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The Detroit Red Wings are set to close out their season Tuesday night on the road against the Florida Panthers, a final game that comes with little at stake in the standings but plenty of reflection for an organization once again headed toward an early summer.

With the loss officially marking a 10th consecutive year outside the playoffs, questions have resurfaced around how Detroit approached its roster construction and, in particular, its activity at the trade deadline.

Across the fanbase, within parts of the organization, and among outside observers, there is a growing belief that the team may have needed to take a bigger swing to break through its long postseason drought.

One of the most frequently discussed names in that conversation is New York Rangers center Vincent Trocheck, a proven two-way presence who has continued to produce reliably this season.

On Monday’s edition of Sportsnet’s FAN Hockey Show, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman addressed speculation that Detroit had explored acquiring higher-end center help, responding to host Mike Futa, who suggested the Red Wings should have pushed harder for a player of Trocheck’s caliber.

Mike Futa: Re Red Wings: I really thought they'd go a little bit harder in on Vincent Trocheck

Elliotte Friedman: I think they did; I heard the ask was really high

- FAN Hockey Show (4/13)

— NHL Rumour Report (@NHLRumourReport) April 15, 2026

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Friedman indicated that Detroit likely did investigate that market, noting succinctly, “I think they did; I heard the ask was really high,” a comment that aligned with broader reporting around the team’s deadline approach. The implication was that while interest may have been real, the acquisition cost ultimately proved prohibitive.

That framing also tracks with comments made by Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman following the trade deadline, when he emphasized that the club evaluated multiple options but ultimately stepped back when prices rose beyond what they were willing to pay. The organization has prioritized preserving its prospect pipeline as part of its longer-term rebuild strategy.

Trocheck, meanwhile, has delivered another strong all-around season, posting 16 goals and 37 assists for 53 points in 66 games while continuing to serve as a dependable two-way center. For a Detroit roster that has searched for stability down the middle, his profile was widely seen as a strong fit for an immediate push.

In hindsight, Detroit’s decision to hold firm at the deadline is likely to remain a point of debate. While the Red Wings preserved future assets, they also fell short of ending their playoff drought. Whether that restraint proves prudent or costly will depend on how the franchise’s younger core develops in the seasons ahead.

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Dylan Garand will start in the New York Rangers’ 2025-26 season finale on Wednesday night against the Tampa Bay Lightning. 

Garand was recalled by the Rangers from the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League on March 20, as he finally got his first taste of NHL action in Jonathan Quick’s absence due to an upper-body injury.

The 23-year-old goaltender has started in two games since being called up, posting a 1-0-1 record, 1.44 goals against average, and .954 save percentage. 

However, Garand hasn’t started a game since notching his first NHL win on March 27 against the Chicago Blackhawks, but the Rangers have still opted to keep him around despite Quick returning to the lineup. 

Ahead of the Rangers’ Monday night game against the Florida Panthers, Quick announced that he would officially be retiring at the end of the 2025-26 campaign. 

This development opens up the door for Garand to take over the Blueshirts’ backup goaltending role next season behind Igor Shesterkin. 

“We have talked for a few weeks on what we were trying to accomplish with our goalies, and there were multiple objectives involved,” Mike Sullivan said. “Obviously, Shesty is our No. 1 guy, and he's a priority for us. I think how we handled Quickie down the stretch, he is deserving of, and we've spoken at length about that. And Dylan is a guy that's played well in the starts that he's had, and we're excited about where potentially he goes moving forward. 

“So there were multiple objectives involved, and we had a big-picture game plan in mind, and this was part of it. As I always tell you guys, it's always subject to change based on circumstances. You guys know that. But obviously we're trying to accomplish multiple things at the same time, and that was part of it.”

With the Rangers eliminated from playoff contention and without much to play for heading into their season finale, Garand will get another opportunity to further showcase his skills at the NHL level. 

The Pittsburgh Penguins played their final game of the regular season on Tuesday night, losing 7-5 against the St. Louis Blues.

