Monday Mailbag – Edmonton as an NHL host city?

Greetings, Nation! As always, the Monday mailbag is back and we’re answering the questions you’ve always wanted to know about the NHL and life in general. Our panel of experts life coaches bloggers dove into the depths of their worldly experience to give you every nugget of wisdom that their brains could muster and all for the low low price of absolutely nothing at all. As always, this feature depends on you guys so I need you to submit your questions. If you have something you’d like to know you can always email me, or DM me on Twitter. With that out of the way, it’s time to learn something. Enjoy.

The pro would be for restaurants who deliver as players would be ordering in a lot. I don’t see a huge advantage for Oilers as there are no fans so home ice not that much of an advantage. Cons, I guess the potential risk of one of them having Covid, but the only way I see them playing is if all are tested, so I think that is low risk.

The positives are getting the season completed, injecting some money into the local economy and providing a bit of a morale boost to everybody looking for some light at the end of the tunnel. I don’t see any real cons, assuming medical experts deem it safe and absolutely everything is done to follow any and all guidelines in place at the time.

The biggest pro would be that we would get to watch the Oilers play playoff hockey at Rogers Place! That alone would be incredible. As for a con, it’s going to be very difficult to pull off this neutral site idea and the chance of an outbreak would concern me.

Pro – It’s a beautiful thing to be a part of the thing that could help a country and world feel kind of “normal” again.

Con – The temptation for people having this many superstars within the confines of Edmonton, to risk being downtown and adding to the infection numbers.

Pro: We’d get hockey back and the local economy would get a boost of NHL cash. Con: The surrounding community would have an influx of people from all over the world that could increase the risk of spreading the virus.

Playing any position…Messier-Gretzky-McDavid…. Coffey, Pronger and Fuhr

Gretzky-McDavid-Messier
Coffey-Pronger
Curtis Joseph

I would go McDavid-Gretzky-Draisaitl up front with Pronger and Coffey on the blue line and Grant Fuhr in net.

Draisaitl – Gretzky – McDavid
Pronger – Coffey

Curtis Joseph

Gretzky – McDavid – Messier
Pronger – Coffey
Bill Ranford

BBQ chicken, bbq zucchini, roasted potatoes and carrots (on bbq in metal cake pan) and homemade chocolate chip cookies.

Perogies and sausage.

I’m a good breakfast chef. French toast is probably my go-to.

Barbequing a nice Alberta steak. I make a nice tinfoil dinner on the BBQ of veggies and such.

Tacos and a cocktail. Everybody loves tacos and a cocktail.

Pan seared for me…

Barbecue.

Either way is amazing because steak is amazing. But there’s something different about a barbecued steak in the summer time with a cold beer on the patio.

I always BBQ when I do it. That’s just how I have always done it. My Grandpa used to grill steaks and that’s just how I grew up loving them.

I always default to BBQ. Let’s go! Honourable mention to sous vide.

I’ve found a good routine of playing with my son, building legos, doing home workouts together, hosting my show, writing and then spending time with my wife. I found the first week a bit challenging, but now I’m focused on positive things, plus I’ve been reading a lot of books about people overcoming adversity and tough situations. They have inspired me and make me realize we can overcome many obstacles in life. The human spirit is pretty strong if you want to test yourself. Some books I’d read the past few weeks.

Can’t Hurt Me… David Goggins 

From The Ashes…Jesse Thistle 

Homes… Abu Bakr Al Rabeeah with Winnie Yeung 

The Long Walk… Slavomir Rawicz

My mental health is fine. I look for a mix of reliable reports about the state of the pandemic and I focus on the many positive stories out there about people trying to make a difference. I’m trying to do that on a personal level by helping Hockey Helps the Homeless raise some money while our tournaments are on hold. It’s a challenge, but it feels good to be proactive instead of just waiting things out.

Trying to go for lots of walks to clear my mind. Starting little side projects that keep my mind occupied. That sort of stuff. Just finding distractions is the key for me.

I am getting back into exercising. I just dusted off a bike for my first ride since I was in grade 10, many moons ago. I am also trying to distance myself from that negative news cycle.

I like to keep busy. Outside of writing here, I’ve got other projects and hobbies that I enjoy working on as well as taking my little homie, Frank, for long walks to get some fresh air.

During this time of pandemic, Oodle Noodle will be donating 10% of all takeout and curbside delivery sales will be donated to local charities on a weekly basis. To order pick up, call into the store directly or order at the till. If you’re staying in and practicing your social distancing, no-contact delivery is available at www.oodlenoodle.ca.