FRISCO, Texas (AP) — The Dallas Stars have extended the contract of general manager Jim Nill for two years, keeping in place the architect of the team headed to the playoffs again after advancing to the Western Conference final each of the past three seasons.
Nill has been the Stars GM since 2013, and his contract was only through this season until the announcement on Tuesday. His extension through the 2027-28 season was finalized less than 24 hours after a prominent job opened when the Toronto Maple Leafs fired GM Brad Treliving.
“Jim has established himself as one of the most respected general managers in the NHL,” Stars owner Tom Gaglardi said. “Through his roster management and talent evaluation, he has positioned our franchise to be amongst the best teams in our league in both the present and future. I’m thrilled that he will continue to guide the Stars.”
Going into a game Tuesday night at Boston, the Stars' 100 points rank second in the NHL behind Central Division foe Colorado. Dallas has already qualified for its fifth consecutive playoff appearance.
The 67-year-old Nill was selected as the NHL's top GM each of the past three seasons by a panel that includes all of the league's general managers. The only current GMs that have been with their teams longer are Kevin Cheveldayoff in Winnipeg and Doug Armstrong in St. Louis.
Since Nill began with the Stars before the 2013-14 season, their 63 postseason wins are the second most in the NHL. They've qualified for the playoffs nine times in that span, and made the Stanley Cup Final in 2020. He was previously in the front office of the Detroit Red Wings.
“I’m fortunate to work with incredibly talented and passionate individuals that have helped our franchise become one of the best in the NHL,” Nill said. “I’m extremely grateful to have the opportunity to continue as general manager of the Stars.”
Joel Quenneville Postgame Press Conference 3/30/26
With eight games and two weeks left on the 2025-26 schedule, the Anaheim Ducks sit atop the Pacific Division standings and four points ahead of the second-place Oilers.
With the additions of roster players like Chris Kreider, Mikael Granlund, and Ryan Poehling, along with a brand new coaching staff, the Ducks were expected to build on their 21-point improvement from the 2023-24 season into the 2024-25 season.
This season has been one that many young teams crave as their franchise climbs out of the depths of an elongated rebuild. Young players entering their primes like Jackson LaCombe and Lukas Dostal continued to build on their breakout seasons from a year ago.
Meanwhile, core point producers like Cutter Gauthier and Leo Carlsson have established themselves as future elite players in the NHL and have shown they can be among the best at what they do at their positions.
Even players like Olen Zellweger and Pavel Mintyukov, though they have gone through several ups and downs this season, have greatly improved their 200-foot games and have shown they still possess the potential to be impactful offensive players in the NHL.
Perhaps the most pleasant surprise, and the one that’s been the most positively impactful, has been the emergence of rookie forward Beckett Sennecke. He’s currently tied with Montreal Canadiens forward Ivan Demidov for the rookie lead in points with 57 (22-35=57) in 74 games. His presence on the roster has rounded out the top six, and he’s found ways to translate what made him special at the junior level to the NHL on a nightly basis.
However, the coaching and system changes didn’t and haven’t meshed with every roster player. Former top-six players Ryan Strome and Frank Vatrano have had difficulties adjusting to the tempo and/or the required decision-making to carve out a depth role on the roster. Strome was traded at the March 6 deadline after a string of healthy scratches, and Vatrano is in the midst of his own cluster of healthy scratches.
Perhaps the greatest benefit to the young players on the Ducks roster this season has been head coach Joel Quenneville and his staff’s willingness to enable them to play freely while expanding and exploring the reaches of their offensive potential.
The youngest and most talented players projected to make up the core of the team when competitive have been placed in a system beneficial and conducive to their collective skillset, have been allowed to make mistakes, and have been given roles in which they can succeed.
However, as the season has progressed and the finish line is in sight, Quenneville’s perceived tolerance for critical errors has shrunk, as has the leash for those young mistake-prone players.
Griffin Hooper-Imagn Images
Mason McTavish (23) is having his worst statistical season in his four-year NHL career and has produced just 34 points (14-20=34) in 67 games, a .51 points-per-game average and a significant drop from last season’s .68 points/g pace.
McTavish’s output had dropped low enough to earn him back-to-back healthy scratches on March 15 against the Montreal Canadiens and on March 18 against the Philadelphia Flyers. In his six games since being reinserted into the lineup, he’s scored two points (1-1=2) while playing five of those six games as the fourth-line left winger.
“Be strong at the net, want the puck,” Quenneville said of what he’s expecting from McTavish when he returned to the lineup on March 20. “(Be) defensively responsible just like we want with everybody, basically, every night.
“Possession with the puck. He’s a centerman with good instincts, and he can make plays. He’s got a good shot. So we want to see some of that. At the same time, there’s the other side as well.”