The Penguins jumped out to 3-0 and 4-1 leads before letting the Blues come all the way back to win it. Normally, this would be considered an "unacceptable" loss, but it was basically a preseason game since the Penguins had already clinched a playoff spot and were sitting out numerous players, including Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, and Erik Karlsson.

Rutger McGroarty got things started for the Penguins in the first period with a goal right off a draw. Avery Hayes and Anthony Mantha eventually scored to make it 3-0 before the Blues made it 3-1 at the end of the first period, thanks to Jimmy Snuggerud. 

Elmer Soderblom scored a gorgeous goal at the beginning of the second period to make it a 4-1 lead before everything went south for the Penguins. 

"That's like a Clydesdale horse" 🐎😂

6'8" Elmer Söderblom showing off his size as he scores the Pens' fourth goal of the night 💪 pic.twitter.com/I5gR5U5JbO

— SportsNet Pittsburgh (@SNPittsburgh) April 15, 2026

The Penguins allowed five unanswered goals by the Blues, making it a 6-4 game before Avery Hayes scored his second goal to make it 6-5 in the third period. The Penguins tried to get a 6-on-5 goal, but it wasn't meant to be, as Dylan Holloway iced the game with an empty-net goal. 

Here are some takeaways from this one: 

- I know some people will look at the goals allowed by both Stuart Skinner and Arturs Silivs and get nervous, but there wasn't much they could do on a lot of the goals against. The Penguins were atrocious in their own zone for most of the evening, which shouldn't come as a surprise since they were playing without four of their top six defensemen. 

Even when everyone's in the lineup, they've still been a little leaky as of late, but I expect this to get cleaned up by the time this weekend rolls around. 

- Jake Livanavage made his NHL debut for the Penguins and logged 25:14 in a top-four role. I liked a lot of what I saw, especially on the power play. He was methodical with the puck, and his skating was smooth. It's only one game, but it's still something to build off going into next season. 

- Elmer Soderblom continues to make a great case to be in the playoff lineup, even with everyone healthy. We still have to see if Connor Dewar and Blake Lizotte will be ready to go for Game 1, but Soderblom has been awesome since he was acquired from the Detroit Red Wings. 

The goal he scored to make it 4-1 was something else. The way that he cut to the net and did the little toe before scoring the goal was awesome. He compiled five goals and 10 points in 20 games with the Penguins after they traded for him. 

Penguins' Newly Signed Defenseman To Make NHL Debut Against St. Louis BluesOne week ago, defenseman Jake Livanavage was suiting up for the University of North Dakota at the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/news/latest-news/denver-shares-what-it-took-to-triumph-at-ncaa-frozen-four-yet-again">Frozen Four</a> in Las Vegas.

- Avery Hayes finished the regular season with five goals in 16 games and should be a full-time NHL player as soon as next season. He used a burst of speed to score the first goal, made no mistake with his release, and never gave up on the play to score his second. He's got what it takes to be a good bottom-six player in the NHL, and I'm looking forward to seeing how he keeps developing.

- Next up for the Penguins? Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. They'll take on the Philadelphia Flyers in the first round for the first time since the 2017-18 season. The rivalry has been dormant for the last several years, but all it takes is a great playoff series to change that. I expect this one to be full of fireworks. 

Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!     

The final night of a regular season can seem meaningless for a team that already clinched their playoff position the night before. A sizable chunk of the regular roster is rested, meaning that younger players and AHL call-ups are brought in to take their place. 

It is usually a transition—part reflection, part anticipation, rarely definitive in what it reveals. But for the Philadelphia Flyers, a 4–2 win over the Montreal Canadiens felt different. 

A team that has spent months constructing an identity closed its season not by coasting into the postseason, but by reinforcing exactly who it is, even when the roster looks remarkably different from how it usually does.

The Flyers will finish 43–27–12 (98 points), third in the Metropolitan Division. Next comes the Pittsburgh Penguins for the eighth playoff meeting between the bitter interstate rivals.

