JotCast | PHR Live Chat: 4/9/25

PHR Live Chat: 4/9/25

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Josh Erickson

1:37

Hi all, I'll start answering questions in 20 minutes or so!

1:58

Alright, let's get started a few minutes early

Mc Queen

1:58

Taking into account his back problem, in what area do you think Mc Queen will drop to in the 2025 draft ?

Josh Erickson

1:59

I'm still not sold he drops out of the top 10. TSN's Bob McKenzie's rankings are polls of NHL scouts, not personal opinions, and McQueen ranked seventh there in January while he was sidelined. 6-10 range still seems like a good bet.

Howard

1:59

How high a #1 pick in 2025 would Tampa likely want to trade Howard's rights ? He is clearly worth more than a later #1 pick where he was selected.

Josh Erickson

2:01

They don't hold a ton of leverage, and I'm not sure I totally agree with the second part of that sentence, either. I know the numbers this season are eye-popping, but this is his third year in school, and he's already 21. His development up to this point still indicated that of a late first-type player. I also don't think Tampa trades him this summer. They'll try throughout next year to convince him to sign, and if he doesn't, they'll trade him before the 2026 draft (for an established prospect, not a pick).

Soderstrom

2:01

Pro hockey rumors reported recently that Chicago was negotiating with Victor Soderstrom to have him sign and return to the NHL for next season. Is this expected when the SHL playoffs end ?

Josh Erickson

2:03

First, let me just say that we relayed a note from a Swedish outlet re: Söderström. Rarely, if ever, will we source information ourselves unless it's from an absolutely impeccable source. In response to the question, I imagine you're correct. What a run for Brynäs this year after being down in the HockeyAllsvenskan in 2023-24, and Söderström has been at the forefront of it.

Frozen Four

2:03

Which ,if any, NHL prospects may sign if their college teams are eliminated tomorrow in the Frozen Four semifinals ? Who may still sign after the final game on Sat. ?

Josh Erickson

2:07

Zeev Buium should be a lock to join the Wild immediately after Denver's season ends. I fully believe Jack Devine will sign with the Panthers out of DU as well, but I'm not sure of whether he'll join immediately or sign an ELC beginning next season. Chicago's Aidan Thompson is there too. I'm just not sure if they have room for him right now, I'm watching to see if his rights are dealt.

Not sure if Alex Bump returns for another year with WMU. Could see the Flyers signing him to a deal beginning next season. Same for the Kings and G Hampton Slukynsky. Have to imagine Aiden Fink joins the Preds for next year too out of Penn State. Wonder if the Flames can sign Arsenii Sergeev after picking up that undrafted goaltender from Notre Dame. From BU, I'm most confident in Ryan Greene signing with Chicago. Not sure on whether the others (including Tom Willander) will return for next season.

LGD

2:08

Hischier, deserve to be top 5 in Hart voting? I saw somewhere he has the second highest WAR (or NHL equivalent) of any player. IMO he would’ve been a more massive loss than Hughes, not to take anything away from Jack

Josh Erickson

2:10

Top five just isn't attainable for someone 44th in the league in scoring, but I'd definitely hear an argument for top 10/15 range. What a presence he is, and the puck is flying off his stick this year. Remember when people called him a weak first overall pick?

DStars

2:10

How high do u see Ravensbergen going and who would be the 2 or 3 most likely teams to keep an eye on for him?

Josh Erickson

2:14

He's the first goalie I've had in my first round since Cossa/Wallstedt. This is a much stronger goalie class overall than in recent years, but that's also influenced by a weak skater class. Most seem to have him late 20s/early 30s. I could see him going earlier. Three teams who I'd say are the likeliest are the Capitals, Jets, and the Blue Jackets (they have the Wild's first-rounder)

Sammy S

2:14

last week you discussed coaches that may get canned over the summer. any thoughts on general managers that may be feeling the heat this offseason? thanks!

Josh Erickson

2:16

As Elliotte Friedman wrote today, expect some reporting on that front to seep out next week once the regular season ends. The mind is immediately drawn to Don Sweeney and for good reason. I'm not sure how much faith I have in the Bruins to make the right decision and move on, but I have to imagine it'll at least be strongly considered. Wonder if Ron Francis is feeling the heat in Seattle after a step back? Yzerman as well? Drury to some degree? Right now that's all speculative.

coaches

2:16

Do you think Gallant, Bowness or Boudreau would be interested in an NHL coaching job again at the right salary and term or they are too old ?

Josh Erickson

2:17

Bowness retired, so no. Gallant and Boudreau yes, especially the latter. He was interested in the Devils' opening last offseason.

CHL

2:19

CHL prospects with 6/1/25 signing expirations will all sign in April or some may drag out until memorial weekend ?

Josh Erickson

2:20

This late in the spring (players became eligible to sign ELCs beginning next year on March 1), most of those unsigned players stay that way and become free agents. Teams, especially those looking to be active in free agency this summer, don't love restricting how many contract slots they have to use on external additions. A few will probably still sign, but the vast majority are likely ticketed to re-enter the draft.

Kyle, Also From Chicago

2:21

With the youth movement in Chicago, what direction do you see KD going when it comes to a coach? Does he pick a veteran coach or does he try to get one from the college ranks?

Josh Erickson

2:23

Elite screen name choice. If he can't land David Carle or if Carle just doesn't want an NHL job yet, I imagine he goes for someone more established. Not sure. I don't imagine he'll be interested in Laviolette or Tortorella.

