JotCast | PHR Live Chat: 10/30/24

PHR Live Chat: 10/30/24

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Josh Erickson

1:56

Hi everyone! I'll get started at the top of the hour.

Dan

2:00

What team and/or player has surprised you the most so far this season?

Josh Erickson

2:03

I'll go with a team first. Without question, it's the Capitals. They've controlled 58.4% of expected goals at 5-on-5 this season (MoneyPuck). That's second-best in the league behind Carolina – when are the Canes not at the top?? Last season, Washington only controlled 47.4% – 25th out of 32 teams. That's a meteoric improvement in team play. In terms of trying to find individual suspects helping out, it's hard not to look at Pierre-Luc Dubois. The offensive totals aren't jumping off the page yet (1-4--5 in 8 GP), but his line with McMichael and Wilson has been fantastic at controlling play.

2:04

Rightfully so, it's translated into a 6-2-0 start. They're playing much better hockey than last year's truly fluke playoff appearance. I'd say their goaltending's been average at best – that record reflects the play of the team in front of Lindgren/Thompson.

2:06

For a player, I'll give some love to Jake Walman. He's absolutely dominating out there on the Sharks blue line with no help. Eight points in 11 games, +2 rating on a team with a -18 goal differential, leading them in ATOI, getting involved physically. What's not to like there? What a whiff by Yzerman. Imagine that type of play on Detroit's blue line right now.

LGD

2:06

Still early in the season but can we finally give Hischier some love? Guy is doing it all for this team and it’s not against scrubs. Blew my mind people had a second year player (Bedard) ahead of him as a top center

Josh Erickson

2:09

Yeah, I'm not sure where the Bedard > Hischier takes come from (at least right now). The goal-scoring from Nico will cool down soon, of course – he's shooting at 21.4%. But he was nearly a point-per-game player two years ago and should probably hover around there again this season. He was second in Selke voting in 2023 for a reason. Leading them in scoring and taking the reins with J. Hughes not quite looking himself to start the year. Let's give him his flowers, I'm all for it.

Sharks

2:09

can Granlund get us a 1st round pick at the deadline? Anyone else get us some value?

Josh Erickson

2:10

If he keeps playing at a 97-point pace, I'm quite sure he will. I wouldn't expect much else, given how things went the last time someone gave up a pick for Granlund at the trade deadline (looking at you, Penguins), but I'm glad to see him rediscover his confidence with the opportunity there in SJ with Celebrini and Couture out.

2:14

His two-way play seems improved to me from last season, too. I've tried to get eyes on a few Sharks games. I'm liking what I'm seeing from him. But obviously, there's not a huge reason to keep him around once Celebrini is back given he's in his 30s.

In regards to the other pending UFAs... I'm not a Luke Kunin guy, personally. I do think there will be a fair amount of interest in Nico Sturm, and I'm mildly surprised he didn't get moved last deadline with term left on an affordable contract. I have to imagine a goalie is dealt too to get Askarov in the NHL for the stretch run. Blackwood and Vanecek are both pending UFAs. Too early for me to gauge interest re: Cody Ceci or Jan Rutta.

Darrell73

2:14

Who do you think could be the first coaches possibly fired and who do you think would get a chance either a veteran coach or a first timer and who do you think is going to have a bounce back year player or players

Josh Erickson

2:16

I'd say Mike Sullivan, but if he's not gone by now, I'm not sure when he'll ever be canned. Absolutely nothing has gone right for the Penguins. I don't think they're quite as bad as their record indicates, but they're certainly not playing like a playoff team. Derek Lalonde in Detroit and Jim Montgomery in Boston would be my other two – again, like Sullivan, they're not the usual "our goalie sucks but we can't move him so we're firing the coach" moves you normally see in November. They're simply playing underwhelming hockey.

UncleMike1525

2:16

Luke Richardson still has the Hawks in the hey we competed but lost again phase. At some point they're going to need to turn those into wins instead of empty net losses. Is he the right guy for the job? Moral victories are moot at this point IMO. Thoughts? I can't watch the games anymore because their cheap TV station doesn't reach me anymore. Thanks!

Josh Erickson

2:19

Yeah, I feel for you. I'm not in the Chicago viewing area, but I've kept up with the CHSN debacle. Hoping it gets resolved soon. And no, I wouldn't be considering moving on from Richardson at this point in time. I get the record's not there just yet (3-6-1 thru 10 GP), but the eye test tells me they're a legitimately improved team. Finishing has been an issue, IMO. Shooting 1.4% below league average at 5-on-5. But they're controlling play much better than last season and their special teams are average. The way they're playing should lead to more wins in the next couple of months.

Pawtucket

2:20

Does Mark Stone still fake an injury this year if he is leading the league in scoring?
But seriously...where did this come from?

Josh Erickson

2:21

Linemate Ivan Barbashev shooting at 35% has a lot to do with Stone's assist total, I imagine.

2:22

Eichel's been the real driver of that line, in my opinion. But 25 shots on goal on 50 attempts is a pretty rough ratio for a forward. He's got to find a way to get more pucks through to the netminder. But life is good in Vegas and that power play has been lethal at 33%.

Elwood

2:24

If the Avs turn to external options for goaltender who do you see at the top of the list?

Josh Erickson

2:25

I don't think they're in any hurry to make another goaltending move after claiming Kähkönen. They'll start him tonight and see what they have. And honestly, with the way Annunen has played, I'd be fine rolling him for 40+ games this season. A .905 SV% behind a team dealing with that many injuries is just fine, and the Avs honestly don't need anything much higher than that with how well they control the puck when healthy.

