When July 1st rolls around, Doug Armstrong will no longer be the general manager of the St. Louis Blues, as he’ll become the full-time president of hockey operations while Alexander Steen steps in as GM.

Although Armstrong will still be an important part of the Blues organization, it’s a major change for the 61-year-old. Armstrong was named the Blues’ GM in 2010 and has held that role since. 

In addition to serving as GM, Armstrong held the roles of director of player personnel before being named GM, then executive VP of hockey operations in 2010, and finally president of hockey operations in 2013. You’d be hard-pressed to find a more influential person within the Blues organization in the past 20 years.

But it was time for a change, and it’s a business plan that has been in the works for two years, something agreed upon by Armstrong and Blues owner Tom Stillman.

“I told the ownership group at the time that I love to manage, I enjoy the process, but I think there’s a shelf life for everything,” Armstrong said in an interview with The Athletic. “Having the same voice leading the franchise, for me, it had run its course. It wasn’t just the players, but it’s the trainers, the coaches, the marketing department, the finance department. The rhythms needed to change.

“I’ve been in St. Louis 18 years, 16 as a manager. It just felt the time was right to have a new voice come in. When I told Mr. Stillman my feelings, he then talked about what’s next. And I was a big Alex Steen fan.”

'It’s Time For A Change,' Blues' Doug Armstrong Steps Down As Canada's Olympic Men's Hockey GMDoug Armstrong has announced that he will step down as general manager of Team Canada’s Men’s Olympic Team.

Following the trade deadline, Armstrong has finally been able to really sit and think about what he needs to do in his new role. He plans to reach out to Brendan Shanahan and Cam Neely, as well as Jeff Gorton, Jim Rutherford, and George McPhee, who were GMs and have transitioned to president of hockey ops.

Although Armstrong is loyal to the Blues and appreciative of their support, his answers to questions from The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun suggest that the spark and enjoyment of being an NHL GM still exist within him.

When asked about his role as a senior member of the GMs’ executive committee and even just the day-to-day camaraderie with GMs across the NHL, Armstrong said he would miss it dearly and that it will be a difficult adjustment. 

While he wouldn’t explicitly say that if a team came knocking, he would leave, there was a sense that he could be intrigued by an offer. He’s not reaching out to teams or making himself available, but LeBrun says he feels he may not be done as an NHL GM. 

Nevertheless, Armstrong is excited to work with Steen and believes that working in hockey ops will still allow him to be an influential part of the Blues organization. 

“I’m excited about working with Alex,” Armstrong said. “I think there’s a job there for me. It’s not going to be an honorary job. There’s work I can do to help him. But I do love a lot of the things that managers do — the building of a staff, the crossing with different parts of an organization to behold something that’s sustainable, to working with the athletes, to working with the coaches. But it did run its course (in St. Louis).”

It might not happen this off-season, but it’s something to monitor as NHL teams undergo changes throughout their front offices. With the Toronto Maple Leafs struggling and Armstrong a native of Ontario, the Maple Leafs are a team to keep an eye on.

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Get ready to use your frequent flyer miles!  The NHL has announced the Kraken will face the Caroline Hurricanes in Helsinki, Finland next season as part of the NHL’s Global Series.  Started in 2017, the Global Series’ goal is to grow the game of hockey internationally.  Since 2017, the Global Series has brought NHL hockey to five countries and several different cities.

The Kraken and Hurricanes will play at Veikkaus Arena on November 12th and 14th.  The venue normally hosts Helsinki’s professional hockey team the Jokerit.  Maximum capacity for a hockey crowd is 13,349 people.

Speaking of the opportunity to play at home, Kaapo Kakko said he is “real excited” about the chance to play in front of his family and friends, “I was always thinking that it would be fun to play there in Finland…” He went on to add that hockey is the most popular sport and Finland and he is excited for the Finnish audience to have a chance to see a game in person.

Besides Kakko, the Kraken have several other Finnish players and prospects including: Eeli Tolvanen, Jani Nyman,Julius Miettinen, Ville Ottovainen, Nikki Kokko, and Kim Saarinen.  Tolvanen and Kakko most recently represented Finland at the Olympics, while Miettinen and Saarinen competed for Team Finland at the 2026 World Juniors Championship.

Thinking of planning a trip? Information about an all-inclusive tour and tickets can be found here.

BOSTON — Fraser Minten didn’t know what to expect when he was moved by the Toronto Maple Leafs to the Boston Bruins last season.

Just over a year removed from a deadline-day deal that saw him go from one of Toronto’s top prospects to an everyday NHLer with the Bruins, the 21-year-old Vancouver native has quickly emerged as one of Boston’s most trusted assets. Most recently, he has found himself slotted as the team’s top-line center, skating alongside superstar David Pastrnak.

With the Bruins battling for playoff positioning and the Maple Leafs mired in an unexpected race to the bottom of the NHL standings, to say the change of scenery has worked out for Minten would be a massive understatement.

“You want to be on the ice and having a first-hand impact on the game,” Minten told The Hockey News following Bruins practice at Warrior Ice Arena. “I’m happy to be getting the opportunity I am. I'm just trying to continue to work hard and make the most of it.”

On March 7, 2025, the Maple Leafs sent Minten and a top-five protected 2026 first-round pick to Boston in exchange for veteran defenseman Brandon Carlo. At the time, Minten was struggling to find his footing with the AHL’s Toronto Marlies, stuck behind a veteran-heavy depth chart at center. While the haul for Carlo was significant, few expected the Bruins to see such immediate returns on the youngster.

