JotCast | PHR Live Chat: 2/19/25

PHR Live Chat: 2/19/25

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Josh Erickson

1:57

Hi all! I'll get moving on questions at the top of the hour.

Greg

2:02

Will the Red Wings be active at the trade deadline?

Josh Erickson

2:03

I don't think they'll be active on the rental market. They're obviously in too good of a standings position to sell off. I wonder if they might try to exchange some bodies on defense. Other than that, I only expect them to be involved in conversations for young forwards with years left on their contract – the Cozens/Zegras type.

Jared McCann

2:05

The rumors of his supposed availability don't seem to have any substance, but hypothetically what do you think Seattle could get in return for him if they actually did consider a trade?

Josh Erickson

2:08

Yes – I don't read into them as rumors of availability, but rather rumors of interest. The end result is the same either way. The Kraken aren't moving him unless there's an offer they can't refuse. They're far better off trying to squeeze return value, even if it's just mid-round picks, out of their meh-value contracts plugging up the forward corps. Seattle has already built out a solid prospect group, too, so acquiring big-ticket futures isn't necessary. I just think it makes zero sense to move him as the centerpiece of a deal. If he's in a trade, it's for an immediate scoring upgrade or for a younger but established piece with higher upside.

Kaapo Kakko

2:10

Predictions for his next contract with the Kraken? Could we see Francis extend him midseason like he has done with others (McCann, Eberle, etc.)?

Josh Erickson

2:11

We absolutely could. I think you're looking at a short-term deal here. He's been money since the swap, but that's not enough sample size for a long-term commitment. There's also the question of how many mushy contracts (Burakovsky/Bjorkstrand/etc.) they'll sell off before next season. With that in mind, I'd expect a two-year deal in the $4MM range annually.

UHC

2:11

If Utah is a seller, who is most likely to be traded at the deadline and what kind of return can be expected? Thank you.

Josh Erickson

2:14

If they are, and that if is incredibly contingent on how they perform with a fully healthy defense, then I wouldn't expect them to be particularly active. Utah's front office is still extremely optimistic about the short- and long-term future, and for good reason. They'll be limited to getting rid of pending free agents. The only player I can see moving with term left on their deal is Matias Maccelli, just because of how difficult of a year he's had, but he's still young and I doubt they're eager to sell low given the potential he flashed in Arizona. I imagine they try to get an extension done with Vejmelka, especially since there aren't many teams in need of goalies. It'll be guys like Kerfoot, Bjugstad, Carcone, and Cole on the move if they do sell, and I can't imagine any of them fetch more than mid-round picks. Maybe Kerfoot lands a second?

2:16

How many players do you think the Kraken will actually move by the deadline and who will they be?

Josh Erickson

2:17

A Brandon Tanev trade seems like when and where, not if, at this point. So at least one, haha. I find it hard to imagine that all of the McCann/Bjorkstrand/Burakovsky/Schwartz/Gourde crop gets dealt. Maybe two of those five. Even with his injury, I'd imagine Gourde is the likeliest.

mike124

2:17

Whats a framework around brad lambert and a 1st for noah dobson? Do jets say no because they want lambert for their second line center or is dobson more valuable to jets that the assets to get him?

Josh Erickson

2:20

I think Lambert's stock is overrated. Winnipeg shouldn't be set on Lambert as their 2C of the future – at least, that shouldn't be their only plan. I do think they're optimistic about him reaching those heights, but his development has been too inconsistent year-to-year for me to be confident in that projection at this stage. Yager is a safer bet. I like that trade for Winnipeg but I'm not sure that's enough for the Islanders if they share in that assessment of Lambert.

Brock Pettersson

2:23

After moving JT Miller, do the Canucks look at moving pending UFA Boeser and the other half of the locker room discontent Elias Pettersson and go full rebuild of their forward group?

Josh Erickson

2:25

I'm really not qualified to comment on if there are still issues in the room. I'll assume the Miller trade solved it – otherwise, why do it? If so, you make every effort you can to extend Boeser. Vancouver also doesn't have the depth to shoulder losing him for nothing and remain competitive, even if they do use his space to land a big fish. If things aren't close by the beginning of March, you gotta deal him.

2:26

And at that point, unless you're getting NHL-ready assets back, you're on the right track with a full forward retool.

coach

2:26

After 29 games Sorenson has a slightly better record than Richardson. Is it his fault or more Davidson's for signing the wrong free agents (Brodie, Maroon, AA, Martinez) and drafting the wrong players (Gajan, Misiak, Ludwinski) aside from Bedard ?

Josh Erickson

2:27

Not his fault, no. I also don't think another basement season is the worst thing for the Blackhawks. They'll have a chance to draft the impact forward they failed to select with the Levshunov pick last year, hopefully James Hagens or Michael Misa. A true second fiddle to Bedard is the most obviously missing gap on the current roster and in the pool.

