The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina have officially wrapped up with Team USA taking home the gold. Now, as the hockey world transitions back to the regular season, the landscape of the league has shifted drastically. From devastating injuries to exhausted Olympic superstars needing rest, today’s NHL news is packed with storylines that will shape the race to the Stanley Cup.
Whether you are tracking fantasy hockey updates or waiting to see what your favorite team does at the trade deadline, here is everything you need to know today.
NHL Game Scores and Notes from February 23, 2026
If you were furiously refreshing your sports apps looking for NHL game scores on February 23, 2026, you likely noticed a totally empty scoreboard. There were zero NHL games played yesterday. The league was in its final scheduled day of the Olympic break. Teams used Monday to welcome players back from Italy, hold contingency practices, and reassess their rosters. The regular-season schedule officially resumes tomorrow, Wednesday, February 25, meaning teams had one final 24-hour window to catch their breath.
NHL News and Trade Rumors: February 24, 2026
As teams hit the ice for practice today, the NHL news wire has been absolutely buzzing with massive updates and lineup changes:
- Sidney Crosby’s Status in Limbo: The Pittsburgh Penguins captain is dealing with a right-leg injury sustained during the Olympic tournament. He missed the gold-medal game for Canada, and Pittsburgh has recalled Avery Hayes from the AHL as a contingency plan.
- Connor McDavid Needs Rest: After an exhausting, MVP-winning performance for Team Canada, Edmonton Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch announced McDavid will not be rushed back into the lineup immediately.
- Mikko Rantanen Sidelined: The Dallas Stars will be missing their leading scorer, Mikko Rantanen, who suffered a lower-body injury playing for Finland in the bronze medal game.
- Maple Leafs Roster Shuffle: Toronto’s John Tavares missed Tuesday’s practice with the flu. William Nylander is back from his stint with Sweden, but Team USA captain Auston Matthews is still questionable for Wednesday as the Americans celebrate their gold medal in Washington, D.C.
- Utah Mammoth Trade Rumors: Armed with a massive $26 million in cap space, Utah is actively looking to upgrade at the center position before the trade deadline to solidify a playoff push.
2025-2026 Top 20 NHL Scoring Leaders
As we jump back into the season, here is how the top of the NHL scoring race looks. Connor McDavid continues his dominant reign, but Nathan MacKinnon and Nikita Kucherov are right on his heels.
| Rank | Player | Team | Pos | Points | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connor McDavid | EDM | C | 96 | 34 | 62 |
| 2 | Nathan MacKinnon | COL | C | 93 | 40 | 53 |
| 3 | Nikita Kucherov | TBL | RW | 91 | 29 | 62 |
| 4 | Macklin Celebrini | SJS | C | 81 | 28 | 53 |
| 5 | Leon Draisaitl | EDM | C | 80 | 29 | 51 |
| 6 | David Pastrňák | BOS | RW | 71 | 30 | 41 |
| 7 | Kirill Kaprizov | MIN | LW | 70 | 32 | 38 |
| 8 | Mikko Rantanen | DAL | RW | 69 | 20 | 49 |
| 9 | Jack Eichel | VGK | C | 68 | 21 | 47 |
| 10 | Mark Scheifele | WPG | C | 68 | 27 | 41 |
| 11 | Jason Robertson | DAL | LW | 66 | 32 | 34 |
| 12 | Nick Suzuki | MTL | C | 65 | 24 | 41 |
| 13 | Kyle Connor | WPG | LW | 64 | 25 | 39 |
| 14 | Evan Bouchard | EDM | D | 63 | 12 | 51 |
| 15 | Matt Boldy | MIN | LW | 62 | 32 | 30 |
| 16 | Martin Nečas | COL | C | 62 | 22 | 40 |
| 17 | Zach Werenski | CBJ | D | 62 | 10 | 52 |
| 18 | Tim Stützle | OTT | C | 61 | 20 | 41 |
| 19 | Jake Guentzel | TBL | LW | 60 | 25 | 35 |
| 20 | Lucas Raymond | DET | RW | 60 | 19 | 41 |
Finding the latest NHL news, NHL trade rumors, Fantasy Hockey Predictions
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