What Could The Maple Leafs Do To Justify Trading Away Fraser Minten?Boston Bruins rookie Fraser Minten is shining this season, while the player he was traded for – veteran defenseman Brandon Carlo – hasn't found his stride in Toronto. How can Leafs GM Brad Treliving salvage this lopsided trade?

The Leafs are currently on track to miss the postseason for the first time in a decade, snapping the longest active streak in the NHL. Meanwhile, Minten has defied every internal expectation in Boston.

How did the transition happen so fast? Simply put: Hockey IQ.

“There are a lot of things you can’t teach. That’s what he has, and that’s why he’s ahead of some other guys,” Bruins head coach Marco Sturm said of his center. “Even the teaching part, he gets it right away. He just has it. He’s lucky enough to be born with it.”

Sturm compares Minten’s development to Quinton Byfield, whom he coached in the Los Angeles Kings organization. That trust has allowed Sturm to deploy Minten in high-leverage minutes with Pastrnak. Minten’s cerebral approach has allowed the former Leafs’ second-round pick to thrive in a top-six role. 

‘He Was A Steal For Us’: Maple Leafs Trading Of Prospect Fraser Minten To Boston Not Aging WellAs the Maple Leafs risk missing the postseason for the first time in a decade, the immediate success of Fraser Minten in Boston is turning the Brandon Carlo trade into the latest chapter in a long history of lopsided deals between the two rivals.

“It’s a lot of intentional placing of where he goes on the ice and how he’s able to find soft spots. His offense is very intellectual,” Minten explained of his linemate. “Obviously, he has tremendous skill, but he sees the ice so well. Playing on a line with him, you learn so much about the little details that make those guys elite.”

Although Minten’s ice time has averaged 15:16 this season, the usage has increased as the stakes get higher. He’s averaged well north of 17 minutes over the last 10 games and logged a career-high 21:09 in Boston’s most recent game, a much-needed 4-2 victory against a Detroit Red Wings team that, for the time being, has knocked them out of a playoff position.

While Minten hasn't kept a close eye on the wreckage in Toronto since his departure, he is aware of the standings. However, his focus remains on a dogged hunt for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Through games played on March 23, 2026, the Bruins sit at 39-23-8, occupying the first Wild Card spot with 86 points, just two points clear of the cutline.

Bruins Trade Brandon Carlo To Maple Leafs In Surprising Deal The Boston Bruins have traded defenseman Brandon Carlo to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for Fraser Minten, a 2026 first-round pick, and a 2025 fourth-round pick. The Bruins are also retaining 15% of Carlo's salary.

“It looks like every time you win, other teams win, and every time you lose, everyone gets a little closer,” Minten said. “It’s super tight. Every game is high stakes and fun, and that’s what makes it rewarding right now.”

Despite the rivalry, Minten maintains a connection to his former club through teammate and Easton Cowan

“I hear from him pretty much every other day. We check in through the highs and lows of being a first-year pro,” Minten said. 

With Cowan currently struggling to find consistency in his rookie campaign, Minten acts more as a sounding board than a mentor.

“We’re just friends. I’m there to listen, but it’s not like we’re going too deep on that stuff.”

Cowan is also renting Minten’s place in Toronto this season. We’re told he’s a good tenant and has paid his bills on time.

In 70 games this season, Minten has 16 goals and 15 assists.

Lassi Thomson begins Act 2 on Broadway on Monday night.

After three different injuries on Ottawa's blue line this month, Thomson will step in for the Senators against the New York Rangers in his first NHL game since November 25th, 2022.

Thomson and Belleville teammate Dennis Gilbert were recently called up to fill the void left by Jake Sanderson (shoulder) and Nick Jensen (knee). Thomson has been serving as the seventh defenseman, but when Gilbert was felled by a hard hit into the end boards on Saturday night against Toronto, the Senators confirmed on Monday morning that the young Finn would be the next man up.

As he chatted with Sens host Jackson Starr on Monday morning, Thomson was lit up a like a Christmas tree.

"It's a pretty awesome opportunity," Thomson said. "Being around the boys for almost two weeks, seeing the group in the locker room after they're winning games. It's pretty awesome to check in right now in New York. I've never played here before.

"So it's a pretty cool moment for me."

Thomson leads all AHL defensemen in goal scoring (14) this season and the 2019 first-rounder certainly upgrades Ottawa's blueline from a skating and shooting perspective.

"Well, he's such a gifted skater, right?" Belleville interim head coach Andrew Campbell told TSN 1200 radio last month. "So the more we can get Lassi involved in the rush and involved in the offense, it not only benefits Lassi's style of play, but benefits us as a team.

"He's probably one of the better skaters in in the whole league, so, yeah, he's driven our offense from the back end and he does lead the league in goals for defensemen. So, some really good stuff from Lassi."

However, just like 2024 first-rounder Carter Yakemchuk, the knock on Thomson the last time he was here was more the defensive side of his game, so it will be interesting to see if he's made some good strides in that area as well.

Thomson spent last season with the Malmo Redhawks in the Swedish league, leading all Malmo skaters in goals (17) and points (29) in 50 games.

Interestingly, while he was gone, the Sens ended up needing right shot help last season. With Travis Hamonic nearing the end, Belleville's Nikolas Matinpalo was the one who cashed in on the opportunity.

