NHL Hockey 3 Days

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

NHL Management Upheaval & Playoff Race Crunch

The final weeks of the NHL regular season were marked by immediate organizational reactions to underperformance, most dramatically in Toronto where the Maple Leafs organization fired GM Treliving on Monday following the team's slide toward missing the postseason for the first time since the 2016-17 campaign. This high-stakes executive change contrasts sharply with developments in the Western Conference, where the Vegas Golden Knights surprisingly dismissed coach Bruce Cassidy on Sunday, with GM Kelly McCrimmon citing a loss of player spark as justification for bringing in the hard-nosed John Tortorella to reignite their Cup defense hopes. As Eastern Conference races tighten, at least two Metropolitan Division rivals are positioned for a potential Monday-night showdown that could have significant implications for seeding and the ensuing draft lottery standings, keeping playoff projections volatile three weeks out from the postseason.

Injury Updates & Fantasy Focus

In Pittsburgh, the immediate return of captain Sidney Crosby from a lower-body ailment provided a major boost, as the veteran center anchored a rout of the Islanders on Monday night after sitting out Saturday’s loss against the Stars alongside Evgeni Malkin who was also day-to-day with an injury. While the Penguins fight for a wild card spot, those tracking assets for the fantasy hockey finals received guidance on Monday regarding essential additions; specifically, players like hot-scoring McMann and Snuggerud are recommended pickups heading into the final week of regular season play. For the 16 fan bases whose teams will be eliminated, the focus shifts to rooting interest, with ESPN offering a guide ranking the top Stanley Cup playoff bandwagons for displaced supporters to follow through the spring.