In Monday’s 5-4 OT loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs, a game that saw multiple injuries to forwards and a slew of penalties, McTavish only saw 14:01 TOI, and he didn’t see the ice following the Leafs’ go-ahead goal with three minutes left in the third, where he may have given a less-than-spectacular backchecking effort.
For however great a season Beckett Sennecke (20) is having, as the season winds down, he’s becoming more mistake-prone in his end, making poor puck decisions that lead to odd-man breaks the other way.
Though he’s understandably a volatile, high-risk/high-reward young forward, that volatility is now costing the Ducks points on the scoreboard and points in the standings. In their March 18 game against the Flyers, in overtime, he attempted a between-the-legs, cross-ice pass on a 2v1 with backchecking pressure that was disrupted and that sparked a rush to win the game for the Flyers.
With 17:38 to go in the third period of the Ducks’ 5-3 win over the Vancouver Canucks, he attempted a drop pass to a trailing forward, the fourth player into the offensive zone on the rush, which missed its target and sent the Canucks on a 2v1 that they converted, tying that game at three. He didn’t see the ice for the remainder of that game.
During Monday’s loss to the Leafs, he attempted a slip pass to a teammate at the point, with the far defenseman activated, which was broken up and which sent William Nylander on a breakaway to tie that game at three with 9:46 remaining in the third period. Sennecke didn’t see the ice for the remainder of that game either.
“Every day is a new day, and every day we learn,” Quenneville said after Monday’s game. “Every day, we address. We give him the freedom to do a lot of things offensively. You don’t want to take away from him, but that’s sometimes where the trouble starts. So, I think we've got to find that balance.”
With still a relatively comfortable lead (for now) in the Pacific Division standings, Quenneville can afford to prioritize lessons over an extra standings point. If either (or both) McTavish or Sennecke had played in the overtime frame on Monday, it’s possible, or even likely, that the Ducks would have come away from that game with two points instead of one, as the Ducks are 17-5 in overtimes and shootouts.
McTavish’s poor season could be attributed, in part, to a lengthy contract negotiation that lasted well into Ducks’ training camp in late September. The details of his game haven’t improved enough (or at all) away from the puck to counterbalance his lack of production. If the Ducks are to realize their potential this season and in future seasons, they’ll need Mason McTavish to play a pivotal role in their middle six and have an impact on every shift.
Sennecke has a special ability to manufacture instant offense out of thin air. However, that style will inherently be tied to taking risks with the puck. Becoming more selective with when and how to unleash or rein in those abilities will come in time. He’s a rookie, and rookie mistakes are to be expected. However, they’re beginning to cost the team vital points at a crucial time in the season. The Ducks can’t afford to allow him to make those mistakes when they matter the most: the playoffs.
The Ducks are on the precipice of achieving something they’ve been starved for for eight years. By extending a long leash early in the year and shortening it down the stretch upon lack of improvement in certain areas, Quenneville and the coaching staff are taking both a long-term and short-term approach to get the most out of important young pieces on their roster.
Episode 27 of Hockey, Actually is filled with milestone chatter as Izzy and Nicolleta talk about Evander Kane’s 1000th NHL game as well as Brock Boeser and Elias Pettersson both climbing their way up the franchise’s record lists. After discussing Canucks Head Coach Adam Foote’s approach to the season, the two talk about Vancouver’s young Canucks and their extracurricular fighting practice. The episode wraps with some early regular-season awards for both the Canucks and the Goldeneyes.
Continue reading for timestamps as well as a link to episode 27.
0:50 — Milestone Chatter: Kane’s 1000, Boeser and Pettersson
0:56 — Evander Kane plays in his 1000th NHL game
1:54 — Brock Boeser becomes ninth all-time in points by a Canuck
2:38 — Elias Pettersson hits 500 points, registers ninth-most power play points by a Canuck
Mar 28, 2026; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Calgary Flames right wing Adam Klapka (43) get into a scrum with Vancouver Canucks players during the second period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
The Chicago Blackhawks are set to host the Winnipeg Jets for the second time this season. The first time, on January 19th, was also the first time that Jonathan Toews ever returned to the United Center as a visiting player.
At that point, the Jets were lost and had no real thoughts about making the playoffs. It was heading down the trail of missing the postseason after being one of the best teams in the NHL one year prior.
This game is a different story. Since the Olympics, the Jets have been one of the hottest teams in the NHL. As a result, they enter Tuesday’s action just three points out of the second Wild Card spot in the Western Conference. Although Toews will get another incredible reception from the crowd, the Jets are going to be all business.
Scouting Winnipeg
The Winnipeg Jets have a solid veteran group up front and in net. Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor are their two top stars up front, while Josh Morrissey is the top guy on the back end.
In net, they have one of the greatest goalies of all time in Connor Hellebuyck. Hellebuyck, who just played a key role in Team USA winning a Gold Medal at the Olympics, is the reigning Hart Trophy winner and a three-time Vezina Trophy winner. With him in the net, the Blackhawks have a heavy challenge ahead of them.
