JotCast | PHR Live Chat: 11/12/25

PHR Live Chat: 11/12/25

Josh Erickson

1:59

Hi all, welcome. Let's get started!

RocktheRed

1:59

Will the Caps make a trade to replace PLD? If so who do you think are some options?

Josh Erickson

2:01

The Capitals have the most unexplainably poor record in the league. They're controlling play well at 5-on-5 and have been getting goaltending that ranges from above average to spectacular. Both special teams have been subpar... that, combined with some poor finishing that should rebound soon, makes for a team lurking around .500.

2:02

They're coming off a division title in what could be Ovechkin's last season. I don't imagine they'll sit on their laurels, especially with the analytics pointing to a winning streak here soon. Since Dubois isn't done for the year, I wouldn't anticipate them to overreact and make a huge splash, thereby swallowing up their deadline cap space. With so many recall options in the minors, too, I just don't see a move until closer to March.

Quinton

2:03

Is this the year the flames sell of their veterans? Which ones are locks to go? Potential returns?

Josh Erickson

2:07

It's what I would do. I'm not sure they'll get as aggressive as some are hoping for. I would say the only lock to go is Rasmus Andersson. I know there was some brief rekindling of extension talks there, but I just can't see how the Flames justify re-signing him given their record and his continued underwhelming possession play. There's been a lot of extremes in both directions on Nazem Kadri's future. The reality is his no-trade clause isn't all that restrictive at 13 teams he can block a move to. I understand that he likes being in Calgary, but he no longer has the contractual vehicles to block moves. If the Flames find the right fit, they'll make the deal. I would watch for Blake Coleman, too. I'm surprised there hasn't been more talk about him.

DStars

2:07

Does Wyatt Johnston hit 40 goals and or 100 points this year?

Josh Erickson

2:10

Right now, he's on pace for 48 goals and 96 points. He's shooting at 19.2%. That's hotter than normal for sure but not completely unsustainable, especially since his career average is up near 16. I would say yes on 40 goals, lean no on 100, but I wouldn't count it out.

Trade

2:10

I doubt drury could get ny native musty from sj for Othmann What do you think ?

Josh Erickson

2:11

Agreed. Musty was always seen as a bit of a project. I don't think the Sharks are in any rush to move him, nor is he in any rush to be moved. They'll have some chances, they've already given guys like Ethan Cardwell a recall. With Musty at nine points through 12 AHL games in his first pro season, I would imagine the Rangers have to add to Othmann significantly to get him.

14 and counting…..

2:12

At this point with the Sabres, best just trade off what they can and do a full rebuild? That means Top to bottom GM Coaches everything? There is something completely wrong with this team and at this point what’s the point of dragging this roster out any longer?

Josh Erickson

2:14

Not if they want a viable franchise. A full teardown practically guarantees another five years without playoffs. That's how long they take in best-case scenarios (Sharks would be six if they made it this year, and they went scorched earth). Let's say the drought reaches 20. If that's the case, I wouldn't bet on the Sabres still being in Buffalo.

Now, a full front-office and coaching overhaul, I can get behind. Making as many player-for-player trades as they can to see what sticks, sure. But they've simply been in the hole too long to stop digging entirely.

ATX KING

2:15

Kings are playing very inconsistent, will Holland panic and make his usual bad trade sooner or later?

Josh Erickson

2:17

To be fair, the Kings have fared better than I thought they would, especially without Kopitar. Only five regulation losses in 17 games is a pretty great place to be, especially in a weak division where a winning streak turns things around fast. I don't think a panic move is on the horizon. Dumoulin and Ceci have been unmitigated disasters as expected, but the rest of the blue line has gelled well. They're getting star-level output from Kempe. I wouldn't rule out something closer to the Olympic break but for now, I don't sense anything is imminent.

Roxanne Rodriguez

2:18

After the last loss against the Kings, the recent slide of the Canadiens can't go unnoticed, do you see Martin St. Louis lasting the season?

Josh Erickson

2:19

His team is 10-4-2. I don't care if they've dropped three out of four... even getting points out of two of those losses. He's safe.

2:20

He's gotten 12 points in 16 games out of Alex Newhook. He was given a middle-six forward group filled with question marks and is churning out a top-10 offense. There's no justification to move on from him right now.

Jaxteller

2:20

Does it surprise you it took this long for the Hawks to pair Bedard with Bertuzzi? They dabbled a small bit last year but I always thought he would be a perfect partner for Bedard. Burky has been a pleasant surprise to round out the trio.

Josh Erickson

2:23

I don't necessarily expect that pairing to last once they get Dickinson and Nazar back in. That Burakovsky-Bedard nucleus has fared much better defensively than when they're with Colton Dach or Ryan Greene, though, so it might be worth exploring for a while. It does surprise me they weren't utilized more last year. I thought a Bertuzzi-Bedard-Teräväinen line was a slam dunk after they made those pickups. Alas, there's a reason why Luke Richardson and Anders Sörensen are no longer the head coach.

HTK

2:23

Do Celebrini and Bedard BOTH make the Olympics at this rate? They're making it awfully hard to say no, and they're playing far better than names like Point, Bennett, etc.

