NHL Hockey 24 Hours

Last updated: March 31, 2026, 11:35 AM ET

NHL Playoff Picture & Front Office Shakeups

The race for Eastern Conference positioning tightened considerably as the Hurricanes & Blue Jackets entered Tuesday's critical matchup needing the two points to secure favorable seeding, while elsewhere in the Atlantic Division, the Maple Leafs fired GM Treliving following confirmation the franchise would miss the postseason for the first time since the 2016-17 campaign. The upheaval in management continued in the desert, where the Vegas Golden Knights hired John Tortorella to replace Bruce Cassidy, as GM Kelly McCrimmon cited players losing their "spark" as a factor in the surprising Sunday decision. Adding to the executive movement, the Florida Panthers appointed Michael White—a former executive from Amazon & Disney—as the team's new president of business operations, signaling an organizational focus on commercial growth alongside on-ice performance.

Player Returns & Fantasy Moves

On the ice, the Penguins routed the Islanders as superstar Sidney Crosby made his successful return from a lower-body injury after sitting out the previous contest, providing a significant boost to Pittsburgh’s late-season push. For fantasy hockey managers preparing for league finals, the guide recommended adding McMann & Snuggerud based on their recent scoring surges, offering actionable advice for players looking to optimize their rosters before the final week of regular-season play concludes.