So, when Thomson opted to re-sign with the Sens last summer, he was probably thinking he had some real NHL opportunity. Case in point: Hamonic wasn't going to be extended, Nick Jensen was coming off major hip surgery, Yakemchuk is still a kid, and Thomson probably felt like he could compete with Matinpalo.

But a couple of weeks after Thomson signed, the Senators acquired defenseman Jordan Spence in a draft day deal with the LA Kings. Spence and Matinpalo both made the NHL roster, and the veteran Jensen was surprisingly ready for opening night.

The door may have slammed in his face last fall, but it's wide open right now.

With Jensen out for the regular season, and Sanderson at least another week away, it's a great opportunity for Thomson to get in one last audition for the Senators (or his next NHL team) as he heads into Group 6 UFA this summer.

Steve Warne
The Hockey News 

This article was originally published at The Hockey News. For more Senators news, analysis, and features, visit the Ottawa Senators site at The Hockey News.

More at The Hockey News:
Tim Stützle Still Puzzled By Senators' Decision To Let Michael Amadio Get Away
Former Senators Prospect Makes Edmonton Oilers Debut Saturday Night
The Buying and Selling Of Jakob Chychrun Never Quite Worked Out In Ottawa
One Year Later, The Fabian Zetterlund Trade Is Still Taking Shape
With Injuries To Sanderson And Jensen, the Sens Top Up Depth At AHL Trade Deadline

The 2025-26 NHL campaign has been unforgiving for the Calgary Flames.

With several cornerstone players shipped out and GM Craig Conroy constrained by ownership on further trades, the franchise now faces the daunting task of rebuilding while keeping one eye on their highly anticipated new arena in a few years.

Conroy has already made waves, moving Mackenzie Weegar and Nazem Kadri ahead of the March 6 trade deadline, and there’s little doubt more roster maneuvers are on the horizon before the June draft. Here’s a closer look at two Flames who are almost certainly on their way out:

Jonathan Huberdeau – The Contract Catastrophe

Jonathan Huberdeau’s tenure in Calgary has been, to put it mildly, a blazing disappointment. After a career-high 115-point campaign with the Florida Panthers in 2021-22, Huberdeau was packaged in the blockbuster Matthew Tkachuk trade, a deal that looked promising on paper but has largely backfired for the Flames.

This season, Huberdeau has tallied just 25 points in 50 games, including 10 goals and 15 assists, a far cry from the elite production Flames management hoped for. At an eye-popping $10.5 million AAV, his contract is widely regarded as one of the worst in the NHL, if not among the most burdensome deals of recent memory.

Financially, a buyout seems inevitable if Calgary wants to avoid being shackled to this albatross through 2031. The proposed buyout structure is steep: $10.3 million in the first two years, $7.8 million in the third, $10.3 million in the fourth, tapering to $5.8 million and finally $800,000 in the last two years. The math simply does not add up, and on-ice results haven’t justified the investment. Huberdeau’s Calgary experiment has been, in every sense of the word, a disaster—or perhaps more aptly, his tenure has gone up in… flames.

Blake Coleman – The Trade Deadline Survivor

Blake Coleman’s presence in Calgary past the trade deadline raised eyebrows, given the significant interest from other clubs for the versatile former Stanley Cup winner. Yet Conroy remained firm, refusing to lower his asking price.

Looking ahead to the NHL Draft, expect Coleman to be back on the market. Calgary will likely test the waters again, hoping to secure a valuable first-round pick for a player who, while effective, no longer fits the Flames’ long-term blueprint. His combination of experience, versatility, and leadership makes him a tempting target for contenders seeking a playoff-ready piece.

The Detroit Red Wings will head into what could be their biggest game of the season on Tuesday against the Ottawa Senators with uncertainty surrounding captain Dylan Larkin.

According to multiple reports, head coach Todd McLellan said that Larkin will be a game-time decision, leaving Detroit fans anxiously waiting to see if their leader will be on the ice.

Detroit fell out of the playoff picture for the first time since December 1 after the New York Islanders defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets 1-0 on Sunday. The Red Wings now sit just one point behind New York, while Ottawa is right on their heels, three points back. The Senators have been in scorching form recently, going 13-3-2 over their last 18 games, making Tuesday’s matchup critical for Detroit to maintain their playoff hopes.

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

With both the Islanders and the Boston Bruins facing relatively easier opponents, Chicago and Toronto respectively, Detroit cannot afford to drop any more games if they hope to stay competitive in the playoff race. Securing a win against Ottawa would not only keep the Red Wings close in the standings but also stop the Senators from closing the gap further.

Larkin’s potential return is seen as a key factor as the team’s captain and leading offensive presence, his presence could tip the balance in a game that might define Detroit’s postseason chances. With the stakes this high, Tuesday’s showdown against Ottawa is shaping up to be the Red Wings’ most important game of the season.

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The National Hockey League (NHL) announced the three stars presented by GEICO for the week ending March 22.

Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov, Nashville Predators left wing Filip Forsberg and Montreal Canadiens right wing Cole Caufield have been named the recipients.

Forsberg, 31, ranked second in the NHL with four goals, five assists and nine points in four games to propel the Predators (33-28-9, 75 points) to a perfect week.

His terrific week also pushed the Preds into the final Wild Card position in the Western Conference.