Connor-Scheifele-Iafallo
Perfetti-Lowry-Vilardi
Koepke-Toews-Lambert
Rosén-Zhilkin-Ford
Morrissey-DeMelo
Samberg-Pionk
Bryson-Salomonsson
Fleury-Heinola
Hellebuyck
Toews will be the third line center in this one with Brad Lambert and Cole Koepke. Winnipeg’s lineup is in the blender due to a handful of injuries, including forwards Vladislav Namestnikov and Nino Niederreiter. Those two have resumed skating in non-contact sweaters, but won’t play in this game.
Projected Lines, Defense Pairs, & Goalie For Chicago
The Blackhawks announced after the morning skate that Artyom Levshunov and Matt Grzelcyk will miss the remainder of the season. This gives Kevin Korchinski and Ethan Del Mastro a little bit of runway to earn looks in the future.
Greene-Bedard-Lardis
Bertuzzi-Frondell-Mikheyev
Donato-Nazar-Burakovsky
Teravainen-Lafferty-Slaggert
Vlasic-Crevier
Kaiser-Rinzel
Korchinski-Del Mastro
Knight
Connor Bedard, Anton Frondell, and Frank Nazar are going to be a 1-2-3 punch down the middle again. This looked good in terms of an attack on Sunday against the New Jersey Devils, and now Jeff Blashill will get a look at it with his matchup advantage at home.
Spencer Knight will start for the Blackhawks in goal. He has given his team a chance to win in every start, but sometimes the defense in front of him lets him down.
Sacha Boisvert is going to be a healthy scratch in this one. Jeff Blashill confirmed he'll play most games down the stretch, but not all of them. It's a development process for him. Sam Lafferty will draw in his spot as the fourth line center. The wingers remain intact from the last game.
How To Watch
The game can be heard locally on AM 720 WGN in the Chicagoland area. To view this game, it is available on CHSN locally. Nationally, it is available to stream on ESPN+. The puck will drop shortly after 7:30 PM CT.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
For those holding out hope that Jim Nill might be the man to navigate the Toronto Maple Leafs through their latest identity crisis, those dreams were officially doused in cold water. Just hours after Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment boss Keith Pelley announced that the club had parted ways with general manager Brad Treliving, any speculation regarding Nill making a jump to the center of the hockey universe was silenced.
The Dallas Stars announced Tuesday that Nill has signed a multi-year contract extension to remain in Texas, effectively removing the current back-to-back-to-back Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year winner off the board. MLSE dismissed Treliving following a tenure that failed to move the needle in the postseason, while undergoing a massive underperformance in 2025-26. Nill, with his reputation for scouting excellence and veteran stability, would have been seen as the ideal candidate.
The extension keeps Nill in Dallas through the 2027-28 season, rewarding a tenure that has seen the Stars become a perennial powerhouse in the Western Conference. “I’m fortunate to work with incredibly talented and passionate individuals that have helped our franchise become one of the best in the NHL,” Nill said. “I’m extremely grateful to have the opportunity to continue as general manager of the Stars. My family and I would like to thank Tom Gaglardi for his continued support as we look to bring the Stanley Cup back to Dallas”.
With Nill officially off the table, the spotlight in Toronto shifts elsewhere. Reports indicate that the Maple Leafs have already begun the process of vetting high-profile replacements, with St. Louis Blues President of Hockey Operations Doug Armstrong frequently mentioned as a primary target. Armstrong, much like Nill, brings a championship pedigree; however, Armstrong remains under contract with his team, and they may not be willing to free him from his obligations.
Pelley is expected to address the media on Tuesday, where he will explain the reasoning why now was the right time to dismiss Treliving, who was on the job for two years and 10 months. Toronto dismissed Treliving after a 31-30-12 record just over an hour before the Leafs were to take on the Anaheim Ducks in a highly anticipated rematch. Pelley also removed Brendan Shanahan from his role as President and Alternate Governor of the hockey club following a 2025 second-round playoff exit, and the team has not yet replaced the position.
Indeed it was, and it it won't be the last time Lindstein, or a slew of other defensemen, will get schooled by arguably the greatest player on the planet, Connor McDavid. And it won't be the last time seeing him on the ice, and that's a good thing, because it means the 21-year-old is a mainstay in the NHL.
Here comes McDavid, with speed of a freight train, barreling down on Lindstein. What does he do in that moment? Probably what the majority of NHL defensemen do -- hope and pray.
"It's a pretty big deal when you see Connor McDavid comes up with speed," Lindstein said. "... It was just cool to play against the best player in the world."
What's sort of defined the Galve, Sweden native's game is that even after that humbling moment that at the time, gave the Edmonton Oilers a 2-0 lead in the third period, he came right back in the ice for his next shift and pinched in on a play that helped lead to a Pius Suter goal not even 2.5 minutes later.
