JotCast | PHR Live Chat: 5/14/25

PHR Live Chat: 5/14/25

Josh Erickson

1:54

Hi all, I'll start answering questions at the top of the hour. Sorry for last week's absence!

draft

2:00

Aside from Misa, who do you think projects as a top 6 forward in the 2025 draft ?

Josh Erickson

2:01

I think Caleb Desnoyers, Anton Frondell, Porter Martone, and Jake O'Brien are all there. Martone is the most boom-or-bust of the group.

Hawk Fan in FL

2:01

The Chicago coaching search candidate list is on lockdown. Who are they targeting?

Josh Erickson

2:02

You're absolutely right on the first part, so I don't have much of an answer for you on the second. I do think they were betting on David Carle to some degree and had to reset when he turned down their offer and signed a new deal to return to Denver.

Commodore

2:03

Who is your prediction to be the next Kraken head coach?

Josh Erickson

2:06

They wanted Tocchet, didn't get him. Mike Sullivan was the only Tier 1A coach available this summer, Tocchet was more Tier 1B. That tells me they're looking for coaches whose track record dictates they probably deserve another chance rather than worrying about the perfect fit (something they feel they did with Bylsma). I would imagine Peter Laviolette and Jay Woodcroft are their ideal names as a result.

Hawk Fan in FL

2:07

Does Chicago make trades pre-draft or do they maintain the tradition of trades at the draft (and maybe a day or two before?)

Josh Erickson

2:08

Hard to say. Aside from normal draft-day pick swaps, I think it'll be a quieter trade market for Chicago than in the past few years. They're looking to weaponize their cap space to add in free agency now. If they still have space to take on bad contracts, they may do so later in the summer, but they won't blow it early. One move I could see them making that makes a lot of sense: shopping Philipp Kurashev's signing rights. Pending RFA, I really don't think they're qualifying him, would be smart to see if they can recoup an asset for him.

Martone

2:08

How big a problem do you think Martone's skating is as far as transitioning to the pros ? Would you classify his skating as average or below average ?

Josh Erickson

2:10

Average, and not a legitimate concern considering the improvement he's demonstrated in that area throughout the year. Even if he's not where he needs to be for a roster spot a year or so from now, that at least tells teams that he's coachable.

Chris Kreider

2:10

Is my 2025-26 team still most likely to be the Rangers? If not, which teams are the most likely landing spots? What would a return even look like, both with and without salary retention?

Josh Erickson

2:14

No, I think there are a few good landing spots for him. Drury's still in charge. Nothing tells me his willingness to move him back in November has changed. He's still shopping him. I'm not sure he'll move before free agency unless a team gets the sense they won't be able to get who they want to get and will circle back to him as a Plan B. I wonder about the Red Wings if they dump Tarasenko somewhere else and insert Kreider into a middle-six role. Wild and Bruins make sense too. I know the Mammoth want some size. I don't think he'll require much salary retention. With the season he's had... I'm not sure about a first in return. Maybe two second-round picks or equivalent assets.

DStars

2:14

Who would be your Conn Smythe top 3 so far and your Stanley cup favorite from each conference? Thanks Josh!

Josh Erickson

2:17

I'd have a hard time hearing arguments for someone more Conn Smythe-worthy so far than Rantanen, McDavid, or Freddy Andersen. The latter has been particularly impressive for the Hurricanes given how little he's played over the past two regular seasons. Far and away the best goaltender in the playoffs so far. Really trending toward a Hurricanes/Stars Cup Final, aren't we?

Soderstrom

2:17

Brynas lost in the SHL finals a while ago. Have you heard any recent rumors or news on whether Victor Soderstrom is coming back to the NHL ? Would the fact that his teammate d man is coming over to the NHL affect his situation ?

Josh Erickson

2:18

Nothing new since their elimination. I imagine it's something both parties are still interested in. Since the other player you're talking about signed with the Lightning, I can't imagine that has any bearing.

Pete

2:18

Who do you think is likely to be the new Isles GM? Any chance John Cooper as GM could be made an offer he could not refuse. Will Roy be back as coach?

Josh Erickson

2:20

Given who they've been heavily linked to so far, I think Marc Bergevin is the most likely choice. I can't imagine he's happy about being passed over in Los Angeles and still wants another shot at being a GM. There's probably a less than zero chance of that Cooper move, considering both he and the Bolts reaffirmed at their end-of-season availability that he'll be back with the club next season. If it's Bergevin in charge, I imagine Roy is retained.

