Good morning, everyone, and a happy Monday to you all. As per tradition, I’ve got a brand new mailbag set to go after taking your questions and sending them to the crew for their takes. This week, we’re discussing the Oilers’ exit pressers, Kris Knoblauch’s future, Leon Draisaitl’s concern about the team’s direction, and more. If you’ve got a question you’d like to ask, email it to me at baggedmilk@oilersnation.com or on Twitter at @jsbmbaggedmilk, and I’ll get to you as soon as I can.

I don’t think any season is a waste. It can be frustrating, but the Oilers still learned things this season. Not taking the regular season for granted was the main take away. They still need to be more consistent defensively and losing early is a big wake up call to improve there.

Do not let the Edmonton Oilers rule your life! Be bummed out but move on because you have no control in this situation.

Agreed, a miracle would’ve been needed with the way the injuries stacked up so soon. Changes seem like they’re coming which takes us into another mini era of Oilers hockey.

You’re right to be bummed, maybe not in the lose itself, but for how frustrating a season it was. I didn’t have high hopes really throughout the season, but I didn’t think they’d lose quite like that. It’s a paradox that the thing most beneficial for them to win the Stanley Cup is the earliest possible exit from the playoffs, but it’s true in this case. They can’t rev up without being given the time to do so. With that said, it’s a fine thread to needle because winning is a must and there are anchors attached to each position group. How they go about improving the team is going to be fascinating.

I think fans have every right to be bummed that the team took a step back after two straight runs to the Cup final. That said, I hope it puts the pressure on the management that they need to get something done that’s actually helpful. Tick tock, Stan.

He was honest. He is concerned they aren’t as close, and they weren’t that close this year. He also said he wasn’t happy with his defensive play, and the team’s. In 2025 he was sixth in Selke voting, but this past year he and the team weren’t as good. He wasn’t pleased with his play and the team’s play, and I have no issue with him saying that. You need high standards and you need to remind yourself and the organization what the standards are.

When you know what it’s like at the top of the mountain, it becomes clearer what it’s like to be at the bottom. It tells me that the standard wasn’t set, and if you’re a returning player, then you need to figure it out. The question that kept coming up yesterday was: “Should McDavid and Draisaitl play less?” The answer is yes, but you also need more players to step up. That didn’t happen. It’s a shout to management to figure it out ASAP, otherwise everyone is gone.

If reports are to be believed that McDavid and Draisaitl met with Bowman and management and were told to hold on while they have salary cap space, then it just reaffirms what Draisaitl has also said privately. It shouldn’t be a shock because it is concerning. They are running out of cards to play.

It says to management very loudly that they’re screwing this up, and that time is running out. Leon was incredibly honest, and I respected everything he said about where the team is at.

To commit to play consistent defensive hockey. They have to fix the penalty kill. It has been brutal for two playoffs going 67.1% in 2025 and 50% in 2026.

Biggest need is moving on from Darnell Nurse and/or Tristan Jarry.

They have to figure out what the goaltending situation is first and foremost.

Coach, goaltending, top six forward.

I do and I think he will have some new faces on his staff. Mark Stuart won’t return. Paul Coffey returned to coach the D, and I just don’t see how Stuart returns when he was essentially fired from that role, then add in the PK struggles. And I think they will add a former head coach to the staff. Having more experience on the bench will benefit Knoblauch and the team. Knoblauch, like the Oilers, didn’t have a great year and will need to grow from it.

No, but it’s his fault. He opted to go with limited NHL experience on his bench, and it cost him. From day one, the standard was to lean on McDavid and Draisaitl, and the team never recovered. He couldn’t find roles for certain players, leading to no team synergy. Edmonton needs someone who cares for all 23 players on the roster and gets the best out of them.

No. I don’t know this, but am guessing that with the mid-season Paul Coffey re-hire and the overall weirdness of the season, management or ownership wants someone’s head to roll after this type of season. With that said, how many coaches are 29-97 going to go through. Maybe there’s a reason they’re goiing through so many coaches…

No. I think he’ll get swapped out before the draft.

No chance he could do that when McDavid and Draisaitl were healthy. The key is re-signing Connor Murphy and Jason Dickinson. I’m confident Murphy will remain in Edmonton, but I’m not sure about Dickinson. It will depend on cost. Murphy wants to be on a contender, and he’s made over $40m in his career. He’s set for life and after if he gets a fair deal he will remain in Edmonton. Dickinson might test free agency. He is only 30 and could hit it big with many teams looking for centres.

If Bowman didn’t make a move at the deadline, then he should’ve fired himself. With the stars Edmonton has, you bank on them getting hot and everyone else figuring it out. Plus, now you have a head start on Dickinson and Murphy. They’re important pieces and should return.

Bowman would’ve been crucified for standing pat at the Deadline for the same reasons he can’t stand pat now. However wise it would’ve been, he would ensure that in the near future spend mornings at A&W telling the regulars how wise it was afterwards. In the mix of the season, he needs to give his team the best chance to win every year. That’s what made this trade window so scary. You know the team is compromised and not playing up to their potential, so you’re damned if you do, and damned if you don’t. This is all very tricky indeed.

I get what you’re saying, but there’s no way the Oilers should just sit on their hands with the McDavid clock ticking away. They need to try and get better every single day in every way they possibly can.