He wasn't in awe of the moment. He put his head right back down and went back to work.
There are ebbs and flows to playing the position, and there will be wow moments and there will be learning moments.
But when Lindstein, who earned his first NHL point in his debut -- an assist -- against the New York Islanders on March 10, played in his 10th game on Monday against the San Jose Sharks, he potted his first NHL goal:
Who is happier about Theo Lindstein's first NHL goal?
And quite frankly, the Blues couldn't have drawn up a better start to an NHL career. It's been surprisingly quite seamless.
There's a calmness, a coolness to his game so far, not being overwhelmed and in awe of the moment.
This bodes so well moving forward, much more so than what the defenseman admitted he was expecting when he first arrived.
"I was just expecting to come up here maybe to learn a lot from the guys up here and see the game up here, maybe play a couple games, but I feel good out there and I'm just going to keep playing my game to earn every bit of ice time and to play every game," Lindstein said. "Just have fun out there. Not a lot of games left in the season and make it as good as possible, take that with me for next year."
Blues coach Jim Montgomery didn't sugarcoat anything. There would be no coddling with the player. The Blues invested heavily into this player, the 29th pick in the 2023 Draft, and at the time of his recall, their season was in a bit of flux until this recent run that thrust them back into playoff conversation, so why not get a look at another piece to what is expected to be a big part of the future of the organization?
And the young man hasn't disappointed.
"I think his brain and his feet are NHL-ready," Montgomery said. "The position is hard on young players, and a lot of credit should go to Colton Parayko because he's made his life real easy. He's talking to him on every shift. I don't know exact words he's telling him, but he's probably saying, 'Don't be afraid to have a great gap. I'll cover everything up.' It's really reassuring when someone you're playing with is telling you to be aggressive, don't worry, I've got your back, and he can clean everything up because he's done it his whole career."
Lindstein and the 11-year veteran Parayko have been a pair since Lindstein arrived. The transition has been smooth, the match has fit like a glove. It's sort of the yesteryear match when a young Parayko was paired with the crafty veteran Jay Bouwmeester, quite the shutdown pair that was a big part of the Blues' run to the Stanley Cup in 2019.
We're not there yet with this pairing, but who better to be a teaching mechanism for Lindstein than a Cup winner who's been through so many moments in his career?
"Just trying to do that as much as possible," Parayko said. "Obviously I know what it's like to come into this league. It's a tough league. Just try and remember things I would think about, what I would think makes you a good player and makes sure that he sticks with w hat he does great and makes him a great player. If there's anything he sees, or anything of that, don't hesitate ... I know I've been in the league for 11 years, but guys are always seeing something different. Just try to build together. Not too big, not too small. Just mainly trying to make him feel comfortable and allow him to play his game and we can just start reading and build off each other.
"I've had some great mentors, I don't know however you want to put it, leaders that have kind of helped me a lot, kind of put me under their wing. It's special, just knowing that you have teammates there. It's not just myself, it's everybody. Obviously I get the chance to play with him, but everyone in the locker room has been coming together and it's been great. A lot of good players with a good vibe going on in the locker room. Guys are coming together. I think everybody's making him feel at home, it's not just myself. I think that's important too. I get the pleasure of playing with him, but it's a team thing for sure."
There have been those that have made comparisons to Logan Mailloux, how he had to endure struggles earlier this season before finding his game of late. You have to remember, Mailloux went the route of junior hockey and the American Hockey League; Lindstein took a different path to get here and adapting as quickly as he has can be attributed to the fact he spent three seasons with Brynas IF of the Swedish Hockey League, the top league over there, before making the move to North America to play in Springfield of the AHL this season, playing in 56 games (six goals, eight assists, minus-24) and playing big minutes to ready him for this moment.
His Corsi-for through 10 games is 161-100, a 61.24 percent clip, according to naturalstattrick.com and shots for-against is 69-38 with him on the ice and has been on the ice for six goals for, just two against. The numbers don't lie.
"I had to come over here and play on the small rink for sure," Lindstein said. "I've been playing in tournaments on small rinks, but to be here now and to play all season, it's another thing. That was the biggest part in the beginning. It goes a little bit faster over here because it's smaller. That's the biggest thing. You have to be smart out there all the time and be on your toes all the time because things are happening out there all the time.
"I feel like I started pretty good (in Springfield), but after a couple of games, I went down a little bit but just came back from that. It's been a tough year for Springfield. We have a really young team down there. But I think I learned a lot from it. I played a lot of minutes when I was down there. I think that helps me a lot for coming up here."
The Blues were not going to rush and usher Lindstein to the NHL prematurely. They picked their spot and to this point, it's worked out better than imagined.
"Even what helped more is getting used to the North American game for 50 games down in the American (Hockey) League, where it's a real grind," Montgomery said. "You've got to play tired, you've got to play 3-in-3, three in two-and-a-half. That league really teaches you how to manage your recovery, teaches you how to manage your physical and mental challenges that come your way. In the Swedish League, I don't think they even play back-to-backs."