But before that, this game offered something valuable: a snapshot of both present and future, converging at exactly the right time.

1. A Complete Season Ends With a Complete Performance

There is something significant about how the Flyers handled this final game. They didn’t treat it as a formality, but as legitimate preparation.

The Canadiens played most of their top guys—the likes of Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, and Juraf Slafkovsky were all in the lineup—and the Flyers' young guys were able to keep them under control. 

The win completed a 3–0 season sweep of Montreal, the first time the Flyers have swept the Canadiens since 2017–18. But more importantly, it reinforced habits that have defined their late-season surge: structure, depth scoring, and composure.

There was no overextension, no chasing offense for the sake of it. The Flyers handled the game in layers—defensively sound, opportunistic offensively, and consistent in their approach. That matters heading into the playoffs, especially when the organization is keeping a close eye on who could feature in the postseason should the Flyers need to call in a replacement.

2. The Youth Movement Isn’t Coming—It’s Here

If there was a defining theme of the night, it was this: the Flyers’ future is here.

Oliver Bonk delivered a remarkable NHL debut, recording a goal and an assist—all in the first period. According to NHL stats, he became just the 10th defenseman in league history to record multiple points in his first NHL period, joining a list that spans over a century.

OLIVER BONK WASTES NO TIME!!! 🤩

He's got his first assist and goal, all in the first period of his NHL debut! pic.twitter.com/rSZ5UyH7q4

— NHL (@NHL) April 14, 2026

Hunter McDonald also made his NHL debut, contributing an assist and plenty of physical assertiveness to keep the Habs in check.

Speaking about his debut, McDonald said postgame, “It was just awesome. I don’t have words, honestly. It was pretty cool… It was just great that I played with them down there. It’s a big family from Lehigh to here, everyone in this organization is classy. It was awesome.”

There is a connective thread running through this organization—from Lehigh Valley to Philadelphia—and nights like this make it visible.

Head coach Rick Tocchet acknowledged the difficulty of the moment for these players, and their admirable response to it.

“I was really impressed," he said. "It’s a tough turnaround getting called up today and the travel… There’s a lot of moving parts for them. I give them a lot of credit.”

3. Porter Martone Is Operating in Rare Air

If Bonk’s debut represented the future arriving, Porter Martone continues to define the present.

With another goal and assist, Martone recorded his third multi-point game and extended his point streak to six games (4G, 5A). That ties him with Sean Couturier, Mike Ricci, and Peter Zezel for the second-longest point streak by a Flyers teenager—trailing only Eric Lindros.

Numbers like that place Martone’s production not just in the category of “impressive rookie performance,” but literally in the lineage of franchise history.

4. Matvei Michkov Is Peaking at the Perfect Time

Timing matters, and Matvei Michkov has chosen his moment well.

A goal and two assists in this game gave him his third three-point performance of the season and pushed him to 51 points (20G, 31A). More telling, however, is his recent form: 11 points in his last seven games.

In a sophomore season that admittedly left something to be desired after a standout rookie campaign, Michkov has found his legs, and recently, has not just been producing, but accelerating. 

As the Flyers transition into playoff hockey, they will need players capable of creating offense in tighter, more structured environments. Michkov’s ability to generate in space, to read pressure, and to execute quickly positions him as a central figure in what comes next. He simultaneously is finishing the season strong, and entering the postseason as a difference-maker.

5. Depth, Identity, and Joy Are All Aligned

The Flyers’ fourth goal—scored by Alex Bump, his fifth of the season—was emblematic of something deeper.

It was about who was on the ice.

“I think my line was under 22 [years old], so we’re just happy to be here,” Bump said postgame. “We’re trying to do the best we can and contribute in any way and have fun while we’re doing it.”

That blend—youth, contribution, and enjoyment—is not always present in teams heading into the playoffs. But for the Flyers, it is a crucial part of their identity.

Tocchet made it clear that performances like this are not just appreciated—they are being evaluated with purpose.