Josh Erickson

2:26

Yeah, there's no universe in which Sam Bennett should keep his spot on the team from the 4 Nations. He's been less involved in pretty much every department this season and has even had his ice time cut despite Barkov's absence. I think Point's lower output has been more luck-related. I wouldn't oppose keeping him there and letting Celebrini and Bedard battle it out for Bennett's spot. I wonder if they both get in, and Travis Konecny is the other odd man out.

StlBlues26 fka StlBlues25

2:26

Rumors are starting to swirl but do you see StL doing anything prior to the TDL to try to get this team back on the tracks?

Josh Erickson

2:28

Adding? No. The question is whether to sell or hold pat. If they make a rebound here, that might be enough for Armstrong to jack up the prices beyond viability on Schenn, Faulk, etc., but with how they've started, I don't think they're in "one piece away" territory from being a legitimate noisemaker in the playoffs.

Jordan Kyrou

2:29

Hi Jordan Kyrou here checking in. After being healthy scratched last week, I played a miniscule 13 minutes last night. What team's jersey will I be wearing at the end of the year and what does the trade look like?

Josh Erickson

2:31

Oh yeah, him too. He had a goal against Seattle in his return before having his minutes cut again against Calgary. I don't get what's up there. He's one short of the team lead in goals (and the leader is Jake Neighbours, who's been on IR for nine games). When you can't score, the strategy can't be to bench your top goal-scorer – both hamstringing yourself and lowering his trade value. Inconscionable.

Alan

2:32

Are the Kings just going to let Kempe walk? If they don't sign him soon will they trade him?

Josh Erickson

2:32

The fact that they've had in-season talks, after it initially seemed like the beginning of the season was a deadline, is positive news in my book. I think it gets done.

big handsome

2:34

How much longer will slavin be sidlined

Josh Erickson

2:36

It's really peculiar how quiet they've been on his status. Nothing since the IR placement in October. I don't believe he's resumed skating. I wouldn't expect anything much before Thanksgiving as a result.

DDubs30

2:37

In your opinion , are there any physical players that might be available that would make sense for the Islanders to acquire to help protect Schaefer ?

Josh Erickson

2:39

Normally, not having a ton of hits is actually a good thing – it means you have the puck more often than not. But when you're a bottom-10 possession team and a bottom-10 team in hits... yeah, more physicality is needed. I would wonder about Ryan Lomberg for their fourth line or as a 13th forward. He's a pending UFA, so the Flames wouldn't ask for much.

Blues Fan 2

2:39

The Blues are looking to make a couple of moves. Is Kyrou a big enough chip to return a big goal scorer ?

Josh Erickson

2:41

Kyrou is 27 now. The days of him being an up-and-comer are gone. Teams that have a big goal-scorer to get rid of generally want their returns in the form of high-value futures. That said, I thought the Sabres were a good fit last year and could still be a good fit now. If the Blues want to use him as the basis for a player-for-player swap and target Tage Thompson or Alex Tuch, I could see that being a viable option.

berubekong

2:44

Me Berube Kong. Oilers need superstar goalie. Superstar defenceman Evan Bouchard born on October 20th, 1999. Goaltender Samuel Ersson of the Flyers has yet to blossom but the stars say he probably will with Oilers as Bouchard has. What assets of Oilers will probably sway Flyers' GM Daniel Brière to trade Ersson's contract to Oilers?

Josh Erickson

2:46

That's precisely the problem, though. The Oilers can't afford to bank on a reclamation project. I think it's time to admit that the Flyers' goaltending woes over the past few seasons were a personnel problem, not a system or coaching issue. Dan Vladar, who has historically... not been great... has come in and posted a .917 SV% through nine starts, while Ersson has a .864 mark in five. He's not a player Edmonton has or should have on its radar.

big handsome

2:47

Will the Canes EVER fix their powerplay? Seems like they have way too much talent to have such poor results. Its the same thing every year. Get to the playoffs and other teams aren't afraid to take liberties.

Josh Erickson

2:49

Yeah, I don't really get it. They were lethal on the power play as recently as 2023-24. Svechnikov's regression certainly doesn't help. I wouldn't put too much stock in anything the Canes are doing right now with all their blue line injuries, though. Makes it hard to sort out what things will look like when the right personnel are in place (and they're still 11-5-0!).

Unclemike 1526

2:50

Hawks defense has taken a major jump forward and has other options in Rockford. Arty has taken a big leap forward. Yeah he makes dumb decisions sometimes but his skating ability makes it worthwhile along with superb Goal tending. Does Blas stick with 11-7 all year? Thanks

Josh Erickson

2:52

Don't fix something that's not broken. Teams have ridden an 11-7 format and gotten success with it... Jeff Blashill's former boss in Tampa knows a thing or two about that from the 2010s. All year is questionable – I think at some point here you have to sit Connor Murphy and let Louis Crevier tap into some more minutes with how they're trending – but I wouldn't expect a change anytime soon.

Florida Centers

2:55

Do you believe having Matthew Tkachuk back in the line up will cure all of Florida's issues. If so, who do you believe will have the most points scored at the end of the season, Lundell or Bennett?

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