Lindstein is a plus-4, is averaging 15:15 per game and has been utilized on a penalty kill that, prior to Monday, was first in the NHL since the Olympic break at 88.1 percent. Having a mentor like Parayko has been a godsend, though.
"I feel like I've been playing good so far. Colton has been helping me a lot out there," Lindstein said. "He's very loud out there and I hear him every time. He talks a lot to me. That helps a lot for me.
"We're two different players. He's a big, strong, good defenseman. He can skate too. He's a great skater. But I feel that I can play my game with him, join the rushes, be the fourth guy joining up in the rushes. Sometimes he's up there too and I'm standing back. It's situation by situation on how it goes. If I feel that I can jump up, I'm going to jump up and fall up in the rushes all the time. We're helping each other out there.
"The biggest thing is all the players are better up here of course, and everyone is smarter, bigger, stronger."
When you're a 21-year-old who has a guy with Parayko pedigree pumping you full of confidence, it can only help his game grow, because that's how Parayko was taught.
"That's the thing I want to keep reiterating to him is just be confident, play your game," Parayko said. "If something goes wrong, I tell him I make mistakes, plenty of them and I've been in the league for 11 years. That's just the way it goes. I'm going to be there to support him. That's why we have three other forwards to support us and hopefully a goalie too. I feel like we'll just start thinking about it or trying to not make mistakes, and that's when things go the wrong way. Just be confident and make your play. There's good players around the league. There's other good players we're playing against. Just keep your head up and keep looking forward always.
"You've still got to go out and execute the whole game plan, but at the same time, I feel the more you talk to him, the more you feel more comfortable. That's for everybody. But I just reiterate that he's in this league for a reason. He's a good hockey player. Talking is a huge part of it all. Just trying to see what he's thinking, what I'm thinking and how do we mesh this together and make it work out.
"Be a sponge, keep learning, keep absorbing things. It's a lot. I'm still learning. You can say, quote-unquote, that I'm the guy that's mentoring him but it's funny because I'm still learning myself. Everybody's learning always. I think that's when it's important is when you can always keep an open mind, but at the same time, keep your focus. Know what you need to do and know what makes you good."
Lindstein is doing just that. There will be peaks and valleys, but the peaks are outweighing the valleys, surprisingly in the early going.
"There's a lot of good players in this league," Lindstein said. "To learn from all the players you see out there, it's just a dream-come-true to be out there."
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
The Senators signed a pair of their drafted NCAA prospects on Monday, bringing both into the organization after their school's hockey seasons recently came to a close.
Penn State goaltender Kevin Reidler has signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Sens. The 6-foot-6, 206-pound netminder will report to the Belleville Senators on an amateur tryout for the rest of this season.
Reidler went 11-7-0 for the Nittany Lions this season, posting a 3.31 goals-against average and a .901 save percentage. The big Swede was originally selected by Ottawa in the fifth round (151st overall) of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.
Meanwhile, Cornell defenceman Hoyt Stanley has also turned pro, signing a three-year entry-level contract with Ottawa. Stanley was a finalist for ECAC Hockey's best defensive defenceman award, which the NHL continues to overlook during its own awards season.
Like Reidler, Stanley will join Belleville on an ATO for the rest of the season.
Because the Sens dealt away their top three picks in the 2023 NHL Draft, Stanley was the first player they selected that year. He was drafted in the fourth round (108th overall) and has attended the last three development camps.
Stanley could make his professional debut as early as Friday, when Belleville visits Rochester to face the Americans. The B-Sens have seven games remaining in their regular season.
Maybe someday in Ottawa, Hoyt Stanley will hoist Stanley (I'll see myself out).
The Vegas Golden Knights continue to be an anomaly of an NHL franchise. Last week, they fired Head Coach Bruce Cassidy after four years as bench boss. They added to the already massive headline by hiring John Totorella for the remainder of the season.
After their Pacific division rival made a big change, a potential new candidate has emerged for the Los Angeles Kings head coaching job next season.
As time goes on, it seems increasingly more likely that current interim head coach DJ Smith will not end up winning the job as more accomplished candidates continue to become available.
On March 1st, the Kings fired Jim Hiller after parts of three seasons as bench boss. Assistant coach DJ Smith was awarded the roll as interim head coach for the remainder of the season.
Since Smith has been in charge, L.A. has gone 5-5-4 and currently find themselves one point out of the Western conference's final wild card spot with 76 points.
Not much has changed during Smith's tenure and if the Kings fail to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, it's not out of line to assume the organization will go another route for their head coach opening, and some very established names are available.
Bruce Cassidy
When a coach of Bruce Cassidy's status gets fired, the speculation on who they may coach next begins almost immediately. The 2023 Stanley Cup Champion will surely garner tons of interest when the next hiring cycle begins, and the Kings could be a team to look in Cassidy's direction.
