NHL Hockey 24 Hours

Last updated: April 16, 2026, 11:30 PM ET

Offseason Roster Management & Contract Status

As the NHL regular season concludes with six games remaining to finalize playoff seeding and the draft lottery order on the season's final day, several key personnel decisions are already taking shape across the league. The Chicago Blackhawks' general manager confirmed that securing a long-term deal for star rookie Connor Bedard, who is eligible for restricted free agency, remains an "important priority" despite the inherent complexities of the negotiation Bedard deal is 'important' priority. Meanwhile, the future of Toronto's captain remains uncertain, as Auston Matthews offered a noncommittal response when pressed about his return, stating he "can't predict the future" regarding his tenure with the Maple Leafs next season Matthews still noncommittal on future. Furthermore, the Columbus Blue Jackets secured continuity behind the bench, announcing that Rick Bowness has agreed to return as head coach for the upcoming campaign Bowness agrees to return as coach.

Playoff Preparations & International Commitments

Teams gearing up for the postseason are dealing with last-minute injury management and strategic secrecy, while a major star confirmed participation in international play. The Minnesota Wild are maintaining strict operational security regarding their Game 1 starting goaltender against the Dallas Stars, keeping their preference between Filip Gustavsson and Jesper Wallstedt under wraps Wild coach mum on Game 1 goalie. Despite missing the entire NHL season while recovering from an undisclosed injury, Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov has received a clean bill of health and will compete for Finland in the upcoming World Championship in May Barkov to play for Finland. Adding organizational depth, the San Jose Sharks signed Hobey Baker Award finalist Eric Pohlkamp to a two-year, entry-level contract on Thursday, bringing in the NCAA champion Sharks sign NCAA champ Pohlkamp.

Team Vulnerabilities & Draft Positioning

While playoff positioning is being solidified, analysts are already dissecting the inherent flaws of the top contenders, recognizing that no team enters the Stanley Cup bracket entirely without weakness, prompting opponents to key in on specific areas of deficiency Stanley Cup contender flaws. The final day of the regular season will directly impact the draft lottery odds, as the results of the six remaining contests determine the final order for the draft pool Playoff watch: What's at stake.