Canada’s 4 Nations roster set the Olympic stage in the shadow of 2026 Italy, with Thomas and Suzuki still chasing a spot after last December’s snub. The event doubles as a prove-it sprint for veterans and a coming-out party for rising stars, as 18 weeks remain to the Games. The battlefield widens: health, form and timing will decide who lands in the Olympic lineup and who misses out.

The NHL’s coaching carousel is in full swing, with nine new head coaches taking over franchises including Mike Sullivan with the New York Rangers, Joel Quenneville with Anaheim, Rick Tocchet with Philadelphia, Glen Gulutzan with Dallas, Marco Sturm with Boston, Jeff Blashill with Chicago, Lane Lambert with Seattle, Dan Muse with Pittsburgh, and Adam Foote with Vancouver. Each captain brings elite pedigree or fresh energy, emphasizing relationships, accountability, and structured play to unlock talent across the league.

High-impact veterans like Crosby, Malkin, and Letang anchor Pittsburgh, while young stars such as Bedard, McDavid, and Oettinger shape how these systems balance offense with defense. Fantasy managers should watch for shifts in power-play roles, line chemistry, and coaching-driven tweaks that could lift or limit production across multiple teams this season.

In a stunning upset, Denmark triumphed over the heavily-favored Canada with a 2-1 victory in the quarter-finals of the World Hockey Championship. Nick Olesen's goal with just 49 seconds remaining sealed the win for Denmark, demonstrating their resilience after Nikolaj Ehlers had equalized late in the third period. Canada, despite a strong showing with 30 shots on goal and a goal from Travis Sanheim, couldn't secure a victory against the determined Danes.

Denmark's Frederik Dichow was instrumental in their success, providing solid goaltending that stifled Canada's offensive efforts. Though Canada had players like Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon on their roster, they fell short in this crucial match, leading to their elimination from the tournament.

Brad Shaw, the recently appointed interim head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers, has decided to leave the organization just a day after Rick Tocchet was named head coach. Shaw's tenure, which included a 5-3-1 record, was marked by a revitalized team offense and a positive atmosphere, with players like Travis Sanheim expressing gratitude for Shaw's impact on their play. Despite initially expressing interest in staying within the organization even without the head coach role, Shaw's departure opens up possibilities as there are multiple coaching vacancies across the NHL.