Hockey roundup: Wild sign Spartans center Charlie Stramel, but debut must wait

The Wild have signed 2023 first-round pick Charlie Stramel of the Michigan State Spartans to a three-year, entry-level contract.

The deal announced Monday won't begin until 2026-27 as the 21-year-old center is out for this season with a broken ankle.

Michigan State forward Charlie Stramel before the start of the annual Duel in the D hockey game between the University of Michigan and Michigan State University at Little Caesars Arena, in Detroit, February 7, 2026.

Stramel sustained the injury in Michigan State's season-ending NCAA Tournament loss to Wisconsin on March 28.

He had 44 points (19 goals, 25 assists) with seven game-winning goals and a plus-29 rating in 37 games in 2025-26.

Stramel earned All-Big Ten first-team honors this season and led the Spartans to a Big Ten championship in 2024-25.

The 6-foot-3, 216-pound native of Rosemount, Minn., was the No. 21 overall pick of the 2023 NHL Draft.

Flyers blast Devils to boost playoff chances

Trevor Zegras and Tyson Foerster both scored a pair of goals for the Philadelphia Flyers, who strengthened their hold on an Eastern Conference playoff spot by beating the New Jersey Devils 5-1 Tuesday in Newark, N.J.

The Flyers will be in Detroit to face the Red Wings on Thursday at 7 p.m., and the Devils will be at Little Caesars Arena on Saturday at 5 p.m.

Zegras' tallies give him 25 goals for the season, while Foerster, who returned last week after missing four months of action due to an arm injury, now has 13 in 25 games played. Nick Seeler added his third goal of the season.

Zegras added his 40th assist, and Matvei Michkov assisted on both of Foerster's. Dan Vladar stopped 23 shots for the Flyers (40-26-12, 92 points), who have won 40 games for the first time since the 2019-20 season.

Cody Glass scored for the third time in his last four games, with assists from Jonas Siegenthaler and Lenni Hameenaho on the Devils' lone goal.

Jacob Markstrom made 14 saves on 18 shots for New Jersey (40-35-3, 83 points), which was eliminated from playoff contention with the regulation loss paired with Ottawa's win over Tampa Bay.

Michkov fined $2K for diving/embellishment

The NHL fined Philadelphia Flyers forward Matvei Michkov $2,000 for diving/embellishment on Tuesday.

Michkov is lighter in the wallet after his second offense, which occurred in a March 24 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets.

He received a warning following his first infraction, which came in the Flyers' Dec. 3 victory over the Buffalo Sabres.

Michkov, 21, has recorded 43 points (17 goals, 26 assists) in 76 games this season.

Sanderson, Senators record key victory

Jake Sanderson scored twice and Brady Tkachuk logged four assists to help the Ottawa Senators tighten their hold on a playoff spot with a 6-2 win against the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday.

Tim Stutzle had a goal and two assists for the Senators (41-27-10, 92 points), who have won two straight and three of their past four games to remain in the second Eastern Conference wild-card spot. Ottawa is two points up on the Columbus Blue Jackets and three points ahead of both the Detroit Red Wings and New York Islanders.

Ottawa got a goal apiece from Jordan Spence, Shane Pinto and Fabian Zetterlund, and Drake Batherson had two assists. Goalie Linus Ullmark made 28 saves.

Nick Paul and Corey Perry each had a goal and an assist while Jonas Johansson made 26 saves for the Lightning (48-24-6, 102 points), who have lost consecutive games for the first time since March 8-10.

Tampa Bay is now in a three-way tie for first place in the Atlantic Division with the Buffalo Sabres and the Montreal Canadiens.

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This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Minnesota Wild sign Michigan State center Charlie Stramel