JotCast | PHR Live Chat: 12/10/25

PHR Live Chat: 12/10/25

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Josh Erickson

2:00

Hi, folks, let's get going!

roster

2:01

Are you surprised Chicago didn't call up a D man to replace Rinzel so they could use a 7 man rotation if wanted after tonight (when they are using a 12-6 setup ?)

Josh Erickson

2:02

Not particularly. They made the call to go 12-6 if they weren't going to have Rinzel there and they're playing at home. They'll recall one if they need one. I do imagine they add one on Sunday or Monday, after that, they have a multi-game road swing through Eastern Canada and they'll want an extra body on the blue line.

Blues Fan

2:02

How do the Blues handle this injury plauge?

Josh Erickson

2:04

You're seeing it. They haven't seen enough this season to make any needle-moving additions. They're relying on their call-ups and making minor, familiar pickups when they feel they're stretched too thin. Expect more moves similar to the Fabbri pickup today.

Reichel

2:04

How do the Canucks expect to get anything for Reichel if he is a healthy scratch every night ? If they try to send him down, do you think he may pass through waivers now given his recent struggles ?

Josh Erickson

2:07

Yeah, I think they're stuck with him. At a $1.2MM cap hit, I think he's clearing if they waive him tomorrow.

Do I think it's worth giving him another shot with their season in the tank, though? Absolutely. They're rolling David Kämpf between Brock Boeser and Conor Garland right now with the more prodigious Elias Pettersson hurt. Drew O'Connor is their second-line center. That is confusing.

Sovietcanuckistanian

2:08

Which Bruins team is the real team? Some nights they look out of sorts (i know injuries play a role in some of this), others, they look fairly solid (almost like Sweeney knows what he's doing with his FA signings). I'd like to think they're somewhere in between, but the obvious lack of depth scoring makes me think they might be punching above thier weight.

Josh Erickson

2:13

It's not even the lack of depth scoring/unsustainable production from Morgan Geekie. You're right – I think you've got to be thrilled with what these 2025 UFA pickups, particularly Mikey Eyssimont and Tanner Jeannot have brought to the table. The problem is that they're incapable of defending. Their league ranks at 5-on-5:

CA/60: 31st
SA/60: 24th
xGA/60: 31st
SCA/60: 29th
HDCA/60: 28th

They needed to play more high-event hockey. That's why they hired Marco Sturm. There were going to be growing pains with such a drastic adjustment in systems, and that's what you're seeing. I think if they continue on their current path, they might be able to surprise some people... next season. Bright spot: Jeremy Swayman is so back.

goalie

2:15

Do you think Soderblom is definitely better than Commesso as a backup goalie or Commesso might be as good if given a real chance in the NHL ?

Josh Erickson

2:17

At some point, it's worth giving Commesso a real look. I liked Söderblom's start to the season, but he's cooled off in a big way. I get his last few games haven't coincided with defensive masterclasses from the Hawks, but when you've allowed nine, four, and seven goals in your last three starts, that's not all on the defense.

If they have the roster flexibility to do so, I'd consider giving Commesso a few spot starts. Söderblom is cheap and might have *some* trade value.

Monty

2:17

Two very high paid and respected Dmen that I have always been underwhelmed by are Letang and Bouchard. To me, too offense-only to be considered to be great and justify their contracts. And without Crosby/Malkin and McDavid/Draisaitl there offensive stats would be much less impressive too. Thoughts?

Josh Erickson

2:20

I hear that argument somewhat for Letang, not so much for Bouchard. The point of hockey is to score more goals than the other team. If you're playing a major role in doing that, I don't care if you're playing high-event or low-event hockey as long as it's winning hockey. With how poorly the Oilers' forward depth has been perennially constructed, I don't think you want to know where they're at without Bouchard.

2:21

As for Letang, he was making $7.25MM throughout his prime. That's $10MM on the money if his previous extension was signed today. I don't think that was particularly gaudy. As for his current deal, there's not a soul outside of Pittsburgh who didn't think it would age poorly.

DStars

2:21

Where would you rank Schaefer right now amongst all defenders in the league, and in 2-3 years where will he rank?

Josh Erickson

2:26

Right now, he's playing like a top 10 defenseman. That's unconscionable for an 18-year-old, let alone one who missed more than half his draft year. Nothing about his advanced metrics suggests he's punching too far above his weight, either. I would like to see how he does in some tougher assignments and a bit more defensive zone time before he's truly in that top 10 conversation, but he's knocking on the door already. He'll be a bona fide top five – if not top three – name by the end of the decade.

Iceburgh

2:27

The souls here in Pittsburgh also knew Letang’s contract was going to age poorly, trust me.

