Monday Mailbag – May 19th

It’s time for the long weekend version of Monday Mailbag.  I just got back from the lake, and frankly I stink to high heavens — but I’m committed to putting something up.  Some of the guys were away this weekend, so the answers were limited, but we’ll get back on track for next week.  As always, if you’ve got a question you want asked, email it to me at baggedmilk@oilersnation.com or hit me up on Twitter – @jsbmbaggedmilk.

I hope everyone had a solid long weekend. Enjoy.

Hmmm. Great question, wish I could read the answers before chiming in. I would trade this selection for Valeri Nichushkin in Dallas. That kind of deal, for a crazy talent who is also very young, is the only trade I make for this pick. Hope that helps!

Jonathan Willis 

Like you said, it isn’t easy to quantify. I’d guess somebody in the top-six forward, top-four defenceman range on a solid contract, someone like Brandon Dubinsky or Christian Ehrhoff. But it really depends on the trading partner – the pick is worth a little more to a team rebuilding or a team in a bad contract situation and much less to a team with cap space and a desire to win now.

It would have to be a borderline superstar already for me to move the pick. Or several VERY good players to plug multiple holes if the goal is to turn this team around tomorrow. Otherwise, I hang onto it. As for an actual player…I don’t know

It’s going to be interesting to see what they do with this thing. I assume they’re going to pick, but will they rush the kid into a prime spot before he’s ready? Likely.

Lowetide 

No. They’re too far away, and really have no one in their prime. Too young or too old, but little age 26-31 of note.

Jonathan Willis 

Sure, it’s possible. Colorado did it this year when their lousy 0.903 save percentage starter turned into a 0.927 save percentage Vezina candidate and their shooting percentage spiked by 25% (they were 27th in the NHL in that category in 2012-13, 2nd in 2013-14). But it’s terribly, terribly unlikely and Craig MacTavish almost certainly won’t give us a chance to find out.

No. They will be better because in net they are better, but they are several significant personnel changes away.

The goaltending is way better going into this year than it was last year, but unless they improve the defence I can’t see things going much differently.

Lowetide 

Assuming you are talking UFA’s, I would target Paul Stastny, Andrei Markov, Ales Hemsky (seriously), Stephane Robidas, Mikhail Grabovski, Nikolai Kulemin, Lee Stempniak, David Moss. And I’d take a flier on Joni Pitkanen, too.

Jonathan Willis 

Andrei Markov and Nikolai Kulemin. Failing that, Nikita Nikitin and David Moss. Of course, that’s assuming Sam Gagner moves for a centre.

Brian Sutherby 

Not a ton out there in my opinion and you always have to overpay.  It’s easy to say Vanek, Bolland, or Callahan but the likelihood of that isn’t very good. They will ask for too much. I think Stasny stays in Colorado.

Two veteran guys I would target that might be more realistic options: David Legwand and Steve Ott.  Your guess is as good as mine for what kind of dollars they want. Although, what older player really wants to sign here at this point? Older players want to win.

Unless something changes like a massive trade that creates some excitement around this team at the draft, I think they will end up like last year with a couple middle to lower tier guys, happy to make a few extra bucks.

I’d like to see them improve the centre position by going after a guy like Statsny, but unless we’ve got some kind of nudes to hang over his head, I doubt he’d want to sign here.

Lowetide 

The problem with Gagner is that his skill set is duplicated on RW by Eberle, who is a better actual player. I think the only way to keep Gagner would be to keep him at center and bring in two veteran wingers like Kulemin and Moss. The Oilers can’t afford to do that, and bring in C’s and D’s, while staying under the cap.

Jonathan Willis 

There is room – and a good thing too, since the Oilers are going to be either retaining salary or taking a contract back in any Gagner deal.

Brian Sutherby 

I’m going to leave the salary cap part to the guys that know more about where the Oilers are at, but Grabovski is someone who could be more likely to sign here. His type of player wouldn’t be what I’d be looking to add, but maybe that’s just me.

Unless Gagner can learn to skate on stilts, or has an offseason growth spurt, I don’t think he fits on the team anymore.  Unfortunately, they’ll be trading him coming off a down year which means the other team will likely win the trade.

Lowetide 

Dazed and Confused, Zep.

Jonathan Willis 

R.E.M.’s Losing My Religion. It works on a lot of levels, but the basic idea of a total lack of answers in the face of frustrated obsession seems like a nice fit for the Oilers. Too, the combination of total irrelevance and all-consuming importance feels pretty much spot-on. That’s them in the corner, that’s them in the spotlight, losing their religion.

Brian Sutherby 

November Rain – Guns N Roses

How Many More Times – Zeppelin