JotCast | PHR Live Chat: 10/15/25

PHR Live Chat: 10/15/25

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Josh Erickson

1:54

Hi everyone, I'll get started on questions in just a few minutes.

2:00

Ok, let's get going.

John

2:00

If the penguins actually trade him, how cool would it be to see Crosby traded to the Capitals to play with Ovechkin? Would the penguins ever make that trade? Is it realistic for the capitals?

Josh Erickson

2:01

Yeah, there's no world in which that happens. In the still extremely unlikely scenario Crosby is moved, it's going to be to the Avalanche. If not them, a team with a much more secure Stanley Cup likelihood this season than Washington.

prospect

2:01

Given his development to date in the KHL , what do you project for Kantserov ?-top 6 or middle six in Chicago (once he signs)

Josh Erickson

2:03

I've always been a fan of Roman Kantserov's. Let's keep in mind he's now three years post-draft, though. I would think more high-end middle-six than outright top six. His passing ability could make him an intriguing fit with Bedard, though. I think it mostly hinges on what the Blackhawks' roster construction is by the time he (hopefully) signs at the end of this season. Will a Bedard linemate or Nazar linemate be more of a need? Right now, it looks like the former, which could bode well for Kantserov's production out of the gate.

Foligno

2:04

Assuming not expended family issues, what do you think happens with Nick Foligno ? Will he be extended a year, play out the season and retire, or agree to be traded to a contender at the deadline ?

Josh Erickson

2:06

He's still a legitimately valuable player. He would have some trade value if Chicago retained. It depends on what Kyle Davidson decides is best. I don't get the sense that Foligno would ask to be moved. There's no agreement that he has to make, though; he doesn't have trade protection. Nothing about Chicago's start suggests they won't be in the hunt. I think it's pretty much a toss-up between those three options, but I would lean toward him playing out the season and retiring.

2:07

What do you think will end up happening with Lukas Reichel? I don't understand it from any perspective. Certainly healthy scratches aren't helping the hawks and does no team want to see what they can do with him with what would be a bargain price? Thank you!

Josh Erickson

2:10

Yeah, I'm getting confused. They could have waived him. They chose not to, which tells me they had trade offers on the table they were considering. The longer they keep him, the less likely it is that those offers will still be there. I didn't like his game against Montreal last weekend, even though he played only about 7 minutes. At best, they're fetching a late-round pick. And since he carries a cap impact if he clears waivers and heads to the minors (only $50K, but still), I wonder if the chances of him clearing are increasing the longer this goes on.

Erik Karlsson

2:10

Is there a realistic trade offer (that obviously includes salary retention) the Leafs could make for EK? I think their PP is going to miss Marner a ton, and Rielly/OEL aren't good enough to man the point on a contending-caliber PP.

Josh Erickson

2:14

No. The Leafs will be hard-pressed to acquire anyone of value. They've parted ways with virtually all their highest-value trade assets (at least in a rebuilder's eyes) at the last couple of trade deadlines. The only name that would legitimately catch the Penguins' attention for any of their available veterans is Easton Cowan. I don't think the Leafs have a need big enough to warrant parting ways with him. He's looked like a really natural fit in his first couple of games here and could be a legitimate impact piece as soon as this season. I wouldn't make that claim about either Rielly or Ekman-Larsson, either. The former has looked good this year, and OEL quarterbacked Florida's second power play unit to a Cup two years ago.

vezina trophy

2:14

top 5 goalie predictions this year? best 2 rookie goalies (backup/starter)

Josh Erickson

2:17

Early on, the storyline league-wide has been one of redemption. Igor Shesterkin has been fantastic. If he more or less keeps this up, the Vezina is his. Thatcher Demko, Juuse Saros, and Jeremy Swayman all look like their old selves as well after tough 2024-25 showings.

Not all those names will end up in the top five at season's end, although I would bet on Shesterkin to stick around for sure. Hellebuyck will be there, Vasilevskiy will be there. I'll pick Demko to stick from my "hot start" group and throw Jake Oettinger in there as well to round things out.

If Jakub Dobeš in Montreal still qualifies as a rookie, he'd be one of my two picks. Give me him and Jesper Wallstedt.

Caleb

2:17

Based off the Blues mini rebuild vs the Blackhawks nearly decade long rebuild, which franchise is more set up for success 5 years from now.

Josh Erickson

2:21

Chicago, absolutely. Bedard and Nazar are established. Anton Frondell is on the way. I don't think there's a forward in the Blues' system that I would take over any of them five years from now. Jake Neighbours will be 28. Robert Thomas will be 31. Jordan Kyrou will be 32. St. Louis has a few good young defenders, but Philip Broberg is already 24. There's so much more to come in Chicago compared to what the Blues have coming. Chicago's lone long-term concern was goaltending but they appear to have addressed that with Spencer Knight.

Bruins

2:21

I like the start so far what are you’re expectations for Boston?

Josh Erickson

2:24

I haven't seen enough this year to change my initial outlook on them, which was a decent rebound year but not enough to get them into the playoffs. The 85-point range still seems about right. Jeremy Swayman has a way of covering up most of his team's flaws when he's on. Luckily for them, it looks like he's back on. Their 5-on-5 play hasn't been great, particularly offensively (shocker). Check back in a month.

Schaefer's Biggest Fan

2:24

The Islanders have had a rough start to the year and assuming this continues, what players do you see them moving on from as Darche tries to put his finger prints on this roster? Lee, Pelech, Pulock, Pageau, or even Sorokin?

