Injuries are piling up for several NHL teams as the playoffs approach. Carolina Hurricanes forward Jordan Staal sat out for a second consecutive game due to a lower-body injury, raising concerns about his availability in the postseason. Teammate Andrei Svechnikov left the last match early, though coach Rod Brind'Amour indicated the injury isn't serious. Meanwhile, Hurricanes' William Carrier is on the mend, having skated in a no-contact jersey for two days.

Florida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk has recently resumed skating, but uncertainty remains regarding his readiness. The New Jersey Devils are also monitoring Dougie Hamilton's progress, as he recovers from knee surgery, with expectations that he may be back by the second round. In New York, Rangers forward Matt Rempe participated in the morning skate after an upper-body injury, while David Kampf and Jake McCabe exited their previous game with injuries. The Pittsburgh Penguins are dealing with Evgeni Malkin, who is traveling with the team but has missed the last three games due to an upper-body injury.

Dougie Hamilton, defenseman for the New Jersey Devils, is set to miss the rest of the regular season and potentially the playoffs due to a lower-body injury. General manager Tom Fitzgerald shared that the team is not optimistic about Hamilton's return even if they advance to the playoffs, stating, “We’re not planning on it.” Hamilton has been sidelined since March 4 during a game against the Dallas Stars.

This season, Hamilton has recorded 40 points, contributing nine goals and 31 assists in 63 games. The 31-year-old is in the fourth year of a seven-year contract worth $63 million and holds a commendable career total of 501 points across 834 games played for teams including the Boston Bruins, Calgary Flames, Carolina Hurricanes, and the Devils.

As the NHL trade deadline approaches, the New Jersey Devils made a significant move by acquiring veteran defenseman Brian Dumoulin from the Anaheim Ducks. The deal, which sends a second-round pick and the rights to prospect Herman Traff to Anaheim, sees the Ducks retaining 50% of Dumoulin’s salary. This acquisition comes in the wake of injuries to key players, including Jack Hughes and Dougie Hamilton, who are both sidelined for the remainder of the season.

With Dumoulin’s NHL experience and ability to play significant minutes, the Devils expect him to bolster their defense amid a challenging season. General manager Tom Fitzgerald is also exploring options to fill the offensive void created by Hughes' injury. Notable forwards like Brock Nelson and Rickard Rakell are among those potentially available, as Fitzgerald looks to enhance the team's playoff prospects.

The Carolina Hurricanes are proactively exploring trade scenarios for Mikko Rantanen as the NHL trade deadline approaches. With Rantanen unlikely to sign an extension before the deadline, the Hurricanes have intensified discussions with his agent and other teams. They are weighing options for both rental and extended trades, considering the potential salary retention to facilitate a deal. Teams like the Toronto Maple Leafs, Dallas Stars, and Los Angeles Kings have expressed interest, though the Hurricanes may opt to keep Rantanen for a playoff push if offers don’t meet their expectations.

Meanwhile, the New Jersey Devils face significant injury setbacks with Jack Hughes out for the season and Dougie Hamilton sidelined for weeks. Despite this, GM Tom Fitzgerald is expected to remain active in the market, potentially inquiring about Rantanen. The ongoing developments with Rantanen are pivotal not only for the Hurricanes' future but could also reshape the playoff landscape if he moves to a contender.

The New Jersey Devils' coach Sheldon Keefe has been fined $25,000 for his unsportsmanlike conduct towards officials during a game against the Vegas Golden Knights. This incident followed the injury of star center Jack Hughes, who was taken off the ice after a collision that left him visibly in pain. Keefe expressed his frustration over the lack of a penalty call during Hughes' injury incident, which he described as more serious than a previous interference penalty called against his team.

Since that game, there has been no injury update provided by the Devils on Hughes, who leads the team in scoring. Additionally, the Devils have faced other injury challenges with key players, including Dougie Hamilton, who was injured in a recent match against the Dallas Stars, and they've just reinstated goaltender Jacob Markstrom after a prolonged absence due to injury.