JotCast | PHR Live Chat: 11/5/25

PHR Live Chat: 11/5/25

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Josh Erickson

1:59

Hi all, I'm going to get started a few seconds early here.

whl

1:59

Did you have behm and laffreniere of kamloops rated as third rounders in your own draft list or had either of them in the second ?

Josh Erickson

2:02

I actually had Nathan Behm in my very late first. I want to say #31, off the top of my head. I thought it was great work from the Blackhawks to get him where they did at 66th. Obviously, he's making them look smart and should be set here to star as a freshman at Arizona State next year. I had Tommy Lafrenière closer to where the Oilers got him in the 80s. Great start offensively for both them and for J.P. Hurlbert, who's well on his way to being a top 15 pick this year.

Jaxteller

2:02

Based on what you've seen so far do you think both Bedard and Nazar stick at center long term?

Josh Erickson

2:05

I do. This is the best version of Bedard that we've seen. He's got a nice five-game point streak rolling here, he's on pace for 101 points, and he's averaging over 21 minutes per night. His faceoff work is much better as well at 46.6%, although that always tends to come along with young centers. This is with André Burakovsky and Ryan Greene as his most common linemates at even strength. That's not the most inspiring support, although it's cool to see how Burakovsky is having a nice little bounce back here.

That Nazar-Teräväinen duo has worked well with other names rotating in on the left wing. Don't think they're breaking that up anytime soon.

Bedard

2:05

For someone who practices shooting so much shouldn’t his goal scoring%.Be better ? Is it too much perimeter shooting from lower% areas ?

Josh Erickson

2:08

He's at 14.6% this season. That's not Matthews' level or anything, but he's getting there. You're picking up on a lack of individual high-danger chances, though. At 5v5 this season, Bedard has 2.25 high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes. That's 21st in the league out of the 130 skaters with at least 200 minutes of ice time at 5v5, but still only about half of what guys like Matthews (4.50) and MacKinnon (5.86) are generating.

TheBoot

2:08

The Blues look like they're keeping Dvo up. Who is the roster limit casualty?

Josh Erickson

2:13

Nice to see Dvorsky get rewarded with a goal last night. Yeah, he's gelled well early here and was really good between Jordan Kyrou and Mathieu Joseph, although I saw they bumped him down to the 3C slot for their last game. As for the roster math, they have plenty of time to figure things out. Jake Neighbours' IR activation will be what pushes them to make a corresponding move, and he's not going to be back until next month. By that time, Dvorsky may have experienced some growing pains, resulting in a demotion back to Springfield. If not, I would anticipate Alexandre Texier landing on waivers. Only one assist in seven appearances and he's not getting a ton of ice time when he's in the lineup.

SunnyWithAChanceOfReign

2:15

What are some lines that have stood out to you that have really nice chemistry?

Josh Erickson

2:18

Aside from the usual suspects, I'll give some credit to the Predators' fourth line of Ozzy Wiesblatt, Michael McCarron, and Cole Smith before he got hurt. They're all physical presences and were spectacular defensively. Only two lines with more than 60 minutes played together have a lower xGA/60.

There's the obvious breakout answer with the Mantha-Malkin-Brazeau unit in Pittsburgh. I'm also really intrigued by what Artturi Lehkonen is doing right now with MacKinnon and Nečas. I know he's been up on Nate's wing for a while now, but this is some of the best hockey I've ever seen Colorado's top line play – yes, even including the peak Landeskog/MacKinnon/Rantanen days. They're just generating so many high-danger chances.

Unclemike1526

2:18

What is the lowdown on when the Hawks will try to trade Connor Murphy? I think they might be able to get more for him now than later. Thanks Josh

Josh Erickson

2:23

Jeez, I know his role had reduced, but I had no clue he was playing under 15 minutes per game. Even today, I think they've boxed themselves into having to retain the max to move him. That's obviously not an issue for them, just pointing it out. The bad news – he hasn't done very well in those limited minutes either. Matt Grzlecyk's been magnitudes better when paired with Artyom Levshunov than he was with Murphy. He's not laying the body nearly as much either, even considering the limited ice time.

I think you're right, but I also think we're talking about the difference between a third and a fourth/fifth-round pick if they wait until the deadline to move him. Even at half retention, he's still at $2.2MM. This early in the season, there are still 12 teams that can't afford that, so his market is reduced.

ljfranker

2:25

Florida has 5 of their 6 defensemen locked up for the next several years. Who is the new 6th guy after Petry?

Josh Erickson

2:27

Donovan Sebrango, who they claimed off waivers last month, is still young (23) and under team control through 2028-29. He's looked comfortable in his first two games as a Cat. He'll be cheaper and carries higher upside at this point in his development than most unrestricted free agent options. I would imagine the job is his to lose next season. I also wouldn't count out Dmitry Kulikov dropping to the No. 7 spot before his contract ends. He's 35 and will miss most of this season due to injury.

StlBlues26 fka StlBlues25

2:28

Which team has been the biggest surprise so far this season? Which surprise team can keep it going for an entire season and make the playoffs?