2:28

I think the UFA pickups last summer were good for kicking the can down the road, assuming that was KD's plan. I believe it was to get one more impact prospect in a weaker 2025 class and hope to land a big-ticket UFA in a more loaded market.

trades

2:28

Why wouldn't teams take advantage of the break to make more trades ? Is it because cap space is so limited and they need to wait for the deadline to accrue more ?

Josh Erickson

2:30

That's part of it. The other thing to consider is that many of the top assets still being bandied about aren't guaranteed to move (Nelson, Rakell, Schenn, etc.). Some of them, especially Schenn, are also new additions to the block. There either hasn't been enough time for talks to seriously materialize, or teams need to wait and see what their record is closer to the deadline until deciding to sell.

swap

2:32

How much better is Seth Jones than Darnell Nurse ? They are same age, drafted a few slots apart and both overpaid on long term deals at a similar amount. Would the rights to Akey plus Nurse be a fair deal for Jones ?

Josh Erickson

2:35

Jones is certainly a tier or two above Nurse, in my opinion. He checks all of the boxes for a direct comparison: plays more minutes, produces more offense, and has far better relative possession impacts. Injuries are a concern for both. I don't think that's enough for Chicago to consider moving him, and I doubt they want to take a negative value contract on this late in their rebuild. That framework won't work.

2:39

The Blackhawks supposedly asked Maroon and Martinez if they want to stay or be dealt by 3/7. Why would they ask them if they are not long term vets and have no long standing relationship with the team (nor any NMC) ? Is this to be player friendly and encourage other free agents to sign in the future ?

Josh Erickson

2:40

My guess – the return value they'd get is so low (fifth-round pick or later) that it's irrelevant to a team with an already large prospect pool.

2:41

At the deadline last season, Maroon fetched an AHLer and a conditional sixth. That doesn't do anything for a Chicago team that's past the halfway point of their rebuild.

Phanatic

2:42

This off-season, is restricted free agency going to be more active since the cap is increasing over the next few years? Who should Briere target… maybe Wyatt Johnston?

Josh Erickson

2:43

I do. But unless it's a late-summer situation like Broberg/Holloway and the offer sheets are for way over present market value, I think most will be matched. Teams will want young talent on long-term deals to build around amid an aggressive increase in spending flexibility. They'll part with veteran assets to fit them in.

StlBlues25

2:43

There’s been chatter lately surrounding Schenn. What’s a realistic return for him? Does Army make big moves at the deadline or does he lay some groundwork for moves during the offseason?

Josh Erickson

2:45

Yeah, I don't think anyone will end up offering what the Blues are looking for. They'll require a first-round pick plus an NHL-ready player with top-six F/top-four D ceiling plus another asset, in all likelihood, and I can't imagine anyone paying that for someone Schenn's age on a mid contract.

It's something Armstrong needs to think about. Yes, there's no "rush" to trade Schenn with four(?) years left on his deal, but his trade value likely won't get any higher. I think even if he doesn't quite get what he wants, it's smart to move him now and open up a gigantic chunk of summer flexibility.

The Brink

2:46

Who are possible Trade Targets for the Minnesota Wild at the Deadline and what will it cost?

Josh Erickson

2:48

I don't project much movement on defense. If Brock Nelson is available, he's obviously their No. 1. It'll likely take a first-rounder, a mid-rounder, and an A/B-tier prospect, even without an extension attached. He's the best forward option available in what's proved to be a seller's market so far. If they can't land a middle-six impact piece, they still need another forward. I could see them pursuing someone like Trent Frederic or Morgan Geekie from the Bruins. They've linked up quite a few times recently. Geekie would cost a tad more as a pending RFA. Frederic is a UFA this summer, so I can't imagine him costing more than a second-round pick.

MARK

2:49

DO YOU SEE Detroit trading for anybody or trading anybody away

Josh Erickson

2:51

If anyone calls on Chiarot or Holl, they pull the trigger if they feel they can come up with an adequate replacement/upgrade for their playoff push. I don't see that happening, and I think they're stuck with them until the summer. As I said earlier, I would imagine their interest is limited to players in the 22-25 age range with term. Cozens, Zegras, maybe one of the Sabres' purportedly available defensemen (Byram or Power, not both).

Black Ace57

2:53

Which is more likely, the NHL learns the wrong lessons from the Four Nations and hosts the tourney way too frequently or do they learn the right lessons and reduce the number of outdoor games to make them special again?

Josh Erickson

2:53

Daly has been crystal clear that the 4NFO is a one-off. That won't be changing, no matter what the success of this tournament is, because they're already committed to biennial World Cups in the even off years between Olympics. I don't see them changing from the one-two punch of a Winter Classic and Stadium Series each season, either.

Pawtucket

2:56

How does Utah take the next step? Is there a FA or Trade they can make to add a jolt to the fanbase and get the city excited for elite talent and a playoff run? Getting Sergachev was a decent start on defence...

Josh Erickson

2:56

I fully expect them to be in on the top UFA that hits the market on offense, whether that's Rantanen, Marner, or Ehlers. I don't think a big in-season trade splash is coming, but I could see another draft-day surprise from them.

2:58

Just a couple more here before the top of the hour.

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