The 60-year-old has coached 830 regular season games for three different teams. He began his head coaching career with the Washington Capitals from 2002-2004.
After his time in Washington, his next head coaching job came in the middle of the 2016-17 season when the Boston Bruins hired him after letting go of Claude Julien. Cassidy was incredibly successful in Boston. He led the Bruins for six seasons, and they made a Stanley Cup Finals appearance in 2019.
In 2022 the Bruins moved on from their 2020 Jack Adams winning coach and he was almost immediately hired by Vegas where he would finally reach the summit as he and the Golden Knights raised Lord Stanley in 2023.
Cassidy is one of the most established available coaches and would certainly make an instant impact in the Kings locker room.
The other name that is expected to get another crack at behind the bench is Pete DeBoer. After the Dallas Stars surprising fired him last summer, the 57-year-old shockingly remains without a job.
With the Kings having an opening behind their bench, hiring DeBoer becomes a real possibility. His over 1200 games of NHL experience should speak for itself and although his teams haven't been able to get over the hump, he has had an incredibly successful career.
Having coached for five different franchises (FLA/NJD/SJS/VEG/DAL) DeBoer has reached the Stanley Cup Final twice, once with the New Jersey Devils in 2012 (Lost to Kings) and with the San Jose Sharks in 2016 (Lost to Penguins).
Perhaps the most impressive accomplishment of his career is his game seven record. DeBoer is undefeated as head coach in do-or-die games with a 9-0 record. It's hard to believe a coach with that type of success remains without a championship. Maybe the sixth time is the charm.
Other Notable Names
Peter Laviolette
DJ Smith
Dean Evason
Jay Woodcroft
Marc Savard
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
Jets vs Blackhawks best bet: Blackhawks team total Under 2.5 (+100)
The Chicago Blackhawks are a dismal 5-12 SU since the Olympic break ended, and their offense — or lack thereof — a big reason why.
Chicago is dead-last at 2.34 goals per game since February 24. They're also 23rd in goals allowed per game in this stretch because they're constantly chasing the puck.
The Blackhawks are second-worst in both shots for and shots against per game since the Olympics ended.
The Winnipeg Jets are 10th in goals allowed per game in March, getting their usual good goaltending from Connor Hellebuyck. This is playable down to -120.
Jets vs Blackhawks same-game parlay
The Blackhawks have been more than kind to opposing defensemen this season, which is why I'm backing both Josh Morrissey and Neal Pionk in this +700 SGP.
Morrissey has notched an assist in four straight games, and Chicago has served up the seventh-most points per game to the position.
Pionk has had multiple shots on goal in four of five games since returning to the lineup. The 'Hawks allow the third-most shots per game to blueliners.
Jets vs Blackhawks SGP
Blackhawks team total Under 2.5
Josh Morrissey Over 0.5 assists
Neal Pionk Over 1.5 shots on goal
Jets vs Blackhawks odds
Moneyline: Jets -152 | Blackhawks +126
Puck Line: Jets -1.5 | Blackhawks +1.5
Over/Under: Over 6 | Under 6
Jets vs Blackhawks trend
The Jets have hit the Under in 16 of their last 25 games (+8.45 Units / 31% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Jets vs. Blackhawks.
How to watch Jets vs Blackhawks
Location
United Center, Chicago, IL
Date
Tuesday, March 31, 2026
Puck drop
8:30 p.m. ET
TV
TSN3, CHSN
Jets vs Blackhawks latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
The Florida Panthers will welcome Sam Bennett back to their lineup tonight against the Ottawa Senators.
The 29-year-old missed both games over the weekend due to the birth of his first child. The Panthers fell to the New York Islanders on Saturday before being nearly shut out against the New York Rangers on Sunday.
At today’s practice, Bennett skated as the top line center with Carter Verhaeghe and Matthew Tkachuk on his wings.
Bennett’s season started slowly, as he struggled to produce offensively. But he turned the corner pretty quickly and has posted 25 goals and 54 points in 70 games. His 54 points are a career high, and his 25 goals are just three shy of his previous career high of 28, which he set in his first year as a Panther.
The Panthers have nine games remaining, giving Bennett some time to chase down his goal-scoring record.
Tonight’s fixture is of little meaning for the Panthers, but it means everything for the Senators. A win moves the Panthers from 27th place to 24th place in the NHL standings, and the Panthers would still sit 13 points out of a playoff spot.
For the Senators, a win puts them even with the Columbus Blue Jackets for the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference. A loss, coupled with wins by the Detroit Red Wings, Philadelphia Flyers, and the Blue Jackets, would greatly affect their playoff hopes.
Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. EST at Amerant Bank Arena.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
Drake Batherson is having a career year offensively, trailing only Tim Stutzle in goals and points among Ottawa skaters.
