Monday Mailbag – Contract decisions for Jesse Puljujarvi, Kailer Yamamoto, and Evander Kane

Happy trade deadline, friends! As always, I’ve got a brand new Mailbag set and ready to help you get your week started and make sense of everything that’s going on with our beloved Edmonton Oilers. This week, we’re talking about the new deadline boys, contract extensions, Jay Woodcroft, and more. If you’ve got got a question you’d like to ask, email it to me at baggedmilk@oilersnation.com or hit me up on Twitter at @jsbmbaggedmilk and I’ll get to you as soon as we can.

There wasn’t a goalie who was a clear upgrade they could acquire (Fleury said he wasn’t coming to Edmonton, mainly for family flight accessibility reasons), and Lindholm wasn’t coming here and signing an extension. So I’m not sure which other players would have been massive upgrades who were available. If goaltending isn’t good in the playoffs, Holland will have to own that, but I don’t think he could have fixed it at the deadline.

It was fine for having a tight budget. Two solid players in Brassard and Kulak with salary retained.

I’d give him a C grade. Not great, not horrible. Goaltending is still a problem.

No issue with Kulak. Mike Green wore #27 when he was acquired from Detroit. Brassard has played over 900 games. Benson isn’t on the NHL roster, and if he was he likely would have given it up for Brassard, so I don’t see an issue.

No real thoughts as far as either being significant. We’re into double-digits on the number of players to wear both numbers. Some numbers used to be put aside by the equipment staff and not handed out even if they weren’t retired, but that went by the wayside years ago. It’s a stretch to think somebody like Benson has any claim to a specific number.

I wonder if Brassard bought him a watch or something? Isn’t that a thing when vets come in and take numbers like this?

Brassard has fit in very nicely on a line with RNH and Puljujarvi. Kulak has been fine. He adds some much-needed speed to the blueline.

Brassard has more goals in two games than Benson had his entire time here. He is what the Oilers hoped Benson could become in the bottom six group of forwards. Provide some grit, score a little. I’ve liked Kulak’s ability to get around. Smooth skater. He can, and does, play second-pairing minutes without a problem. I like both of them.

Solid first impression, I’d say. Both guys have found a way to contribute and that’s a plus in my books.

Great question… let’s assume you get the right contract and term. Kane on a shorter-term deal is the best of the three players so he is one. I’d take JP second because of his size and skill. I wouldn’t sign Kane on a longer-term deal, so if that is what he wants then JP and Yamomoto would be the two I’d sign.

Puljujarvi and Yamamoto. Kane has a right to want to get paid in dollars and in term based on the season he’s having, especially considering his financial situation and bankruptcy. I just wouldn’t be the GM to give it to him for all the reasons discussed before he first arrived. I hope he’s turned a corner and can fly straight from now on, but I’m not going to be the GM to bet five or six years and $30 million that’s the case.

I bet it’ll be Yamo and JP. Kane is having a hell of a season and that’s going to be costly.

I don’t think it is much of a debate. I’d sign him and Dave Manson.

Of course he’s done enough. What possible reason could there be to fire up the coaching carousel yet again? Woodcroft knows the players here now and he knows those who are on the way from Bakersfield.

Bring him back for real, for real. Let’s go.

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