Josh Erickson

2:27

Future thinking

2:27

AT what point do you think the Canucks simply go to Quinn and say "look if you want to be here longterm, let's make it happen, otherwise we need to move you". They can't let this play out as it seems obvious he isn't staying long term and they could get amazing return for 2 playoff runs

Josh Erickson

2:29

Has that conversation not happened already? I don't remember where this was sourced from, but I did see something reputable saying the Canucks didn't want to be forced into having the Hughes conversation this early. I think it's a blessing in disguise. Yes, there might be a path to contention in their prospect pool. The management group hasn't shown they can realize those gains. Hughes can't and won't take a leap of faith. The best they can do is move him this season. His trade value will never be higher.

Future thinking

2:31

Hildeby is looking really good for the Leafs right now. What do you see happening IF all their netminder a get healthy at the same time?

Josh Erickson

2:34

If there's a better argument in the league for a three-goalie rotation, I'd love to see it. You've got two names who have proven time and time again they're best used as 1B options and can't be used as starters, whether that's because of injury concerns, quick burnout, or both. It's also counterintuitive not to play your hottest goalie when your main goal is still to win games, so I don't see a scenario in which they willingly push Hildeby back down. I wouldn't, at least.

They don't need eight defensemen. If they don't want to send Easton Cowan back to the minors, push Calle Järnkrok through waivers. He's barely playing anyway and that might boost his trade value.

LGD

2:34

What’s your analysis on Luke Hughes? What do the metrics say? I admittedly have missed a couple games the past 2 weeks. But my eye test is he’s fumbling pucks, getting beat to spots, pushed off puck, losing an edge, etc. Maybe that’s middle of the pack but we’re paying him 1A money

Josh Erickson

2:38

I haven't loved his game either this season. Some of it is coaching. At 5-on-5, he's received roughly the same ratio of offensive to defensive zone starts as Nico Hischier. Huh?

He absolutely needs to be sheltered a bit more at even strength. Not a ton, but a bit. They also just haven't been able to find a good fit for his partner since Brett Pesce got hurt. Those two were absolutely cooking together. Once he's back in, I would imagine some of these warts clean themselves up.

DStars

2:38

Will Matthew Tkachuck make his season debut this month?

Josh Erickson

2:39

Sure looks like it. He's been skating for multiple weeks now. I'd be shocked if he hasn't debuted in the next seven to 10 days.

Antoine

2:44

With Quinn Hughes looking to leave Vancouver, what do you see in Tom Willander’s future? What role do you think he’ll have on the team?

Josh Erickson

2:47

I've never been the biggest Willander fan. I thought 11 was a reach. I also thought they were giving him too many NHL minutes too early in his development. I'm not going to sit here and argue with results, though. He's been a real bright spot offensively. His defensive game still has some work to do but he's not going to be able to do that in sheltered minutes. I would advocate flipping his and Tyler Myers' position on the depth chart to give Willander some more challenging matchups and see how he adapts. Worst case, he's a long-term 2RD option behind Filip Hronek.

Quinton

2:47

The flames 3 game win streak concerns me. With a weak pacific division, will management keep pushing for a playoff spot? The flames need to be sellers this year. Do you think they will end up selling?

Josh Erickson

2:50

They're still third-last in points percentage. However... their underlying numbers this season were never really that bad, and a lot of their record stemmed from Dustin Wolf. For whatever reason, people didn't want to see – or admit – he was going through a rough patch. It's over now, and the points are coming with it. Devin Cooley breaking out as a high-end backup helps matters too.

If they get offers they can't refuse, they're going to move on them. I think the market for Blake Coleman will end up being especially strong. I'd be surprised if he's not swapped. But no, I don't think there's going to be a full fire sale, and I don't think there was ever going to be.

Pawtucket

2:51

The Olympic Ice is smaller than the NHL ice and will be done days before the men (9) and women (4) play on it. What on earth is going on and what are the rest of the facilities going to be like??!

Josh Erickson

2:52

Make that three days before the women's tournament. Let's make one thing clear – the NHL has no hand in this debacle. It's squarely on the shoulders of the IOC, which has resisted the help the league has offered. They've signaled they're going to leave this up to the players on whether they want to move forward with participation.

Bobby Orr

2:53

Hi Josh - on a delayed penalty as the goalie leaves for an added skater is it possible for the penalized team to score a goal; knowing play stops once puck is touched by penalizing team -scenario - deflection of a pass without possession? or a one timer off a loose puck ?

Josh Erickson

2:58

It is possible for the penalized team to score a goal, but not in the ways you describe. The non-offending team has to put the puck in their own net without the offending team touching it. The one-timer certainly wouldn't count. Deflection of a pass without possession, I'm uncertain about. They don't make that easy to find in the NHL rulebook. Under USA Hockey rules, that wouldn't count because the offending team still benefited from the deflection.

2026 Draft

2:58

How do you view the 2026 draft, compared to the last few drafts? How many defenseman could you see going in the top 10?

Josh Erickson

3:00

I've been somewhat underwhelmed so far and think it's probably a bit closer to 2025 quality than how people were painting the two classes a year ago, but that's also because the 2025 class looks like it's going to turn out better than expected. My early top 10 is extremely defense-heavy... I've got five of them (Verhoeff, Lin, Carels, Villeneuve, Reid – in order) in there.

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

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