My Senators vs. Panthers predictions expect Batherson to build on his totals with another productive outing against a struggling Florida team.
Let’s get into my NHL picks for Tuesday, March 31.
Senators vs Panthers prediction
Senators vs Panthers best bet: Drake Batherson Over 0.5 points (-140)
Drake Batherson has produced at least one point in 60% of his appearances this season. That strong hit rate jumps significantly when facing Bottom-10 defenses, such as the Florida Panthers.
Batherson has picked up a point in 17 of 22 games fitting the criteria, good for a 77% success rate. That includes a productive meeting with the Panthers back in January.
The Panthers are more focused on improving their draft position than winning games, and that shows in their recent results. They have dropped six of the last eight and allowed 3+ goals seven times.
Senators vs Panthers same-game parlay
Tim Stutzle leads the Ottawa Senators in assists. He forms a formidable duo alongside Batherson on the top line, and also has exposure to other top scoring threats — like Brady Tkachuk and Dylan Cozens — when skating on the top power play unit.
The Senators sit third in points percentage since February 1, and their underlying numbers are exceptional. Led by Batherson and Stutzle, they should handle business against a Panthers team playing out the string of a disappointing, injury-plagued season.
Drake Batherson has points in three consecutive games against Florida. Find more NHL betting trends for Senators vs. Panthers.
How to watch Senators vs Panthers
Location
Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise, FL
Date
Tuesday, March 31, 2026
Puck drop
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
TSN5, SCRIPPS
Senators vs Panthers latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 30: Anthony Mantha #39 of the Pittsburgh Penguins skates against the Carolina Hurricanes at PPG PAINTS Arena on December 30, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
In terms of the standings and the shift in their odds of making the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Pittsburgh Penguins 8-3 win over the New York Islanders on Monday night is one of their biggest wins of the 2025-26 season. It might be the biggest win. It was also one of the most impressive as they went on the road, against a team they are fighting with for a playoff spot and playoff positioning, in a place they have historically struggled, and completely dominated the game. They chased the Vezina Trophy front-runner, they had a 23-6 edge in high-danger scoring chances during 5-on-5 play, and they overcame multiple two-goal deficits (2-0, 3-1) to win in a laugher.
There were a lot of important contributors in that game.
Rickard Rakell continued his recent surge with a two-goal game.
Ryan Shea, Elmer Soderblom and Avery Hayes provided some unexpected scoring depth.
Sidney Crosby returned with two points while Bryan Rust scored another goal.
Then there was Anthony Mantha. On a night where a lot of Penguins players shined, Mantha seemed to stand out more than anybody and played what might have been not only his best game of the season, but one of the most dominant individual games any Penguins forward has had this season.
The numbers on the night are incredible.
He scored two huge goals in the second period to not only give the Penguins their first lead of the game, but also extended it before the end of the period. Prior to that he set up Ryan Shea’s game-tying goal. All of that happened in a span of less than four minutes of game-time, a stretch that not only completely changed the game but also perhaps the Penguins entire playoff push.
Along with the production and big goals, the Penguins outscored the Islanders 4-0 with Mantha on the ice, while they also had an 88 percent expected goals share.
He dominated.
He also completely redeemed himself from a tough start to the game that included a couple of defensive zone turnovers, including one on a power play that led to a Penguins penalty, resulting in Anders Lee’s goal to open the scoring. From that point on he played like a man possessed and was a central part of their comeback win.
If Kyle Dubas ends up winning the NHL’s general manager of the year award the Mantha signing is going to be at the top of the list for the reasons why. In terms of production and value, it is one of the best free agent signings any team made this past offseason. The only free agents that have come close to producing on Mantha’s level are Mitch Marner (Vegas Golden Knights) and Nikolaj Ehlers (Carolina Hurricanes), but Mantha has more goals than both of them and has a significantly cheaper and smaller contract.
Getting this production for $2.5 million on a one-year deal is the type of thing that just does not typically happen in free agency.
This is also not a case of him simply being a passenger for Crosby or Evgeni Malkin.
The majority of his 5-on-5 ice-time has come away from both players, while the Penguins are outscoring teams 31-25 with a 53.2 expected goals share when Mantha is on the ice without Crosby and Malkin. Only seven of his 29 goals have been set up by one of those two players. He has just independently, on his own merit, been a wildly productive (and good) player.
There are moments where he makes some, let’s call them, curious decisions with the puck, but the positives have far outweighed the negatives and the production is impossible to ignore.
The expectation for Mantha at the start of the season, at least for me, was that he would be the new version of Anthony Beauvillier. Veteran player signed to a cheap, one-year contract as a reclamation project so the Penguins could juice his value back up and flip him at the trade deadline for a second-round pick. Instead he has become one of their best and most important players on a team that has far exceeded every preseason expectation.