“Yeah, I mean, if you go far into the playoffs, you can go 28 deep on the roster. So, yeah, you’re looking, for sure," he said. "One of those guys—it’s not out of the question that they can play in the Penguins series. You definitely look for that stuff. That’s why it’s big.”

All four first round series in the NHL's Eastern Conference playoff bracket were settled on Tuesday, April 14.

One more Western Conference series can be set on Wednesday, April 15, with the Vegas Golden Knights having a chance to wrap up the Pacific Division title during their season finale. If they do, they will face the Utah Mammoth in the first round.

That would leave the second and third Pacific Division seeds, plus the second wild card in the West, up for grabs on the final night when the Edmonton Oilers, Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings play. If Vegas doesn't clinch on Wednesday, all four playoff seeds will be in play on Thursday.

Here's what to know about the NHL standings, including the latest playoff bracket, Wednesday's clinching scenario and the tiebreaker procedures for the 2025-26 season before the postseason begins on April 18:

Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube understands how Columbus Blue Jackets head coach Rick Bowness feels.

Following the Blue Jackets' final regular season game on Tuesday, a 2-1 loss to the Washington Capitals, Bowness lashed out at his players after what he called a careless performance.

It had been three months since Bowness' hiring in Columbus, and the Blue Jackets have had a 21-11-5 record since, tying them for the fifth-most points in the NHL since Jan. 13.

But after an uptick in play in the first two months following Bowness' hiring, the Blue Jackets fell off a cliff, securing just seven of a possible 26 points in the final 13 games of the season.

The playoffs were a possibility for the Blue Jackets, much like they were for the Maple Leafs coming out of the Olympic break. However, after picking up numerous costly losses, the team's playoff hopes drifted further and further away.

"I don't know if I'm back, but if I'm back, I'm changing this culture," Bowness told reporters in Columbus following their loss on Tuesday.

"These guys, they don't care — losing is not important enough to them. It doesn't bother them. Like, how can you go out and play like that? I should've done this a month ago. But this is why we are where we are. This is why we're out of the playoffs."

Maple Leafs Set For 5th Or 6th Best NHL Draft Lottery OddsFollowing the Calgary Flames' loss to the Avalanche, the Toronto Maple Leafs are now locked into the fifth or sixth best lottery odds, leaving the fate of their top-5 protected 2026 first-round pick hanging in the balance.

Ahead of Toronto's final game of the regular season on Wednesday against the Ottawa Senators, Berube was asked about Bowness' comments and the importance of players having to hate to lose.

"Well, they do," the Maple Leafs' head coach said.

"I think more than anything — and I'm not in (Bowness') head or what he was thinking or whatever — for me it's like, losing has to hurt. It's got to be vocalized in the room by the players. When you're losing and you're not winning, things have to be said in a not-so-nice manner.

"And when that happens in a locker room enough times, things are bound to change. You got to challenge each other, and he's not wrong."

Coming out of the Olympic break, the Maple Leafs were six points out of a playoff spot. They lost their next eight straight in what was one of their longest losing streaks in recent memory.

'It's Crossed My Mind': Morgan Rielly Unsure About His Maple Leafs Future Before Final Home Game Of SeasonRielly has four more seasons left on his eight-year contract, which he signed in Oct. 2021.

That ultimately tanked their playoff hopes.

Since the Olympic break ended, the Maple Leafs have held the NHL's worst record of 5-14-5 in 24 games. They've picked up just 15 of a possible 48 points and were outscored 64-99 in that stretch.

We've seen more fight out of the team recently, after Auston Matthews suffered a knee injury at the hands of Anaheim Ducks defender Radko Gudas on Mar. 12. That's in part due to no one standing up to Gudas right away after Toronto's captain went down.

But does what occurred with the Blue Jackets — with Bowness calling out the team's culture — need to happen in Toronto? Is culture something that needs to improve within the Maple Leafs? 

"I'm not going to talk about all that," Berube said. "I'm not getting into all that stuff."

Toronto plays its season finale in Ottawa on Wednesday night, then has locker cleanout day on Thursday.