NHL Hockey 24 Hours

Last updated: March 31, 2026, 5:30 AM ET

Executive Shakeups & Playoff Race Fallout

The final days of the regular season brought sweeping management changes as the pressure mounted league-wide, most dramatically in Toronto where the Maple Leafs fired GM Treliving just as the team faced missing the postseason for the first time since the 2016-17 campaign. Concurrently, the Vegas Golden Knights made a stunning move Sunday, parting ways with coach Bruce Cassidy and bringing in John Tortorella, with GM Kelly McCrimmon citing that players had lost their necessary spark ahead of the stretch run. These organizational shifts underscore the volatile environment as playoff projections firm up, with two Metropolitan Division rivals preparing for a potential Monday night clash that could carry significant April implications per bracket forecasts.

Injury Returns & Fantasy Focus

While management cleaned house, on-ice action saw key veterans return to bolster championship contenders, as Sidney Crosby rejoined the Penguins lineup Monday night after sitting out the prior contest due to a lower-body ailment, leading Pittsburgh to decisively rout the Islanders. For those whose teams are already mathematically eliminated, attention shifts to future roster building or, in the short term, fantasy hockey finals where managers are advised to target high-scoring additions like McMann and Snuggerud for crucial weekly pickups. Meanwhile, analysts have already begun catering to the 16 fan bases now looking for a new team to support throughout the Stanley Cup tournament, offering guides on which bandwagon to jump onto.