Unclemike1526

2:23

Heard Aidan Thompson might not want to sign with the Hawks. Why wouldn't he want to sign here? He could probably walk into a job next year. And if the Hawks managed somehow to get David Carle to come here might he follow? What do you think? Thanks

Josh Erickson

2:25

Can he, though? Chicago likely selects a forward in the 2025 draft that's on the opening night roster. I think they figure out an extension for Donato. Assuming they don't qualify Kurashev, they have just two pending UFAs among the forward group, and one of those spots will be filled by Jason Dickinson. If they intend on making a big UFA splash up front, which I still believe they do, I really don't see where there's room for Thompson. Although I do think it could be a package deal if they get Carle, yes.

Kyle Dubas

2:26

Who are some realistic free agent targets this summer for me? I know that the bigger names are unlikely so who is more realistic? Also, any ideas on who I might trade and what those returns could look like? At least Rutger and Ville are looking promising.

Josh Erickson

2:30

Great question. Pens have almost $25MM in cap space and no prohibitively expensive RFAs. Can't imagine them having less than $17MM after they get all of the ones on the active roster re-signed, if they opt to qualify/extend all of them. That does open the door to multiple adds. I doubt they're a cap team next year. I wonder if they try to re-sign Grzelcyk and go after a B-tier vet (Pius Suter?). Honestly, I don't anticipate a ton of movement from the Pens aside from a potential Karlsson trade with teams having offseason cap room. With the season he's had... I don't even know what that deal looks like.

CapsFanInNC

2:30

Backstrom and Oshie should both be inducted into the Hall of Fame upon eligibility. Backstrom is one of the best passers of our generation and responsible for more apples on Ovechkin goals than anyone else (not to mention 2nd all time Caps in both points and assists), and Oshie should go in based on Sochi alone! Convince me I’m wrong.

Josh Erickson

2:33

I'm on that Bäckström train, not the Oshie one. The Sochi story always makes me laugh. Yes, great shootout performance. He had one goal in six games at the tournament overall and the Americans failed to medal. I'm not dunking on Oshie's legacy at all, spectacular top-six winger, but the idea of 10 minutes in an ultimately inconsequential game as the basis for his HHOF worthiness is not going to be shared by many others. He was remarkably consistent but only scored 60 points once. I don't see him being anywhere close to the Hall cutoff.

Slavin74

2:34

Increased cap space and a couple of big contracts coming off the books. Any big moves on the horizon? Maybe an Erik Karlsson trade or a Mitch Marner signing? Thoughts?

Josh Erickson

2:36

Assuming you mean the Hurricanes... I'm not sure either of those specific scenarios are realistic. I imagine they're fine with Morrow and Nikishin replacing the Burns/Orlov holes with a smaller UFA signing to augment them. Why spurn trade interest in them just to dump them for an aging Karlsson? On Marner, I don't believe Carolina is a destination of interest for them. Not waiving his NMC for the discussed Rantanen deal isn't an end-all-be-all, but it is telling. That's not to say the Hurricanes won't take a big swing, I just don't think it will be either of those.

Connor McDavid

2:38

Odds I don’t sign an extension this summer and I hit the open market next year? If the latter, which teams are realistic fits (competitiveness and payroll)? Any dark horse teams if I choose free agency?

Josh Erickson

2:44

I still don't foresee it as realistic at all. Edmonton showed they're willing to pay what's required to keep guys well in advance of them hitting the market with the Draisaitl extension. No reason to think they won't do the same with their captain.

The max salary in 2026-27 will be $20.8MM. I don't think he gets that, but he'd have to land $17MM or $18MM if he somehow gets there. That's too big a number to forecast payroll until after teams make their 2025-26 spending decisions.

Sam Bennett

2:44

What’s my next contract and what would the years and money look like?

Josh Erickson

2:45

I think a six-year deal in the $6.75MM-$7.25MM range per season ends up being the case on the open market. If he stays in Florida, they could maybe get him at $6.5MM on a longer-term deal, but I don't see anything lower than that.

Brad Treviling

2:46

Am I retaining Mitch Marner? What will his next deal look like? What else do I need to do?

Josh Erickson

2:49

There is a world, however unlikely, that Toronto manages to retain all of Knies, Marner, and Tavares. The latter's resurgent season has made this more of a difficult calculation. If he's demanding anything north of $8MM on a short-term deal, I don't think it's feasible. The Leafs have $27.5MM in space and seven roster spots to fill. Assuming they fill out the other four spots with league-min guys, the worst-case scenario, that leaves $24.4MM for the Marner/Tavares/Knies trio. Let's say Marner takes 12.5 on a long-term deal and Tavares takes 8 for two or three years. Can you get Knies to sign a two-year bridge for $4MM per season? If so, that'll work.

Of course, if Marner posts two points in a first-round loss, then all of this is moot and he's gone. He's had such a standout season, though.

May Day in Buffalo

2:50

There have been rumors about David Carle leaving college for the Blackhawks...Wouldn't he be a better fit in Buffalo since they have more pieces in place while Chicago's roster is mess?

Josh Erickson

2:51

I think we'll need to wait until after July 1 to make that judgment re: comparing rosters. I don't see them bringing Lindy back just to fire him after one year.

based

2:51

Who is your best guess on next Flyers coach?

Josh Erickson

2:51

I think they stay with Brad Shaw. It doesn't sound like there will be a ton of movement on the coaching market this summer, and Shaw has drawn interest from other teams in the past. If they opt not to remove his interim tag, he'll get a job somewhere else.

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