NHL Hockey 24 Hours

Last updated: April 7, 2026, 5:30 AM ET

Executive & Coaching Moves

The New Jersey Devils organization initiated a major late-season shakeup, announcing the immediate departure of General Manager Tom Fitzgerald as the franchise seeks a "new direction" following another year outside the postseason picture. Contrasting this organizational shift, the New York Islanders finalized a coaching hire, confirming Peter DeBoer as their bench boss after the coach was persuaded by the team's stated long-term vision during negotiations. In the PWHL, Ottawa Charge coach Carla Mac Leod stepped away indefinitely from her duties to focus on her ongoing treatment for breast cancer, with the team confirming the leave on Monday.

On-Ice Incidents & League Review

The NHL has launched an internal probe investigating a bizarre injury sustained by Tampa Bay forward Pontus Holmberg, who crashed into an unlatched penalty box door during Monday night's game, resulting in an injury to his left arm. This safety concern arose while the Lightning were simultaneously falling to the Buffalo Sabres 4-2 at Key Bank Center, though Tampa Bay superstar Nikita Kucherov did reach a personal milestone by scoring his 400th career goal on a power play. Meanwhile, the Dallas Stars took decisive action against a fan, indefinitely banning the individual who purchased tickets connected to an incident involving an alleged Nazi salute display back in December.

Playoff Picture & Fantasy Outlook

Despite the loss, both the Tampa Bay Lightning and Buffalo Sabres remain playoff-bound, keeping the race for the crucial Atlantic Division top seed highly competitive as the regular season winds down. For those managing their rosters in the final stretch, fantasy hockey analysts advised managers to target specific depth players and adjust lineups based on favorable upcoming schedules to secure championship matchups. Separately, analysis continues regarding the elite players still in contention for the "double championship," noting that only eight NHL players have ever managed to secure both the Stanley Cup and Olympic gold in the same season, raising the stakes for this year's top contenders aiming for that rare feat.