JotCast | PHR Live Chat: 7/23/25

PHR Live Chat: 7/23/25

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Josh Erickson

1:45

Hi everyone, start submitting your questions. I'll begin answering at the top of the hour.

LGD

2:00

Feels like a ton more NHLers are signing overseas. Does it just appear to be the case?

Josh Erickson

2:01

Eh... maybe a little bit of an uptick, but not a significant one. If you're basing that on PHR's article volume, we've been a little more on the ball with international signings this year than in offseasons past, so that may have something to do with it. We haven't seen any really notable offseason jumps that I can remember aside from Tomas Tatar to Switzerland a while ago and Daniel Sprong to the KHL today, if you even want to call that notable. The AHL->KHL/SHL/ICEHL/NL/Liiga exodus has been on par with its usual rate, even if those players were on NHL deals.

wpgjets

2:01

how much smoke is there to the kyle connor to Detroit next offseason rumors? Likelihood ofhim resigning with the jets? and contract projection?

Josh Erickson

2:04

Not really any legitimate smoke on Connor to Detroit. I get he's a Michigan guy, but here are two points I'd make:

The Jets have largely been successful in retaining UFAs aside from Ehlers, who signaled he wanted something different a year-plus in advance. Connor hasn't done that, and the Jets have made public that his extension is priority No. 1 this summer.
Need I point toward Steve Yzerman's record in free agency while GM of Detroit?

As for what that extension will look like, I would anticipate they will go for the max term. $12MM annually is the lowest I could see, probably more like $12.5MM.

DStars

2:04

Would u put the Canadians blue line top 5 in the league with the huge addition of Dobson? and if Bolduc is on the 2nd line wing could you see 75-80 points for him this year? He had a decent sample size last year

Josh Erickson

2:08

Above average? Absolutely. Top five? They're simply too unproven, and I do worry about the fit of Dobson/Hutson/Matheson on the same six-man unit. That's a lot of guys who make their living with point production on the back end, and there usually simply isn't that much to go around. The only reason I think it makes sense not to shop Matheson is if the two sides are both content for him to take a smaller role moving forward and have already had that discussion. Regardless, I would expect Matheson's value/impact to drop off significantly this season as a result.

I also don't think Bolduc has the run support for that kind of production. You have to remember the Canadiens are still without a true/proven second-line center. I think ~45-50 points is where I'd peg Bolduc. I do think his ceiling could be in that 70-point range long-term in the right situation, but those are pretty unrealistic expectations out of the gate.

arb

2:08

Chicago signed a 22yr old Russian G and a local OHL grad G Flores who both will be in the minors. Do you think Soderblom is being traded after his hearing or salary settlement instead of Brossoit ?

Josh Erickson

2:11

Owen Flores was signed by Rockford, not the Blackhawks themselves. I do not anticipate he'll be on the IceHogs' roster to start the season, and I don't think they do either. He's injury insurance in case they need it but will start the season with the ECHL's Indy Fuel, with either Mitchell Weeks (AHL-contracted) or Berezhnoy, who Chicago did get signed to an ELC as you mentioned.

Trading Soderblom in favor of Brossoit would run pretty counterintuitive to Kyle Davidson's approach. I don't see it, and nothing has led me to believe that will be the case. I still think they'll either carry three goalies on the NHL or AHL roster – assuming Brossoit is healthy – as they look to get him some starts and rehab his value for a trade.

swap

2:12

Does a trade of Chinakov for Reichel as a change of scenery swap make sense for either team ? They were drafted a few slots apart in the 2020 1st round.

Josh Erickson

2:13

I could see it. The Blackhawks likely need to add a little bit for that to happen based on what each player's done in the NHL thus far. I'm not sure if Columbus is trying to leverage Chinakhov into more of a veteran piece. That might be their preference, but if they can't find any packages to their liking, I could see a more traditional change-of-scenery swap.

StlBlues26 fka StlBlues25

2:14

How do you see the final season of McDavid’s contract playing out this year? Does EDM get an extension done, or is McDavid willing to find a different market that provides him a better Cup opportunity in the future?

Josh Erickson

2:15

I still think it's about 90/10 that McDavid extends. Yes, he wants to see how things play out. So did Draisaitl – remember how everyone was drawing up mocks to send him to Boston or San Jose? He ended up signing his extension at the beginning of September. I would be a little surprised if McDavid signed that soon, too, but I don't think the risk of him leaving is as high as some think – not yet, at least.

Kaapo Kakko

2:15

Thoughts on his new deal with the Kraken?

Josh Erickson

2:16

That's an awesome deal for a Kraken team that has some iffy-value contracts on the books. He produced at a 50-point pace for Seattle after the trade, that's great value for ~$4.5MM against the cap in this day and age.

Rob

2:17

What’s your most feasible return if Verbeek trades McTavish?

Josh Erickson

2:19

I don't see a scenario in which the Ducks go for futures. That hasn't been their M.O. for a bit now, and they've been clear about contending for a playoff spot this season. Dumping McTavish for assets that won't immediately materialize doesn't fit that bill, and Verbeek is hard-headed enough that he won't do it just to do it. He'll force McTavish's hand if it gets to that point. If the Ducks are interested in Marco Rossi, I could see the Wild adding significant value on top of that to land McTavish's rights. I also wonder if there's desire from Pittsburgh there and the Ducks can add another vet on the wing in Rakell or Rust; that certainly fits their recent pattern.

draft

2:20

How much better/deeper is the 2026 draft projected to be than 2025 ? Will it only affect the top few rounds or will there be better players in the later rounds even if just non-nhl level prospects ?

