Monday Mailbag – July 14th

It’s time to grab coffee, learn a few things, and do whatever it takes to avoid doing work on a Monday.  I need questions for next week, so if you want to ask a question you can email it to me at baggedmilk@oilersnation.com or hit me up on Twitter at @jsbmbaggedmilk.  If you want them, I’ll send everyone that sends in a question a sticker package from Nation HQ.  Thanks in advance!

Enjoy.

Lowetide: 

He’s the new guy in charge of saying ‘are you sure you want to do that?’ at meetings. Seriously, it’s never been expressed but I imagine it’s about recruiting and scouting. Mark Messier is a really nice addition for a team zipping down the highway to talk to a college free agent. Bet his Dad remembers him. Mom too! 🙂 

Jonathan Willis: 

They haven’t really spelled it out, so I’d just be guessing without a lot to go on.

Jason Gregor: 

Advisor means he can give insight into many things, but mainly it is scouting at this point.

Robin Brownlee: 

Advisor. Another set of eyes and ears when it comes to assessing players at the NHL level.

Brian Sutherby: 

To be the Moose and scare the living hell out of people?

Jason Strudwick: 

Good question. It is never clear exactly what the job assignments are for “advisors”. My guess is they work in their area of strength. For Messier I would think it would be knowing what a strong team dynamic looks like and trying to steer the Oilers in that direction.

I would assume his role has something to do with teaching the kids how to throw elbows, snap home wristers from the off wing, and teach Lil Nugey how to glare. Something like that…

I’d go after a team with too many centers. Although there aren’t a lot of teams, one of them is Ottawa. I’d try to grab Zack Smith in exchange for a prospect. It’s a small deal, and he may end up playing a checking role while the 2line job goes to Draisaitl or Arco, but this club needs veteran insurance. That’s what I’d do, grab a two-way center who can help out in multiple ways AND not cost the sun, moon and stars.

Jonathan Willis: 

We’ve talked a lot about the various options out there. Honestly, it probably depends on price – the best pivot you can get for either the 2015 2nd round pick or the 2016 first round pick plus a left defence prospect.

Jason Gregor: 

I don’t see many teams wanting to part with a legit #2 centre. The Oilers had numerous holes to fill this off season, and I never expected MacTavish to fill all of them. Their defence had to improve. They gave up the most goals in the league last year so getting D-men and some forwards who know how to play defence was good. Most teams have to develop their own elite centres, and the Oilers will likely have to do the same. I don’t see any UFAs that are great at this point, but I’d still rather have a guy with some NHL experience than go with Arcobello and Draisaitl. I’d look at Loktionov on a one-year deal or even Derek Roy just to have some experience.

Robin Brownlee: 

We’ve probably covered the possibilities three times over in the last couple of weeks since free agency opened. Have you been reading? I’d have liked Patrik Berglund or Vladimir Sobotka from St. Louis. That’s out the window with Sobotka gone and I imagine the ask for Berglund has gone up because of it.

Brian Sutherby: 

I really wanted them to overpay Legwand on a short term. I think he would of been a great fit (bridge guy) for a year or two. They may have tried but I find it hard to believe he turned down 4+ and I would of done that short term. 

As for playing arm chair GM and making trades, I don’t know because I have no idea who may be available.

Jason Strudwick: 

I thought Legwand would have been a nice fit but he is already signed. Lets start with the easy part…who I wouldn’t trade. There is no way I trade away any of the Oilers top young d prospects. This group includes Oscar, Nurse and Marincin. After that I am open to it. Up front? Outside of the top young guns it is a little harder to say value. I am guessing the Oilers will have to wait until after camp is almost over and see what teams have extras.

I would find it strange if MacT did so much work to get better players on the wings and on defence but completely neglected the C position.  There’s still a couple months until the season starts so I’m guessing he’ll probably trade for someone like Josh Bailey – a guy with potential that never really clicked or fit in.

Lowetide: 

I’d put that AHL team in Saskatoon. It’s a terrific city and junior hockey has never been the draw it is in other places (that’s mostly because of ownership and competitiveness, mind).

Jonathan Willis: 

Not really, no. I’m not sure the facility is so much the issue as having three different hockey teams in Edmonton is. Also, the travel budget for that AHL team would be nuts.

Jason Gregor: 

No chance the AHL team comes here. Yes, it would be closer, but the fans wouldn’t watch it. I’d rather have my farm team in a different city so when the players get called up they appreciate it more.

Robin Brownlee: 

No. Old building or new, you can’t run three teams playing 70-plus games a season out of the same rink.

Brian Sutherby: 

No doubt it’s advantageous to have your AHL team so close. I just don’t think the city could handle 3 teams. One of the 2 lower teams would suffer if not both I would think.

That would be a lot of hockey in one building. There would have to be double headers, maybe even triple headers on weekends. As an ahl player I don’t think I would want to be playing in the same city as the big club. Yes there is the chance of being called up because it is so close. I think that at times you could feel like it is to much as far as input from the big team. I think direction is great for players but to much of it can freeze them.

I think it would be a cool idea to have the AHL team here. It would make things like call ups so much easier. That being said, if the Barons moved to Edmonton the Oil Kings would have to move somewhere else. Having 3 full seasons in the same building would make scheduling a problem, I would think.

Lowetide: 

I think Bettman should do it. Fans have a right to boo the league’s figurehead. It’s part of the game.

Jonathan Willis: 

Oh, I don’t know; at this point having Gary Bettman get booed just seems like tradition.

Jason Gregor: 

Fans boo, he encourages them and relishes it… It is the new NHL tradition. Embrace it.

Robin Brownlee: 

I think it’s a dumb idea. You want to end up with some goofball like Justin Bieber doing it? The Count should continue to hand out the silverware.

Brian Sutherby: 

I think that would be cool. I can’t stand that the coolest moment of the season is drowned out by boo’s.

Jason Strudwick: 

Not in to it at all. Bettman or bust.

I like it! I think it would be hilarious if the cast from Road to Avonlea came out to present the trophy. Though, part of me does think it’s hilarious when Bettman gets booed for 5 minutes.

Lowetide: 

NHL hockey. Oilers. I’d hire all my friends. Wanye would be in charge of Eberle, Gregor could be the music director, Brownlee would control the interviews and Willis would be my advanced stat guy. I’d ask Sutherby to come back and play, and when he refused I’d have him coach along with Marc Pouliot. Struds would run the Karaoke bar. Baggedmilk would run the kiss cam.

Jonathan Willis: 

C’mon, that’s not even a question. Hockey, because hockey.

Jason Gregor: 

Easy…NFL. You only have 8 regular season home dates to plan for. Less chance things go wrong, and even though you only have 8 home games you make more money than owners in the other leagues.

Baseball. Spring training and, of course, the profit margin.

Brian Sutherby: 

NFL because I’d make so much money, I would then buy a hockey team.

Jason Strudwick: 

Roller derby. They have a very weak union.

I think I would own an English Premier League team. Firstly, it would mean that I am likely a multi billionaire. Secondly, it would give me a better chance of being knighted, which I feel that I deserve.