FILIP FORSBERG HAVE YOURSELF A DAY pic.twitter.com/mgR5tzPvyE

— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) March 22, 2026

He became the sixth Swedish-born player in League history to accumulate at least 350 career goals and currently sits second on the Predators in goals with 32 and points with 62 through 70 total games this season.

It is his third-straight 30-goal season and his sixth of his career.

The Predators are back home on Tuesday to take on the San Jose Sharks, who trail Nashville by five points in the standings.

After picking up another overtime defeat on Sunday against the Utah Mammoth, the Los Angeles Kings have lost some ground in the wild-card race in the Western Conference.

Though the Kings picked up a point in comeback fashion, the Nashville Predators are coming off four straight wins and pulled ahead with a two-point cushion.

The opportunity for Los Angeles to make the post-season is still very much alive with 12 games remaining on the schedule, and many are winnable. But over the course of this season, multiple hiccups have handicapped this team from putting together the campaign they were expecting and prepared for.

If the Kings end up missing the playoffs, here is what they'll regret the most.

Not Capitalizing In Overtime

Sunday night was just one of several instances in which the Kings couldn't capitalize on the opportunity to earn the extra point.

Their loss to the Mammoth was the 17th occasion on which the Kings were defeated beyond regulation. Owning 17 overtime and shootout losses is the most in the NHL currently, ahead of the Pittsburgh Penguins, who have 16.

Of those 17 defeats in extra innings, 10 of them were in overtime, and the remaining seven were in the shootout.

Looking back, if Los Angeles had been able to get on the right side of these overtime frames at least a handful more times than they have, the team may be in a much more comfortable position at this point in terms of pushing for the post-season.

Waiting To Make Coaching Change

On March 1, GM Ken Holland and the Kings' front office decided it was time for a coaching change. Jim Hiller was fired, and D.J. Smith was made the interim head coach.

Holland's decision came to fruition based on various moments throughout the season, but when Los Angeles lost to the Edmonton Oilers 8-1 in the second game back from the Olympic break, his mind was made up.

The Kings haven't made a big surge since the coaching change by any means, with a 4-4-3 record since Hiller's dismissal. However, the change was much needed.

The team has found a new purpose and sense of motivation with each game under Smith. One example is that before Smith became the interim bench boss, the Kings were 26th in the league in hits. Since his promotion, Los Angeles is first in the NHL in hits.

Has D.J. Smith Shown Enough To Become The Kings' Permanent Bench Boss?From now until the end of this season, what does Los Angeles Kings interim head coach D.J. Smith need to do in order to earn the full-time position?

Hits don't necessarily win hockey games, but they're certainly a factor and evidence that the team is more engaged and responding to a new voice behind the bench.

Now, 'if ifs and buts were candy and nuts,' Smith could've had more time to put his imprint on this roster if Hiller had been relieved earlier, and who knows what the results would say at this point in the season.

Off-Season Acquisitions

Kings fans will be banging this drum for a long time, until they're given a reason to believe otherwise, but the acquisitions of defensemen Brian Dumoulin and, specifically, Cody Ceci will always be questioned.

Now, Holland should be credited with the additions of right winger Joel Armia and goaltender Anton Forsberg, who both have had respectable campaigns for the Kings this season. But there are many different concerns surrounding Dumoulin and Ceci.

First, the two blueliners have been a defensive pairing for the majority of this season, playing over 600 minutes together, according to moneypuck.com. And against the Mammoth on Sunday, Ceci and Dumoulin were on the ice for every conceded goal during regulation.

The pair finished the game with a minus-three rating each and played a part in Utah's third goal that gave them a 3-2 lead over Los Angeles in the third period.

Not only is the duo of veteran defensemen having a relatively forgettable season, but they're also under contract for the long term.

Ceci, 31, signed a four-year deal with the Kings and is earning $4.5 million against the salary cap. Not to mention, he has a 10-team no-trade list for the duration of this deal. His contract expires following the 2028-29 season, and he'll be 35. 

As for Dumoulin, the 33-year-old earns $4 million against the cap through 2027-28. He also has a 10-team no-trade list for the entire length of his contract.

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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 NHL regular season ends in a little more than three weeks, and there will be a lot of new faces if the current standings hold up.

Two of those teams – the Buffalo Sabres and Anaheim Ducks – are leading their divisions despite a combined drought of 21 seasons. They met on Sunday, March 22, with the Ducks prevailing 6-5 in overtime.

Another six teams, as of the morning of Monday, March 23, were in a playoff position despite missing the postseason last season: Pittsburgh, Columbus, Boston, New York Islanders, Utah and Nashville.

In the meantime, the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers are currently sitting below the playoff line, as are 2024-25 division winners Winnipeg, Washington and Toronto. The other four 2024-25 playoff teams who could miss out this season: New Jersey, Ottawa, Los Angeles and St. Louis.

Plenty of time remains and only two teams have clinched spots so far.

Here are the latest USA TODAY NHL power rankings:

NHL power rankings

Statistics are through March 22. Numbers in parentheses indicate changes from the previous power rankings two weeks ago:

1. Colorado Avalanche (0)

Captain Gabriel Landeskog scored in his March 22 return from a two-week absence. He needed surgery after being hit by a teammate's slap shot in the lower body and also missed time this season before the Olympics with broken ribs.

