lottery considerations. For fantasy managers preparing for the final weeks, Monday's essential guide suggested adding players like Blake Coleman and Troy Terry espn.com based on favorable matchups. to the next few postseasons, the list of "old guys without a Cup"—players like Brent Burns—who are candidates espn.com for rooting interest in the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs—is currently being finalized as teams jostle for current positioning.