Monday Mailbag – June 2

You’ve always wanted to know about the inner workings of the NHL and the Nation so the mailbag is here to tell you how it’s done. As always, you guys are the star of the mailbag. If you have a question, you can email it to me at baggedmilk@oilersnation.com or hit me up on Twitter at @jsbmbaggedmilk. As a thank you for the question, I’ll send you a sticker package from the Nation.

Enjoy.

Lowetide: 

I like Richards, and his offense was fine until heading to the coast. No idea how much of the offensive downturn has to do with playing for Sutter, but he’s a player of interest. I hope there are other options, but wouldn’t frown on his acquisition—especially if the team can get him without giving up too many assets.

Jason Strudwick: 

I like the two way game that Richards brings. Winning seems to follow him around. I like that in a player. His offensive game has slipped but he is my kind of player.

Robin Brownlee: 

No, I don’t think he should be a target for the Oilers. He’s another undersized forward. His offensive ability is in decline. He might be bought out, and there’s a reason for that. That doesn’t mean the Oilers shouldn’t take a look at him because they should be looking at everybody, but I don’t see him as the answer.

Wanye: 

If Mike Richards does indeed get bought out he would be a fine candidate for a 2nd line centre. I’ve personally always thought he was a good player.

Jason Gregor: 

I don’t see the Kings buying him out. He was 4th on the team in scoring and played a lot on PP and PK. He likely becomes a very expensive 3rd line centre for them, but they love that he produces more in the playoffs. If they did buy him out the Oilers could definitely use his experience and tenacity, but I doubt after all the playoff success he has had he’d sign with a perennial bottom feeder.

Brian Sutherby: 

I absolutely would look at him. His numbers have dipped but he’s also in a more defensive system. Not a huge guy but plays big, is a leader, has won and is very much what this team is a lacking these days: skill/leadership with some grit. Even if he’s not the best 2C solution, he’d look pretty good in the 3 hole as well.

Mike Richards is going to the Stanley Cup final for the 3rd time in his career…why would the Oilers ever want a schlub like that? I doubt the Kings would trade him here and I don’t think they’ll buy him out either.

I’ve never had a bad experience in a hockey rink.

Jason Strudwick: 

The old Igloo in Pittsburgh. The room was so small that the goalies and extra players had to dress in the room next door.

Robin Brownlee: 

Veterans Memorial Coliseum on Long Island was by far the worst for dressing room and press box amenities. Middle of nowhere. Lousy sightlines. Press meals would make a dog puke. The Great Western Forum was a dump — crappy, small dressing rooms and a no actual press box, just a press area with rickety folding tables in the stands. America West Arena was junk for hockey because it was built for basketball. Another building with press area in the seats. Couldn’t see the ice if people in the row in front of you stood up. 

Wanye: 

The Saddledome is the worst arena I’ve seen in terms of lines of sight. I would sit in the nosebleeds and had to watch some action on TVs thoughtfully installed so you weren’t blocked by the saddle part of the ‘saddledome.’ The closest bathroom was up a dedicated flight of stairs which was a pain with a bladder full of Dome Beers. Also having to watch the Flames for 60 minutes was a key part of the unpleasantness. *shudders*

Jason Gregor: 

Overall experience would be Florida. There was no one there, so that played a huge part. As for press area, none are that bad, because when I sit up there I don’t pay. I have paid for seats in many rinks, and Florida was the worst by far. If I had to pick a press area, Long Island would be choice. The sight lines were brutal, but it was still cool being in that rink and seeing all the banners from their glory years.

Brian Sutherby: 

The old barn in New Jersey was like a minor hockey dressing room. No, room, no stalls just benches, tiny medical and shower room. MSG, although I think revamped now, was always strange. The room was basically divided into two, coach had to walk back and fourth between rooms to deliver his message.

GM Place because it’s full of Canucks fans. NEXT!

Lowetide: 

MacT leaving as coach. He cobbled together a 38-35-9 season from that bunch, and they won 27 the next season under Pat Quinn. No disrespect meant, but that was a bad, bad hockey move.

Jason Strudwick: 

I don’t think there was one moment. The lack of players in the lineup that were drafted by the Oilers hurt the team. Drafting and developing is key to success.

Robin Brownlee: 

This franchise started going south when the relationship between Glen Sather and the EIG fractured under the financial pressures of the day. Kevin Lowe was rushed, unprepared, into Sather’s chair in 2000 without having spent any time learning the front office ropes. Lowe retired as a player in 1998. One season as an assistant coach, one as a head coach and then promotion to GM.