2. Dallas Stars (0)

The Stars joined the Avalanche in clinching a playoff spot. They missed a chance to clinch outright when they lost to the Golden Knights in regulation but a Kings loss later on March 22 extended their playoff streak to five seasons. Dallas has lost in the conference finals the last three seasons.

3. Carolina Hurricanes (+1)

Goaltender Brandon Bussi has given up three or more goals in five of his six starts after the Olympics. His save percentages have been below .900 in those six games.

4. Buffalo Sabres (+1)

The Sabres, who lost three of four games heading into the Olympics, have gone 12-1-1 since. Their surge began after they changed general managers in December. Sitting atop the Atlantic Division standings, they're in position to end their NHL-record 14-season playoff drought.

5. Minnesota Wild (-2)

The Minnesota hockey community is mourning the death of Jessi Pierce, who covered the Wild for 10 years as a reporter for NHL.com. She, her three children and the family dog died on March 21 in a fire at their home.

6. Tampa Bay Lightning (0)

Nikita Kucherov moved past Edmonton's Connor McDavid for the NHL scoring lead as they played head to head. Kucherov had four points in the game to McDavid's one. On one sequence, McDavid was checked hard on a scoring attempt and Kucherov scored a short-handed goal.

EMIL LILLEBERG LAYS OUT CONNOR MCDAVID AT ONE END 💥

NIKITA KUCHEROV SCORES A SHORTY AT THE OTHER END 🚨 pic.twitter.com/ENNTlOuxAK

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) March 22, 2026

7. Montreal Canadiens (+1)

Cole Caufield had his first career five-point game and linemates Nick Suzuki and Juraj Slafkovsky each had four points in a 7-3 win against the Islanders.

8. Boston Bruins (+3)

Charlie McAvoy had three assists as the Bruins beat the Red Wings on March 21 to hold onto the first wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.

9. Pittsburgh Penguins (-2)

Sidney Crosby is back from his Olympic injury and Evgeni Malkin has returned from his five-game suspension. The Penguins went 2-3 with both out and 1-1-1 with both back.

10. Columbus Blue Jackets (+3)

The Blue Jackets' 1-0 loss to the Islanders ended a 12-game point streak. Their 18-3-4 run since Rick Bowness was named coach has pushed the team into a playoff position.

11. New York Islanders (-1)

Ilya Sorokin, who was pulled in a loss to the Canadiens, rebounded the next game with a shutout of the Blue Jackets as the Islanders moved back into a playoff position.

12. Anaheim Ducks (0)

The Ducks lead the Pacific Division, putting them in position to end a seven-year playoff drought. The highest they finished in that time was sixth in the division. They haven't won a division title since 2017.

13. Utah Mammoth (+1)

The Mammoth, by virtue of holding the first wild-card spot in the West, would play teams from the weaker Pacific Division in the first two rounds, a better prospect than going through Colorado, Dallas or Minnesota.

14. Detroit Red Wings (-5)

Andrew Copp is back from an injury and captain Dylan Larkin is a game-time decision for March 24. The Red Wings have gone 3-4-2 in their last nine games to fall out of a playoff position.

15. Ottawa Senators (0)

The Senators are getting back their forfeited first-round pick but it will be at the end of the round at No. 32. They can't trade or transfer the pick and were fined $1 million Canadian for failing to inform the Golden Knights, when they traded Evgenii Dadonov in 2021, about the specifics of his no-trade protection. The Golden Knights' later trade of Dadonov to the Ducks was invalidated because Anaheim was on his no-trade list. If the Senators finish out of the playoffs and win one of the two draft lotteries, the lottery will be conducted again.

16. Philadelphia Flyers (+2)

The Flyers have won five of their last six games to pull within five points of a playoff spot. Four of their next seven games are against teams ahead of them in the Eastern Conference standings.

17. Washington Capitals (+4)

Alex Ovechkin scored his 1,000th career goal (combined regular season and playoffs) on March 22 on his typical one-timer from the left faceoff circle. Only Wayne Gretzky (1,016) has more. Ovechkin is in the final year of his contract and hasn't indicated his plans beyond this season.

18. Vegas Golden Knights (-2)

The Golden Knights have only five wins in 14 games since the Olympics, but a March 22 victory against the Stars moved them into second place in the Pacific Division. They would have home-ice advantage in the first round if they finish in that spot.

19. Edmonton Oilers (-2)

The Oilers have made two announcements about their stretch drive. Leon Draisaitl is expected to miss the rest of the regular season and Connor Ingram will be the No. 1 goaltender ahead of Tristan Jarry.

20. Nashville Predators (+7)

Despite being a seller at the trade deadline, the Predators have won four in a row and moved into the second wild-card spot.

21. New Jersey Devils (+2)

Jack Hughes, who scored the golden goal at the Olympics, has points in 10 of his 12 games since returning. That includes a hat trick and an assist against the Rangers and two three-point games.

22. Los Angeles Kings (+2)

Anze Kopitar passed Hall of Famer Marcel Dionne to become the Kings' all-time leading scorer. His career numbers are 451 goals and 1,311 points, all with the Kings. He has announced plans to retire after the season.

23. San Jose Sharks (-4)

Forward Ryan Reaves appeared to dislocate his finger in a fight against the Flyers' Garrett Wilson on March 21. Before heading to the penalty box, he skated to the bench to have a trainer snap it back in place. Reaves went to the dressing room, skated one more shift then spent the rest of the game on the bench.