2:26

I could see somebody like James Reimer out of Anaheim with Gibson returning, but they don't have the roster or financial flexibility to make a big splash. Georgiev is a sunk cost, they'd have to pay extra to move him in any trade. Best bet is to let the young, cheap option give you as much value as possible and hope Kähkönen can be a decent tandem option until Georgiev gets his feet back under him (if that happens at all).

2:27

Do you see the blues making any trades this season? It seems they have a logjam at f and some good depth in other positions to trade from, but lack star power

Josh Erickson

2:29

Doug Armstrong is certainly getting bolder, and I applaud that. I get where you're coming from, but the good depth you're referring to isn't enough to land star-power via trade on its own. They'd need to attach other assets to swing for the type of talent you're hoping, and I'm not sure they're far enough along in their retool to the point where that makes sense. I'd like to see guys like Dvorský and Snuggerud get some NHL games before making that type of move.

CapsFanInNC

2:30

whoops hit send too quickly! Two parter - ready to buy the Caps hot start as legit? And can we legitimately assume that Rempe was called back up prior to the Caps/Rags game simply for retribution on injuring TVR and Oshie in the playoffs last year? Seems like Rags brass would rather have Rempe take a whooping than Big Mac Sauce and others taking it out on someone else on the roster.

Josh Erickson

2:32

I am ready to buy the start as legit, for most of the reasons I said earlier. I'm not buying that Rempe theory, though. The demotion was solely to see how he'd do in extended ice time for a game in Hartford (1C, PP1, PK1). He passed their test and was back up before their next game. Why Laviolette isn't giving him more ice time (or telling him to rein in the punches) I'm not sure, but the tools are there for him to be a legitimately effective player.

Medic Mke

2:32

Biggest surprise of the season so far?

Josh Erickson

2:34

Answered a similar question earlier. I'll go halfway between team and individual player and pick a forward line.

Not sure there's another answer there except for Columbus' unit of Marchenko, Monahan and Chinakhov. What a start for those three. They're absolutely crushing opponents at even strength, controlling 74.1% of expected goals. The point totals are there too, especially for Marchenko, who leads them in scoring with 4-7--11 in 8 GP.

Medic Mke

2:38

Who is the biggest name you could see being traded this season (and where do you think they end up)?

Josh Erickson

2:41

Unsurprisingly, things are collapsing quickly for the Flames. I'd look there, especially Rasmus Andersson and Nazem Kadri. I'd argue Andersson is the more impactful player. Hard to imagine the two teams engaging, but the Oilers are obviously the best fit as a partner for Darnell Nurse. Florida should be in the mix there, too – not sure how much longer a second pair of Niko Mikkola and Dmitry Kulikov can hold up.

Three Goal Monty

2:41

How about that Montour hat trick last night! Thus far, do you think he's had the biggest overall impact out of the free agents who switched teams this past offseason?

Josh Erickson

2:43

Yeah, he's pretty much been Seattle's best player early on with Dunn on the shelf. Still averaging around 24 minutes per night, which was a concern for me when he signed. Thought the offensive totals might drop off with Dunn also there, but obviously that hasn't been a factor in the early going. In terms of UFA signings (not trade acquisitions), I would concur. If we're including trade pickups, I'd give that edge to Walman.

slotting

2:43

Who should be he second line center in Chicago until Nazar is ready ?

Josh Erickson

2:44

Unleash Lukas Reichel! He looks refreshed to me. His struggles in the faceoff dot will remain a concern, but I'd like to at least see him get another look.

2:45

If not that, Jason Dickinson is a perfectly fine option for a team in Chicago's position.

FAs

2:45

Will Tyler Johnson and Kevin Shattenkirk sign NHL contracts during the regular season?

Josh Erickson

2:46

I'd expect so. Surprised Edmonton hasn't picked up Shattenkirk at least as an option to have on hand. Maybe he's holding out for a place where he'll get more playing time, but I doubt it will come. Wondered about LA for him too with Doughty out. Utah as well, especially since there's no acquisition cost, but looks like they want a more defensively responsible guy in Määttä to help aid the Durzi/Marino wound.

2:47

But if Johnson doesn't have a deal with the Bruins by this time next week, especially with the way they've played to start the season, I'd be surprised.

Tommy Hawk

2:48

Thoughts on Tyler Bertuzzi's slow (nonexistent?) start with the Hawks? Do you expect him to bounce back/get up to speed or are the Hawks gonna regret that contract?

Josh Erickson

2:50

Oh, woof. That hadn't caught my eye. Yeah, nonexistent would be the better word there. More goals should come – he's shooting at 9.5% and his career average is 13.8%. But he really hasn't been the physical factor most Hawks fans expected, I imagine. The entire team is struggling to finish right now, so as that turns around, I think he'll start raking in some assists. I wouldn't be too concerned about any contract just 10 games in, but it's certainly something to keep an eye on.

draft

2:50

Projecting ahead to the 2025 draft, Martone or Misa could overtake Hagens as the #1 overall pick where he is not a consensus #1 as was Celebrini ?

Josh Erickson

2:52

Teams will gravitate toward the player who's facing tougher competition, and that's Hagens in the NCAA. The burden of proof is on the OHL kids you mentioned to unseat him. He would still be my number one with six points through his first four games at Boston College, but it's impossible to ignore the start Martone and Misa are having, especially the latter. It'll be tight.

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