Josh Erickson

2:21

It's deep. Very deep. Prospect quality from Round 3 onward varies extremely little from class to class, but I'd posit a pick in the 25-32 range in the 2026 class was worth a pick in the 15-20 range in 2025.

DStars

2:21

Exit Burns and Orlov, and adding Ehlers and Miller how much closer to the SCF do you think the Canes are? I feel like they’re still missing a legit 2C

Josh Erickson

2:24

They are, absolutely. I don't think anything happens until they address it. Unless they're closer on trade options that I'm aware of, I'm really surprised they haven't circled back on Jack Roslovic. He's at least a higher-ceiling offensive option than Jesperi Kotkaniemi in that role.

Burns had a tough regular season, but there's some recency bias with Orlov. He was still crushing his limited minutes in the RS but had that visibly disappointing postseason. I'm finding it really, really hard to predict how K'Andre Miller pans out there. Carolina always tends to bring the best out of defensemen, so there's certainly optimism, but I still think Alexander Nikishin is the higher-impact addition. I wonder how much he challenges Slavin for the "No. 1" perception by season's end.

King Duck

2:27

Do you see the ducks standing pat until the season begins or possibly swinging a trade? What trade targets to you think they might have and what would they have to give up for Jason Robertson?

Josh Erickson

2:29

I mean, McTavish is the starting point if Dallas decides they're not willing to pay Robertson what he wants on an extension. That might require Tristan Luneau in there, too. Outside of navigating the McTavish situation, I think the Ducks are done.

Eddie Mio

2:29

what moves do the ranger's need to address?

Josh Erickson

2:30

To somehow find a more dynamic lefty for their second pairing. Borgen-Soucy won't cut it, and they're short on lefties organizationally anyway.

Aside from that, I actually think their forward group is fine, but things definitely have to go right for a lot of people (Berard, Trocheck, Zibanejad, particularly). I applaud them for leaning into their youth up front, at least.

Rob

2:30

Does Kuznetsov get an NHL contract? With who and how much?

Josh Erickson

2:31

He might need to wait until PTO season, but I imagine someone gives him league-min (which it appears he's willing to take). Vancouver needs centers!

RocktheRed

2:31

Do the Caps have any more moves this offseason?

Josh Erickson

2:32

I don't think so. With having more clarity now that Sonny Milano will be ready for camp, that takes some pressure off trying to acquire another depth forward. I think they're content to let the room cook and re-examine their needs in November or December.

Rob

2:32

McTavish for Rossi, Spacek and 2026 4th round pick. Who says no? Verbeek or Guerin.

Josh Erickson

2:32

Verbeek. I don't think that's enough to bridge the gap.

Carson

2:32

What kind of return would Waddell be looking for to acquire Chinahkov’s services?

Josh Erickson

2:34

I wonder if he might actually add to Chinakhov to try and land a higher-impact piece. Unfortunately, the top wingers available are from a divisional rival – the Penguins – and I don't think Kyle Dubas would be very happy to send either Rickard Rakell or Bryan Rust somewhere in the division. Now, if Nashville is seriously considering moving Jonathan Marchessault... Chinakhov could actually be a decent starter to that package.

If not, I anticipate you're looking at a one-for-one (Nicholas Robertson, potentially?)

StlBlues26 fka StlBlues25

2:34

Aside from the expanded schedule, are there any noteworthy rule changes for the coming season?

Josh Erickson

2:35

No, and the schedule only increases to 84 games for 2026-27, not this coming season. Everything litigated in the new CBA/MOU will not take effect until 9/15/26.

There are literally no rule changes from last season, not just referring to noteworthy ones.

Surfer

2:38

The recent smoke around the McTavish contract makes one wonder if there is actually fire. What’s really going on?

Josh Erickson

2:41

I think the Ducks' preference is to keep him. McTavish is hesitant about committing long-term out of fear that his usage won't be what he wants it to be amid their other additions, which is his right. I still think a bridge deal is the most probable outcome – there's obviously no incentive for McTavish to sign long-term at this stage – but Verbeek is probably enjoying watching his trade value rise as offers come in, too. I'd handicap this one at probably 65/35 in terms of re-sign or trade.

puck_stopper29

2:41

The consensus is that the Penguins will be also-rans again this season. How much stock do you put into the thought of Sullivan's departure actually making a new dawn for the players, especially the legacy core such as Malkin and Letang?

Josh Erickson

2:43

Almost zero. It was never a systems issue with either player – I'd argue Sullivan is actually responsible for extending both's effectiveness later into their careers than some would have expected. It's simply health/age-related decline for those guys, nothing else to it. I don't think their coaching change affects Malkin's and Letang's trajectories in the slightest, at least in a positive way. I could actually see it being more negative for Letang, as they've made clear they want to reduce his minutes if possible to try and squeeze more life out of his contract.

AAZ

2:43

Zegras or Michcov pulls the MI first?

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