24. Seattle Kraken (-4)

The Kraken have gone 4-9 since the Olympics to drop from third place in the Pacific Division to four points out of a playoff spot. They have given up four or more goals seven times in that stretch.

25. Florida Panthers (-3)

The Panthers, already missing several key players because of injury, have lost fourth-line forward A.J. Greer to a suspension. He is sitting out three games for boarding the Flames' Connor Zary.

26. Winnipeg Jets (0)

The Jets, sitting five points out of a playoff spot, could become the second consecutive team to go from winning the Presidents' Trophy to missing the postseason the following season. The Rangers did it last season.

27. Toronto Maple Leafs (-2)

Goalie Anthony Stolarz was taken to the hospital and later released after being hit by a puck in the throat during warmups. It was his second hospital trip in less than a year because of a game-related injury. He left a 2025 playoff game shortly after a collision in the crease.

28. St. Louis Blues (0)

Forward Robert Thomas has 13 points in 10 games this month since returning from an injury. He had been mentioned in trade rumors but told reporters that he had never been asked to waive his no-trade clause.

29. Calgary Flames (0)

Forward Ryan Strome had six points in nine games, including a March 22 overtime goal, since arriving from the Ducks at the trade deadline. He had nine points in 33 games with Anaheim this season and is averaging nearly five more minutes a game in Calgary.

30. New York Rangers (+1)

Forward Mika Zibanejad is scheduled to play in his 1,000th career NHL game on March 23. He's facing the Senators, his original NHL team. Zibanejad enters the game on a roll with 11 points in his last eight games.

31. Chicago Blackhawks (-1)

Prospect Anton Frondell is expected to play for the Blackhawks this week with his season over in Sweden. The center, drafted No. 3 overall by Chicago in 2025, helped Sweden win its first world junior championship gold medal since 2012. Coach Jeff Blashill told reporters that based on Frondell's level of play, he'll probably throw him into the fire rather than ease him in.

32. Vancouver Canucks (0)

The Canucks are the first team to be officially eliminated from 2026 playoff contention. With only 50 points this season, they almost certainly will finish with the best draft lottery odds.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NHL power rankings: Potential playoff field filled with new faces

It’s February 18th, and Martin Necas is still sweating profusely from a game that saw his Czechian side eliminated, but has enough breath to mention his national pride: “I am proud of what we have done, especially in this last game.”

The last game he is referring to was Czechia’s OT defeat at the hands of his Canadian and NHL teammates Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and Devon Toews.

On the eve of Czechia and Canada, Martin Necas stole headlines yet again by jokingly commenting, “Yeah, we let them (Team Canada) win the first one because we knew we wouldn’t beat Canada twice in a row.”

The discourse following the games largely revolved around Team USA and Team Canada’s epic finale and rightfully so, but Martin Necas dominance of the entire tournament in the face of the world’s best competition wasn’t exactly a widely acknowledged truth.

Fast forward to March of 2026, and the Avalanche are making one last push for league and divisional supremacy, and who stands as the key contributor to Colorado’s persistence? Well, it is Martin Necas, of course, who hasn’t skipped a beat since displaying his talents in Italy.

Martin Necas' last 11 games:

9 goals
10 assists
19 points

📺: @NHL_On_TNT & @StreamOnMax ➡️ https://t.co/4TuyIATi3Tpic.twitter.com/JfiaJEaliu

— NHL (@NHL) March 19, 2026

It may not be the first thing people are talking about when they think of the Colorado Avalanche, with Hart hopeful Nathan MacKinnon and Norris mainstay Cale Makar dominating headlines throughout the season. But make no mistake, this has been Martin Necas’ year, and he’s earning every cent of this 92 million dollar contract.

Olympic Standout

The Olympics were something Martin Necas “had always dreamt of,” and he played like it, as a top 5 player in the tournament with 8 points (3G, 5A) in just five contests at 1.60 points per game—tied for one of the highest outputs by a Czech skater in an NHL-era Olympics. He powered his nation to a quarterfinal matchup with Team Canada, including a goal and assist in the 3-2 qualification win over Denmark that advanced them.

An absolutely diabolical angle of Martin Necas' power play goal today! #GoAvsGo | @MileHighHockey | #Olympics2026pic.twitter.com/TI1itRN6Zx

— Adrian Hernandez (@AdoHernandez27) February 17, 2026

Necas and Czechia may have been a dark horse pick by Managing Editor Jackie Kay heading into the Olympics, but I don’t think anyone else really gave them an outside chance of standing up to the powers that be in international hockey.

Necas and his countrymen did that and then some, as it appeared they might actually upset Team Canada, when they held a 3-2 lead late in the third before Nick Suzuki tied it at three a side.

The overtime frame featured a breakaway chance for Marty himself, but a generous non-call on a pretty blatant hook from Devon Toews effectively slowed Necas enough for the pressure to affect his shot on net.

It would be Golden Knight Mitch Marner who would put that quarterfinal contest to bed with an OT winner.

I don’t know if it’s been talked about in the Avalanche locker room, but Necas surely could give Toews some grief for the fortune of not being penalized on that play.

Sure, no medal for Marty, but he was among the best players in the entire tournament, no matter what crest they wore.

The question then became. How long could the Marty party continue?

The Human Element

I don’t know how much the Olympic transition, its logistics, and its consequences truly resonate with most hockey fans. The mentality of this hockey arrangement likely hit European players the hardest, as they didn’t return to their homeland like their North American counterparts after the action subsided.

