NHL Hockey 24 Hours

Last updated: June 18, 2026, 5:30 AM ET

Front Office Shakeups

The coaching carousel accelerated as the Toronto Maple Leafs appointed Jim Hiller to lead their bench, banking on his 93-58-24 record amassed during his three-season tenure with the Los Angeles Kings. Meanwhile, the Vegas Golden Knights promoted Ryan Craig from their AHL affiliate to take the helm, a move coming just 24 hours after the organization parted ways with veteran coach John Tortorella. Nashville also adjusted its leadership structure, as the Predators hired Jamie Langenbrunner to serve as a special assistant to general manager Chris Mac Farland.

Draft Day Movements

The San Jose Sharks executed a trade ahead of next week's NHL draft, surrendering the No. 20 overall pick to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for defenseman Michael Kesselring and the No. 27 selection. This move provides the Sharks, who already command the No. 2 overall pick, additional flexibility as they look to restock their prospect pipeline.

Women’s Hockey Expansion

Professional hockey talent distribution saw a significant shift on Wednesday as the Vancouver Goldeneyes selected standout NCAA defenseman and 2026 Olympic gold medalist Caroline Harvey with the first overall pick in the PWHL entry draft. This selection served as the headline event of the annual league draft, which featured a deep class of prospects entering the professional ranks on June 17. The transition of elite college talent into the league continues to draw attention as teams look to build around foundational pieces like Harvey.