NHL Hockey 24 Hours

Last updated: March 23, 2026, 4:30 PM ET

NHL Personnel & League Matters

The NHL announced scheduling details for the upcoming season, confirming the Carolina Hurricanes & Seattle Kraken will participate in the Global Series, playing two games in Helsinki this November as the league continues its international outreach efforts. On the coaching front, Panthers bench boss Paul Maurice is slated to join Scotty Bowman as the only men to reach the 2,000-game coaching milestone, an impressive benchmark for longevity in the sport. Meanwhile, the Seattle Kraken forward Ryan Winterton has temporarily taken a leave of absence, the team confirmed Monday, though details surrounding the situation were not disclosed.

Milestones & Player Moves

The league calendar was marked by a historic achievement as Alex Ovechkin scored his 1,000th combined NHL goal (regular season and during a 3-2 overtime loss to the league-leading Avalanche on Sunday. While the focus remains on the current campaign, teams are already bolstering future rosters; the St. Louis Blues signed college free agent forward Felix Trudeau to a two-year entry-level contract beginning next season, securing one of the top available undrafted talents. For those tracking current player development, Devils center Jack Hughes has navigated a roller-coaster month following his surreal Olympic golden goal performance.

Discipline & Fantasy Outlook

Disciplinary action was handed down in Florida, where Panthers forward A.J. Greer received a three-game suspension for shoving Flames forward Connor Zary from behind into the boards. As the league heads toward the postseason push, fantasy managers are advised to adjust lineups, with experts recommending pickups of Rangers & Blackhawks forwards to maximize weekly point totals. The league also mourned the devastating loss of Jessi Pierce, the longtime Wild correspondent for NHL.com, who passed away along with her three children in a weekend house fire in Minnesota.

Amateur & Future Projections

Attention shifted briefly to the amateur ranks as the NCAA men's hockey tournament bracket was finalized, setting the stage for the road to the Frozen Four, with experts analyzing matchups and making predictions for the Vegas showdown. The complete schedule and key capsules for all 16 qualifying teams were released Monday, detailing the path forward for aspiring professionals. Looking further ahead, analysts have already begun ranking the most entertaining potential Stanley Cup first-round matchups for the 2026 playoffs, anticipating high-stakes drama in future seasons.