He has also potentially played his way into an even bigger contract this summer, whether it comes from the Penguins or somebody else. Given how well he has fit here, how much salary cap space the Penguins have to work with, and how thin the free agent class is this summer (Mantha’s 29 goals are tied with Alex Ovechkin for the most goals among pending unrestricted free agents; and Ovechkin is not realistically available to any other team) it is starting to look more and more like the Penguins should just make him an offer and see what it would take to stay.
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 30: Macklin Celebrini #71 of the San Jose Sharks celebrates after they beat the St. Louis Blues at SAP Center on March 30, 2026 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images
To call Macklin Celebrini a “phenom” would be a gross understatement. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft was highly touted, but his selection was definitely viewed as a bit of a letdown following the enormous hype that accompanied Connor Bedard the year prior. Two years later everything has flipped, as Bedard is a extremely good, but languishing on a horrific Blackhawks roster — while Celebrini is making history.
Celebrini became just the 7th teenager in NHL history to record 100 points in a season before turning 20. Scoring two goals and registering one assist in a 5-4 win over the St. Louis Blues, he now has 38 goals and 63 assists on the year for 101 points with 10 games remaining. It puts Celebrini in some of the NHL’s rarest company, a laundry list of NHL legends — and one guy who never managed to live up to his early hype.
Let’s look at the list Celebrini is now a part of:
Wayne Gretzky (137 points in 1979-80): The Great One. Without question the best player in NHL history, with records that will likely never fall.
Sidney Crosby (102 points in 05-06): A guaranteed Hall of Fame lock with over 1,700 career points, who led the Pittburgh Penguins to three Stanley Cup wins
Mario Lemieux (100 points in 1985-56): Hall of Fame legend with over 1,700 career points, two Stanley Cup wins, and nine All-Star appearances
Connor McDavid (100 points in 16-17): Arguably the best player in the NHL right now. A seven-time All-Star who hasn’t yet reached the age of 30. McDavid has only failed to reached 100 points one season in his career, and that was only due to injury.
Dale Hawerchuk (103 points in 1981-82): Hall of Fame two-way forward with over 1,400 career points and five All-Star appearances
Jimmy Carson (107 points in 1986-87): The only player on the list who never really panned out. Carson had an incredible start to his career, but was traded from the Kings as part of the Gretzky trade. Carson never managed to develop further, regressing to become and oft-injured 73 point player over an 82 game season — largely bolstered by his early success.
It’s tough to imagine Celebrini will backslide with modern hockey conditions, training, and coaching. This is the rise of the next great player in hockey, and we’re witnessing it.
The Atlantic Division foes have seen eight of the last nine head-to-head meetings go Over 6.5, including both matchups this season. An average of 7.66 goals have been scored along the way.
The numbers indicate we should expect more of the same. Montreal sits fourth in scoring rate at 5-on-5 and second on the power play over their last 10 games.
The Bolts top the league in 5-on-5 efficiency and rank sixth on the man advantage during the same period.
Canadiens vs Lightning same-game parlay
Tough opponents don’t hinder Lane Hutson in the slightest. He has picked up a helper in eight of his last 10 games against Top-10 teams in limiting goals against, tallying 10 in total.
Noah Dobson generated eight shots on 15 attempts over the first two meetings this season. Routinely playing 22+ minutes and active in the offensive zone, he should be plenty involved in this marquee clash.
Canadiens vs Lightning SGP
Over 6.5
Lane Hutson Over 0.5 assists
Noah Dobson Over 1.5 shots on goal
Canadiens vs Lightning odds
Moneyline: Montreal +145 | Tampa Bay -170
Puck line: Montreal +1.5 (-160) | Tampa Bay -1.5 (+140)
Over/Under: Over 6.5 (+100) | Under 6.5 (-120)
Canadiens vs Lightning trend
The Lightning have hit the Over in 13 of their last 20 games (+8.75 Units / 40% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Canadiens vs. Lightning.
How to watch Canadiens vs Lightning
Location
Benchmark International Arena, Tampa, FL
Date
Tuesday, March 31, 2026
Puck drop
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
TSN2, The Spot
Canadiens vs Lightning latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
The Montreal Canadiens will be without one of their key defenseman for at least the final stretch of the regular season.
The Canadiens have announced that blueliner Alexandre Carrier will be out for the next two to four weeks due to an upper-body injury.
With this update, there is a chance that Carrier could be out for the start of the postseason. This would certainly be tough news for the Canadiens, as he is one of their important defenders.
Carrier has seven goals, 15 assists, 22 points, 155 blocks, and a plus-2 rating in 73 games this season with the Canadiens. This is after he had three goals and 25 points in 79 games this past campaign split between the Nashville Predators and Canadiens.
The Canadiens recently called up prospect defenseman Adam Engstrom from the Laval Rocket, and this Carrier injury news explains it.
In 369 career NHL games over eight seasons, Carrier has recorded 20 goals, 89 assists, 109 points, and a plus-31 rating.