Josh Erickson

2:26

I don't think Sorokin will be on the table, no matter how bad things get. They've already stockpiled a fair amount of promising prospects over the past year. Sorokin is 30, but goalies age more slowly. He'll still be a staple by the time the Islanders have the personnel to legitimately contend for the playoffs again, which shouldn't be all that far away if they keep going down this track. I would say Pageau would be the likeliest to be moved, followed by Lee, Pelech, and then Pulock.

Troy

2:26

what is the latest on Carter Hart? Will he be signing soon, and if so with who? Thank you

Josh Erickson

2:28

He is still linked to the Golden Knights. No announcement yet. They're thinking long and hard about it. Their decision may have gotten easier with Adin Hill's injury last night. The threat of legitimate, harmful fan and locker room pushback is incredibly real and should not be taken lightly. The Hurricanes backed away from signing Michael McLeod for a reason. With Hill's injury, the benefits may outweigh the risk in Vegas' mind. I don't believe Hart has any other choices on the table.

ljfranker

2:28

Latest on Samsonov?

Josh Erickson

2:30

I haven't heard anything. If he wasn't still intent on returning to the NHL, you'd have to think there would be a KHL deal for him by now. There hasn't, and I haven't seen anything from Russian media suggesting he's considering a return. If the Knights back away from Hart, I wonder if they re-engage, but I haven't heard anything to back that up.

Black Ace57

2:30

Is there a team better set up player and contract wise for the next decade than the Habs?

Josh Erickson

2:32

My thought was Vegas has a good portion of its stars on reasonable long-term deals, but the Habs just have so many guys locked up below market value. You could make the argument Carolina is in a more secure position, but they have more blemishes (Kotkaniemi at $4.82MM) and question marks (K. Miller at $7.5MM) than Montreal does.

RocktheRed

2:33

You say Crosby would never be traded to the Caps but what about Jagr all those years ago? Real question is who is a realistic trade acquistion should the Caps be back to where they were last season?

Josh Erickson

2:37

Haha, the Penguins aren't the precipice of complete financial ruin this time around, so that example doesn't change my answer (nor was the rivalry in Jagr's days nearly as meaningful as it became between Crosby and Ovechkin). If Washington is going big-game hunting for rentals, I would wonder about Artemi Panarin if the Rangers are out of it. Their biggest hole keeping them from a Cup right now is a top-line winger to pair with Ovechkin and Strome. I like McMichael fine enough long-term, but he's better suited for middle-six duties right now. More realistic options than Panarin... Alex Tuch, can't imagine he's too psyched about extending in Buffalo right now.

Oscar mayer

2:37

What’s the next more for the Jets second line. Trade or move someone up?

Josh Erickson

2:39

Gotta be a trade. Yes, they're staying afloat without Perfetti. His return will help. Even with him, that's not a serious middle six for a contender. Connor, Scheifele, and Vilardi are still doing all the heavy lifting. The fourth line has had a nice little run to start the season, I'll give them that. But their internal solutions (Chibrikov, Ford, Lambert, etc.) are neither high-ceiling nor far enough along in their development to warrant those jobs right now.

ljfranker

2:39

How does Ellis fit into the Sabres' depth?

Josh Erickson

2:40

I don't get the claim if they're not going to play him. Alex Lyon has certainly played his way out of any talk of him getting traded or landing on waivers when Luukkonen is ready to return. He's been spectacular. The question is whether they want to carry three goalies or let the Blues (or someone else) take Ellis back on the wire. I think it's the latter.

ljfranker

2:40

why is TB scratching Raddysh? he has 3pts in 2 games

Josh Erickson

2:43

All at even strength, too. He was atrocious defensively, though. He was paired with Hedman and still had a -3 despite that point production. They were doubled up on shot attempts, 24 to 12, at even strength. That's not a recipe for success, especially when Hedman and J.J. Moser have generated much better possession numbers together since the latter returned from his suspension. McDonagh-Cernak has been dominant too, so unless they want to break up the Lilleberg-Crozier pairing – and they don't, since Crozier has three apples in four games – Raddysh will sit out.

McJake

2:44

The Ducks are set up pretty good contract and player wise for the next decade don't you think? Especially if they sign Cutter and Carlsson the next 12 months long term?

Josh Erickson

2:45

Yeah, but those contracts aren't done yet, and they don't have the defensive depth/ceiling locked down that Montreal has. They're on the upswing, but I don't feel they challenge the Habs' crown in the way the initial question was presented.

Ron Duguay

2:45

Should Rangers fans be justified with their concerns about the lack of offensive 5x5, or should we be happy that the defense and forechecking looks the best it has in years?

Josh Erickson

2:47

Depends on who you're directing the concerns toward. I think Mike Sullivan is doing the best with what he has. This is what happens when you've got an all-checking bottom six and a top-six piece sidelined. I also think there's just plain bad luck involved. They're finishing at 6.5%, that will start to rebound in a big way. I can't complain a ton. Their 5-on-5 possession numbers early on are way more on par with the 2014 Cup Final team than anything else they've iced in the last few years.

2:48

All that is to say, don't hit the panic button yet. Yes, their offense is constrained by roster construction, but they're playing hockey that will win them more games than they lose – especially with Shesterkin's early-season return to form.

NSH

2:48

What is your take on Jost getting first line minutes over Kemell last night? I understand giving Brady Martin more favorable matchups but it is a little confusing scratching Kemell.

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