Wanye: 

Holy cow is this ever a good question. I guess it was the flight of the free agents following the Cup run. How that many rats leave a ship that sunk in G7 of the SCF I will never know. I really don’t like thinking about those dark days or really most of the days ever since. Come to think about it where do you get those mind erasing light pens from Men in Black? Oh it’s not real? So says you Jack.

Jason Gregor: 

You could argue that since the Pronger trade they have been in chase mode, trying to rekindle the success they had. The main issue is that they have continually made awful hockey decisions over the past eight seasons. Trading away proven NHL players for picks and prospects or for NHL players who weren’t any better has been the demise of this team. Combine that with drafting so many young players and then giving them huge opportunities rather than making them earn it has put them where they are today.

Pronger…

It has to be when management started making cute little movies to send out to UFAs to try and lure them here. Could anything be more sad? Just imagine being a millionaire hockey player and watching a DVD that showed all the wonders of West Edmonton Mall. *sigh*

Lowetide: 

I think the Pittsburgh Penguins (Crosby’s wing), New York Islanders (Tavares wing) and Florida Panthers would have interest. Oiler fans are down on him, but history teaches us that talented players who are struggling are perhaps in the wrong situation. Gagner’s got some sweet skills, he’ll find a home.

Jason Strudwick: 

I think many teams would be interested in him. Great talent and a guy who works on his game in and out of season. Fans and media of losing teams love to beat up their own, too much so in my opinion.

Robin Brownlee: 

Why would any team pitch for Gagner after the season he had? His value right now is zero.

Wanye: 

I’ll leave this one to the Pros. But Sam Gagner is a good player and has done everything ask of him short of growing an extra 4 inches and should hold his head high if he does get traded.

Jason Gregor: 

The Predators, Islanders, Senators, if they trade Spezza somewhere, and my darkhorse is Chicago if they lose to the Kings. The Hawks will need a 2nd line centre, because Handzus isn’t the answer. The Hawks have so many strong forwards they probably feel they could get Gagner to be more dedicated defensively, but also they know he has offensive skills to play with Kane, Sharp or Hossa. Nashville is desperate for some sort of offence, and the Islanders might look at Gagner as a 2nd line guy to help them.

His production last season combined with his contract makes it a bit more difficult to trade him, but those would be the teams I think might be interested in talking about a trade. The return on Gagner is the harder question to answer. What is he truly worth at this point? The Oilers can’t trade him and not get an NHL player in return. They have to stop losing trades.

Brian Sutherby: 

Hard to say, many good teams probably think they can utilize him much better.

I always like that the fans that want a guy like Gagner gone are the first ones to complain when the return sucks. Buy high, sell low – that’s the Oilers way!

Lowetide: 

The Title: Burn After Reading

Hmmm. The roles? I have literally no idea. I would cast as Pat Quinn. I even have my jogging suits ready!!

Jason Strudwick: 

Who cares? I do like Game of Thrones though and slurpees. Does that answer your question?

Robin Brownlee: 

Title is a slam dunk — “If There’s Ever A Concern…”

Wanye: 

I’d put Gregor as Kevin Lowe. We all defer to him on every matter even though it’s “technically not his job.” MacT is Lowetide as he is the brains of the operation and I’ve never seen either of them wearing a helmet. Eakins? That’s a hard one. How about baggedmilk as he too is the new guy at work, both are single mindedly dedicated to fitness and have hot missuses. Who am I in this movie? J. Leslie E-B-E-R-L-E if you please.

Jason Gregor: 

Nine Lives: The Saga continues. Wanye would be Lowe, since he runs the site and no one sees him do anything that actually impacts it. Struds would be Eakins, because both of them love their hair and Struds reminds us about his shootout prowess as often as Eakins does conditioning. Lowetide would be MacT. He is articulate, has thick hair and both are extremely loyal to their buddies. MacT still believes Bucky is a great connection to the past, while LT still believes in Gilbert and Petry! Loyalty is important.

K Lowe – Wanye, been here the longest whether we like it or not

Mac T – Gregor, great talker

Dallas Eakins – Struds, all about the hair

Title of the movie is easy – The Never Ending Story. Casting is harder…I’m casting Gregor as Lowe because he knows a thing or two about winning. I’m casting Brownlee as Katz because of his Crackmasters empire and I’m casting Brian Sutherby as Eakins because of his flowing mane. If I’m casting myself, I’m the usher that opens the door to the press box – I pretend to know things but really I could be replaced by a spring.