Josh Erickson

2:31

The cliché answer is Pittsburgh. The cliché is correct, but you're not here for clichés. I'll give you an interesting answer – the Jets. I know there isn't much drama in seeing a President's Trophy winner from the previous season still kicking around near the top of the league. Still, considering the bodies they lost over the summer and the injuries to Adam Lowry, Cole Perfetti, and Dylan Samberg, the fact that they remain third in the league despite all that is quite impressive.

In terms of the teams that didn't make the playoffs last season but are making legitimate pushes early on here, the Mammoth are in their own category... and they may still finish as a wild card while being better than the second-place team in the Pacific. That Central Division is terrifying.

Dave h.

2:31

Do the wild make any trade moves soon.?

Josh Erickson

2:35

If a move is out there, they'll make it. I never bought into the talk that there would be more early-season activity this year, aside from the clear change-of-scenery moves, like Lukas Reichel's. It's out there that Minnesota wants an impact middle-six forward. Artemi Panarin would be a nice story to play with Kaprizov, but they can't pull that off until they've accumulated cap space later in the season. If they believe that's a realistic possibility, I imagine they may hold off on making stopgap moves now to maintain as much cap space as possible.

The Kraken are coming back down to Earth. I wonder about them as a trade partner for the Wild involving someone like Jaden Schwartz or Mason Marchment.

Dave

2:35

As the Rangers don't look like serious contenders this year what would a Canes trade for Panarin likely entail?

Josh Erickson

2:39

In hindsight, they should have moved him over the summer. Now, the team is in free fall, and Panarin is on a six-game pointless streak. Four of his seven points this season came in one game. Retention doesn't hold a ton of trade value since he's a pending UFA. I think it could be something as simple as Carolina's 2026 first-round pick and one decent prospect, maybe someone like Felix Unger Sörum, if Panarin doesn't return to a point-per-game pace in short order.

VGK all day

2:39

Our 3rd line seems a little stagnant. Would a winger like Bunting or N. Robinson be a good addition? It'd have to be closer to the deadline with obvious cap issues.

Josh Erickson

2:43

I'm with you, I haven't liked that Saad-Karlsson-Smith unit at all. Even ignoring the combined one goal and four points from Saad and Smith, they've been pretty bad defensively. Unfortunately, both of them have no-trade clauses. Of course, Vegas can still waive them, but it still complicates a move somewhat. Nick Robertson would be ideal, but I don't see what Vegas has to offer that the Leafs want aside from Akira Schmid. Nashville has made more lateral moves recently and would be a more realistic trade partner re: Bunting.

ChuckysMustache

2:44

What is the goal for the Caps because Ovi is looking less and less like a core player for them? Only 2 goals and 7 points isn't great. Nobody seems to really be stepping up too. Do they make a swing for Robo or Breadman?

Josh Erickson

2:45

I know it's (most likely) Ovechkin's final season, but long-term, this isn't a good season to go all-in. They still have so many names on the way like Cristall, Miroshnichenko, Hutson, Parascak, etc. With Carlson on the way out soon, too, they need the stream of younger players to keep coming. They'll still be in a really good position in 2-3 years if they just stay the course.

Sam

2:48

What is wrong with the Blues so far?

Josh Erickson

2:49

Goaltending. Short and sweet. They're middling offensively, but did anyone expect that group to be top 10 in goals or anything? They were 13th last year and shot above average, so some regression was to be expected. They're still generating chances. A lot of one-goal losses where either Binnington or Hofer allowed more than one goal above expected.

Bruins

2:50

How do you feel about playoff chances for BOS?🐻

Josh Erickson

2:52

Not good! It's a wide-open field so far, yeah, but there are 15 other teams in the Eastern Conference I'd pick over them. They've strayed so far from their identity defensively and are putting Swayman and Korpisalo in really tough spots.

Their record is deceiving, in my view. For a team that was expected to have trouble scoring, they're finishing at over 12%. That will come down and their record will as well.

Jmoore

2:53

The Sharks clearly have lots of offensive firepower. How can they improve their overall defensive game while not backtracking too much on the rebuild?

Josh Erickson

2:56

They can start by not signing Nick Leddy and John Klingberg in free agency, haha. It's a personnel issue. Defensive defensemen take longer to develop and are always the last ones to cross the bridge as a team exits their teardown. I will say their defense pool isn't overly deep. They'll need to make a few targeted free agent signings and will likely spring on a trade for someone in the next year or two. Looking at next year's free agent class, I wonder if they pursue Ryan McDonagh as a one- or two-year stopgap.

Real Talk

2:56

re: Matty Beniers…

Josh Erickson

2:58

This is more the Beniers most expected to see. His offensive ceiling was always the concern, and that's proved to have some validity. There's a risk that he turns out as Seattle's David Legwand – fine top-six piece, responsible, can put up moderate point totals and munch minutes. I think he's a tier above that, but my opinion still stands that 2nd overall was a reach. Eight points in 12 games is a nice start, though, the possession numbers are there, and he's playing nearly 20 minutes per game.

DStars

2:58

in the cut throat world of nhl coaching how does Andrew Brunette still employed ? Seems possible like Nashville is gonna have a second wasted season in a row

Josh Erickson

2:59

That is a spectacular question and one that I do not have an answer for.

Alright folks, that's the hour here. Thanks for the great questions today!

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