NHL Hockey 24-Hour Briefing
×Last updated: March 12, 2026, 12:48 PM ET
NHL Off-Season Moves
The Ottawa Senators will retain their 2026 first-round draft pick after the NHL decided against imposing forfeiture penalties for their involvement in the cancelled 2022 trade involving Evgenii Dadonov, resolving a contentious issue that had threatened to impact the team's future roster building. Meanwhile, the Utah Mammoth locked down their forward core by re-signing Nick Schmaltz to an eight-year, $64 million contract extension, keeping the talented playmaker off the free agent market this summer.
Women's Hockey Expansion
The Professional Women's Hockey League is expanding its television footprint with a Detroit game set for national broadcast in the United States, marking a significant step toward mainstream visibility for women's professional hockey. The PWHL is also exploring a partnership with the NHL's Ottawa Senators to secure a new home venue, as the Charge's current arena is slated for downsizing during upcoming renovations.
Playoff Picture
With the regular season winding down, analysts are examining whether the Stars-Oilers matchup represents a potential Stanley Cup conference finals preview, as both teams jockey for playoff positioning and favorable seeding in their respective conferences. The race for playoff berths continues to intensify, with several teams still battling for wild card spots and division titles in both the Eastern and Western Conferences.