“It is weird because you don’t really go home, back to Czechia. You go back to your teams. It is different from when you play a world championship,” Necas said before getting his bags ready for travel back to North America for the rest of the NHL season.

The human element of all the travel and painstaking details can rattle even a lowly reporter from Colorado, much less a professional hockey player balancing life and the rigorous demands of competing at the highest level. Not Martin Necas, though—the professionalism, dedication, and pride we saw in Italy have continued here in Colorado with the Avalanche, where he’s exploded for double-digit goals in the month-plus since returning.

Party On?

So how long could the Marty party continue?

Answer, all the way into March.

Since the Olympic break, Necas has been on fire, collecting eight multi-point performances in his last 14 games while piling up 10 goals and 24 points overall in that stretch. He’s scored in eight of 10 contests, notched multiple points in five of his first six games back, and racked up four goals and four assists in his most recent six outings. Standout efforts include a three-point night (1G-2A, including two power-play assists) in a 4-1 win over Chicago on March 20 and two assists in a 3-2 OT victory over Washington on March 22.

Martin Necas couldn't have placed that puck any better! 🏔️ pic.twitter.com/oujycYXUl9

— NHL (@NHL) February 27, 2026

Necas is at career highs across the board: 32 goals (surpassing his previous best), 84 points (topping his 82 in Carolina), an 18.9% shooting percentage on 169 shots, eight power-play goals, 11 power-play assists, and elite underlying numbers like 21:25 average TOI and a dominant +44 rating. His top-line chemistry with MacKinnon is evident—he’s producing at over a point-per-game clip and pacing toward his first 90- or even 100-point season.

Jobs Not Done

In the build-up to the 2026 Olympic Games, Martin Necas made it clear that he knew “it’s better to be on their side than against, obviously…” when asked about his teammates representing Team Canada, but I imagine they would echo the same compliment in his direction.

When Martin Necas put pen to paper at the team facility back in October of 2025, the detractors immediately compared the dollar figure to what another top-line winger in the Central had garnered after much fuss. Some questioned if he’d ever live up to the commitment the Avalanche made that day.

Fans should be pleased to note that the first thing that came out of Martin Necas following the deal was the following in an article with NHL.com:

Super excited. Happy to get this done. Excited for the times ahead. Now I can focus on winning hockey games and do whatever it takes to bring a (Stanley) Cup back to Colorado

That focus has shown.

Getting a 90-point, 40-goal scorer out of a deal that was heavily scrutinized should be the talk of the town as far as I’m concerned, but validation of the Mikko trade and Martin Necas key contributions to this Avalanche team have fallen on deaf ears.

I don’t suppose that will remain the case as Colorado begins its playoff campaign. With Necas carrying Olympic momentum into a career-year explosion, the Marty party will be front-page news if Colorado once again reaches the mountaintop in 2025-26.

Let us know what you think of Martin Necas’ year so far in the comments!

NEW YORK (AP) — The Carolina Hurricanes and Seattle Kraken are set to play two games in Finland next season as part of the NHL’s Global Series.

The league and the players’ association announced Monday that Carolina and Seattle will face off Nov. 12 and 14 in the Finnish capital of Helsinki. The Kraken are heading abroad for the first time in their sixth season of existence and the Hurricanes for the second time and first since 2010.

Each team has a pair of Finns currently on its roster: Sebastian Aho and Jesperi Kotkaniemi for Carolina and Kaapo Kakko and Eeli Tolvanen for Seattle. All but Tolvanen are under contract for next season.

The NHL has staged 42 regular-season games in Europe since 2007 and has two more scheduled for Germany in December with Ottawa and Chicago set to play in Duesseldorf in December. Veikkaus Arena in Helsinki, formerly known as Hartwall Arena, has been the site of seven of the games, most recently in 2018 between Florida and Winnipeg.

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL

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The New York Rangers host the Ottawa Senators at Madison Square Garden in the lone game on the ice Monday, March 23.

My Senators vs. Rangers predictions and NHL picks expect Ottawa to show no mercy as it pushes to lock down a playoff spot. 

Senators vs Rangers prediction

Senators vs Rangers best bet: Senators -1.5 (+130)

The Ottawa Senators are cruising along a 13-3-2 heater with a third-ranked Corsi For percentage and top-ranked expected goals percentage at five-on-five, while the New York Rangers respectively check in 27th in each with a 7-8-3 record during the same stretch.

Ottawa has also allowed the fewest goals per game (2.22) during the run and is battling for a postseason berth. It’s the exact opposite on the opposite bench with New York checked out in the Eastern Conference basement.

Senators vs Rangers same-game parlay

In addition to the highlighted statistical mismatches, the Rangers have also surrendered the second-most shots per game (32.5) out of the Olympic break, and the Senators have recorded the fourth-most (31.5).

So, I’m expecting New York starter Igor Shesterkin to see plenty of rubber tonight, and he’s also turning in another solid season with a .912 save percentage and the seventh-most goals saved above expected.

Senators vs Rangers SGP

• Senators -1.5
• Igor Shesterkin Over 26.5 saves

Senators vs Rangers odds

• Moneyline: Senators -190 | Rangers +160
• Puck Line: Senators -1.5 (+130) | Rangers +1.5 (-150)
• Over/Under: Over 5.5 (-130) | Under 5.5 (+110)

Senators vs Rangers trend

The Ottawa Senators have covered the puck line in 16 of their last 25 away games (+11.20 Units / 32% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Senators vs. Rangers.