Mammoth

2:20

In the upcoming draft, should the Mammoth keep or trade the 4th overall and if trade is the decision who should Utah look to obtain?

Josh Erickson

2:21

I'd consider moving it unless Anton Frondell is still there. Fits the bill of what they need and will allow them to run Cooley-Frondell-Hayton down the middle in short order for some of the best center depth in the league.

Sundin13

2:23

If Toronto gets bounced somewhat early yet again, would it not be reasonable to deduct that this group just isn’t Cup winning material and that some tougher decisions should be made this summer? Retaining Marner on a big contract and also bringing back Tavares would seem insane given that they just can’t advance far in the playoffs.

Josh Erickson

2:25

Regardless of whether they win or not, I think it's unwise to believe both players will be back. Knies appears to be priority No. 1 internally given his age – he, theoretically, extends their championship window the most. Whether Toronto believes Marner is more valuable because of his MVP-level play this season or prefers retaining Tavares short-term because of the few suitable replacements on the market this summer remains to be seen.

moving up

2:26

After dropping two slots, do you think the Flyers would be interested in moving back to #4 or even #3 by packaging their #6 with one of their later 1st round picks ?

Josh Erickson

2:30

It's worth exploring, and I could see the Blackhawks and Mammoth both being willing to make those trades. There's not a significant drop off between those picks in this class and I wonder if, based on where Chicago and Utah are in their rebuilds, would prefer quantity over having the edge in pick order.

Mike dickinson

2:30

Dallas loves their end of the trade. We Hurricanes fans love our end of the trade. How do Colorado and Chicago view how they made out in the Rantanen Merry go round?

Josh Erickson

2:32

I don't think the Blackhawks are still giving it any thought. I'm not sure what kind of awesome PR the Avalanche have with their fans to convince them it was the right decision to move Rantanen for what they got. That still seems to be the prevailing opinion online (obviously not the best representative sample, but still). I'd be having nightmares. Giving up the better player in a trade almost never works out, no matter how many quality assets you're recouping.

Richard Rakell

2:33

If traded, where would the likeliest destinations look like? How about the return? Any teams in particular you have in mind that would greatly benefit?

Josh Erickson

2:35

If the Penguins hold firm at their deadline asking price, I don't see anyone biting on Rakell. He's been too inconsistent from year to year in the past for a team to be confident he can hit 70 points again. His career average is 24 goals and 53 points per 82 games. That's probably attainable for a few more years. He's 32 years old. No one will part ways with two first-round picks for that. They may get one, but at that point, it appears the Penguins see more value in retaining him for now.

Donato

2:35

What is the maximum term you would offer Donato at his age (29) and coming off a career year ?

Josh Erickson

2:37

No more than four years. I could see him getting something in the four-year, $3.5MM AAV range. More than that would surprise me, at least on the open market.

joey s

2:37

what happens in colorado this offseason? anything major?

Josh Erickson

2:39

Doubt it. With Landeskog (hopefully) back for the regular season as well, they don't have a ton of maneuverability. They're likely scared off from trading for the sake of trading. They enter the summer with $8.7MM in cap space to fill five roster spots. Only RFA is Sam Malinski, who they like and will presumably keep in a bottom-pairing role.

teammates

2:39

Aside from his talent, does the fact that Misa was teammates with SJ prospect Chernyshov at Saginaw affect the Sharks' decision with the #2 pick ?

Josh Erickson

2:41

Maybe? I don't think that has much impact in reality, though. They're taking whichever one of Schaefer or Misa is there for them. If the Islanders don't select either, then it gets interesting... would imagine they still lean Schaefer considering the present state of their blue line. I know they have Dickinson and Cagnoni on the way, but it's more than just a couple of pieces away from being a legitimate defense corps.

Who's Fabio?

2:43

Is there any reason to think the US's trade war might cause the salary cap to rise by less for next season due to a drop in NHL revenue?

Josh Erickson

2:43

No. The salary cap figure for 2025-26 is set in stone at $95.5MM. That won't be changed. The 2026-27 and 2027-28 figures that were released ($104MM and $113.5MM, respectively) were projections, so those might be susceptible.

Sabres

2:47

Any chance the Blues and Sabres come together on a Bowen Byram trade? If so, what do you think is a realistic deal?

Josh Erickson

2:49

I can see something revolving around Byram and Jordan Kyrou. I think that would be fairly close to even value. Not a straight up one-for-one, but some other minor assets in there.

Hawk Fan in FL

2:51

Any truth to the Hawks/Sabres blockbuster? Seems super lopsided in Chicago's favor

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