What have we here? A brand new mailbag that’s hot and ready just in time for draft week. I hope that all of you had a wonderful weekend as we all rested up for what will be an action-packed week rammed with rumours and draft related goodness. As always, I’ve sent your questions out to the writers and waited for all of their worldly wisdom to be able to share it with you. Looking ahead, I still need questions for next week, so if there is something Oilers related (or not) that you want to ask, feel free to hit me up by email or on Twitter. Enjoy.

No. Five years at $4.5 million. Not an upgrade at all.

He’s an over-priced, under-performing boat anchor for whoever he is partnered with. No thanks.

He would maybe be an upgrade on Matt Benning, but the bottom line is that he’s incredibly overpaid and has five more years on his deal. The only way I even consider Zaitsev is if Kris Russell is unloaded and the Leafs are packaging someone like Kasperi Kapanen with him. Then, it might work out for the Oilers. If it’s Zaitsev straight up, even if the Oilers don’t have to give up anything, then I’m not even listening.

I’m skeptical. If a team like Toronto, who is very desperate for decent right-handed defencemen, is trying to dump him then you know something’s wrong. Zaitsev isn’t good. He’s more of the Russell/Hainsey player where he plays a lot of minutes but isn’t equipped to handle them. I think he’d be a slight upgrade on Russell mostly because he’s a right-handed shot and younger. I’d stay far away from Zaitsev and his contract. I’d pass, even with Kasperi Kapanen or Andreas Johnsson were added as a sweetener.

At first, when I heard that the Oilers could be interested in Zaitsev, I thought that Peter Chiarelli had somehow gotten his job back. Even after realizing that this was not the case, I still can’t figure out why this would even be a thing. Bad idea.

Wise move. He wants to be an NHL head coach and the best way to do that is by running his own bench in the AHL. He loved having that responsibility last year and he was never really in running to go to LA. They are keeping Marco Sturm as an offensive assistant coach. Todd McLellan is looking for an assistant to run the defence. They will only have a three-man system in LA.

I think Jay is playing it smart at this point in his career. If he wants to be a head coach at the NHL level then the best path is to be a head coach at the AHL level in Bakersfield. Continue to have success there and he sets himself up as the next guy after Dave Tippett in Edmonton. If Tippett is going strong three years from now, other teams will come calling if he continues to do what he did last season in the AHL.

I heard some rumours about how much money the Kings offered him and it was substantial. However, I’m not totally stunned that he’s taking a gamble on himself and his future as an NHL Head Coach. It’s good to keep good employees when you have them and I’m excited to see what Woodcroft continues to do down in Bakersfield.

I like it. If I was in Woodcroft’s shoes I’d do the same. I don’t see LA being super competitive so this is a chance to build a name for himself and potentially get a head coaching job in the future.

I loved seeing this. I think Woodcroft did a great job with the Condors last year and it can only be considered good news to see him coming back.

They wouldn’t use a buyout on him this summer. No cap savings. The buyout has no benefit, similar to Lucic. He would play on PK and likely in a bottom six role.

Depends on what the trade looks like. I don’t see Holland getting sucked into trading for Eriksson in the first place if he has to add another player or draft pick.

I think they would give him an honest look. In my opinion, if you’re doing that trade, it’s because you believe Eriksson will work well with one of your skilled centres, not because you believe he’s a better bottom six winger than Milan Lucic.

Eriksson’s buyout isn’t much better than Lucic’s. I’d expect the Oilers to keep him for a season and explore options afterwards. Eriksson would have just two seasons left at $6 million. After his signing bonus is paid, presumably July 1st, 2020, he’s only due $5 million for the last two years of his contract. Maybe that interests a team like Ottawa or Arizona.

I doubt they would buy him out. They’d probably slot him in on the third line and on the PK and hope they can get some kind of rebound from him.

Try not to put too much pressure on yourself, and don’t worry if you don’t win right away. Every superstar has a different path.

Do what you do and let everybody else worry about everybody else.

Shoot the puck more.

Tim’s iced cap with an espresso shot.

Enjoy the ride, my friend. Before you know it, you’ll be retired and telling stories about when you were the greatest player on earth.

Yes, Holland will make a move. I see him moving out a D-man. Matthew Boldy is my guess on who they take at the draft.

I think Holland makes at least one trade involving roster players. Unless a team (or teams) goes right off the board ahead of them and leaves a consensus top five guy hanging there, I think they take Philip Broberg with the eighth pick.

I’m expecting a defensemen to be dealt, a forward to be acquired, and a forward to be drafted.

I expect them to make a move. Ken Holland should be a bit familiar with his roster and assets and I wouldn’t be surprised if he does something fairly substantial. There’s been a lot of Philip Broberg talk, but Keith Gretzky saying they will go Best Player Available on Gregor’s show encourages me. Someone usually falls and changes things in the top ten. They should be able to acquire a top-six winger.

I expect the Oilers to go up there and take the best player available. I also expect Holland to make some kind of move to try and clear some cap room in that bottom six.

Tickets are available here and will be on sale straight through until the date of the party. Thanks so much for the support and we look forward to seeing you there.