How to watch Senators vs Rangers

Senators vs Rangers latest injuries

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The hockey world is mourning the tragic loss of Minnesota Wild beat reporter Jessi Pierce, who died along with her three children and their dog in a house fire early Saturday, March 21.

Pierce, 38, covered the Wild for NHL.com for the past decade and also co-hosted a weekly hockey podcast.

"The entire National Hockey League family sends our prayers and deepest condolences to the Pierce family on the passing of Jessi Pierce and her three young children," the NHL said in a statement. "Jessi loved our game and was a valued member of the NHL.com team for a decade. We will miss her terribly."

We are heartbroken and join the State of Hockey in mourning the tragic loss of Jessi and her children. May they rest in peace 💔. pic.twitter.com/H8L8Wgu6l4

— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) March 22, 2026

Authorities have not determined the cause of the blaze. Pierce's husband was not home at the time.

Hockey world remembers Jessi Pierce

As news of her death spread, tributes began to roll in from friends, colleagues and NHL personnel.

"The Minnesota Wild organization is heartbroken by the tragic loss of Jessi Pierce and her children," the team said in a statement. "Jessi was a kind, compassionate person that cared deeply about her family and those around her. She served as a dedicated ambassador for the game of hockey during her time covering the Wild and the NHL."

"I’ve known her a long time. She was a wonderful person, loved hockey, loved people, somebody I looked forward to all the time when I would go to Minnesota," Nashville Predators coach Andrew Brunette said Sunday. "It’s a sad day in hockey. Her passion for the game, her passion for the Wild, is unsurpassed, and we’re going to miss her. It’s a tragedy."

And from fellow Wild beat writer Michael Russo of The Athletic: "Jessi simply loved covering the Wild and hockey throughout Minnesota and had a way of brightening everyone’s day with her upbeat, bubbly personality. I have literally NEVER met anybody that had a way of being EVERYBODY’s friend."

There are no words to express how heartbroken we all are.

Jessi Pierce (Hinrichs) was the most vibrant person - the life of the party, always with a smile on her face, always bringing a passion to every article and podcast and interview she did. Jessi simply loved covering the…

— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) March 22, 2026

And in another social media post, Kirsten Krull, who co-hosted the Bardown Beauties podcast with Pierce, appropriately summarized: "There’s so much more I want to say that I can’t find the words for yet. I hope you know how loved you are and could see the outpouring of love for you and your family from the hockey community today."

Wild general manager Bill Guerin 'devastated'

Today we remember our good friend Jessi ❤️ pic.twitter.com/RxXxGaP6BN

— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) March 23, 2026

This story was updated to add a video.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jessi Pierce, beat writer for Minnesota Wild, dies in house fire

The Florida Panthers are going to be without two of their regular defenseman for the remainder of the season.

On Monday, Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice provided an update on a pair of injured blueliners, and the prognosis was not good for either.

Niko Mikkola suffered a lower-body injury after what appeared to be a knee-on-knee hit with Calgary’s Ryan Strome during Friday’s 4-1 loss in Calgary.

Maurice said Mikkola will not need surgery, but he will be out for around four-to-six weeks.

“Good news on him, he’ll be (out) weeks instead of months,” Maurice said. “The other end of that spectrum is (Sasha) Barkov, so we’re really relieved with that one.”

Considering Florida’s season will likely be over in less than four weeks, it appears we’ve seen the last of Mikkola.

Fellow blueliner Uvis Balinskis has not played since March 10 against Detroit. He initially suffered an injury during a loss to Buffalo on Feb. 27, but he missed only one game before returning to play the following four.

Ultimately, that would be the end of the line for Balinskis, who Maurice said suffered a fracture in his foot and will also miss between four and six weeks.

Florida’s defensive corps now consists of Aaron Ekblad, Gus Forsling, Seth Jones, Dmitry Kulikov, Donovan Sebrango and Mike Benning.

A seventh defenseman will likely be recalled from AHL Charlotte at some point.

One positive to take is that there will be more opportunity Benning to play at the NHL level. He’s skated in five games with the Panthers this season, earning three assists and two shots on a plus-one on-ice rating while averaging 16:34 of ice time

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Photo caption: Dec 23, 2025; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Florida Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola (77) skates against the Carolina Hurricanes during the second period at Lenovo Center. (James Guillory-Imagn Images)

ST. LOUIS (AP) — The St. Louis Blues on Monday signed college free agent forward Felix Trudeau to a two-year entry-level contract that begins next season, adding one of the top undrafted players available to their stockpile of prospects.

He is expected to join the American Hockey League’s Springfield Thunderbirds for the remainder of this season on a professional tryout agreement.

Trudeau, 23, is coming off a season at Sacred Heart University in which he ranked second in the country with 25 goals. He was tied for sixth nationally in Division I with 48 points in 39 NCAA games and was named Atlantic Hockey America player of the year.

Now seven years removed from winning the Stanley Cup, the Blues look to be heading toward a youth movement at a time of organizational transition, with longtime general manager Doug Armstrong on the verge of stepping down and handing the job to Alexander Steen this summer.

St. Louis traded captain Brayden Schenn to the New York Islanders at the deadline and had an agreement to send Colton Parayko to Buffalo before the veteran defenseman invoked his no-trade clause to block the move.

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL