Good morning, everyone, and a happy Monday to you all. As per tradition, I’ve got a brand new mailbag set to go after taking your questions and sending them to the crew for their takes. This week, we’re discussing our favourite Ryan Nugent-Hopkins memories, the Andrew Mangiapane situation, contract swaps, and more. If you’ve got a question you’d like to ask, email it to me at baggedmilk@oilersnation.com or on Twitter at @jsbmbaggedmilk, and I’ll get to you as soon as I can.

The most memorable one was when he went in big brother mode and stood up for Kailer Yamamoto after Justin Holl hit him up high. RNH didn’t hesitate and skated right over to Holl and asked him to go. The fact he won the fight handily was a bonus, but RNH showing zero hesitation to stand up for Yamamoto was most impressive.

His two-goal game against the Flames back in the 2022 playoffs always sticks out to me simply because it was his first big playoff moment as an Oiler, and after dealing with all the coaching changes and rebuilds, it was great to see him finally have that moment at Rogers Place.

When he scored his 100th point of the season a couple of years back. It felt like an unachievable milestone, but then I learned to never underestimate the Nuge.

His fight with Sean Monahan is all-time.

Watching him score a hat trick in his 3rd NHL game. I was hooked from then.

If he plays well, but at this point, that seems unlikely. I don’t think the relationship has negative feelings, it just hasn’t worked out for either side. Mangiapane can’t say he wasn’t given a decent opportunity early. He was, and he did produce in October, but has struggled mightily since. Some relationships are best when ended.

I don’t think so. The team has tried to get him going in every way possible: top-six minutes, a bottom-six role, healthy scratching, putting him back in the lineup. Nothing has worked and it’s time for them to just try and get out of this contract. Freeing up that money for this year’s deadline and for next season would be huge.

Not unless he decides to start playing better. His recent performances have been unacceptable and not up to the standard they need to be.

He scored last night which was good for him, but he’s been a healthy scratch in six of the Oilers last 11 games. I think this ship has rightly sailed.

I can’t see it being saved with Mangiapane being a healthy scratch as often as he has been. That said, he is a veteran NHLer, so maybe he can find a way to turn his play around to get himself back in Knoblauch’s good graces.

A scoring top-six winger who can produce 5×5.

Third-line centre or another versatile top-nine player. I think building a third-line around Roslovic and Savoie would make this lineup so much more difficult to stop come playoff time. If they think that Nugent-Hopkins can handle that assignment, then maybe a top-six winger becomes a bigger need but for now, I want them to try and find a really strong 3C.

They need to get a third-line centre or a top-six winger.

I’m going to cop out and say a top-nine forward.

A 3C who can score. That keeps Nuge on the top line with McDavid and Hyman, moves Roslovic back to the wing.

Hindsight makes any decision easier. Podkolzin has a solid deal. IF Frederic was signed for a realistic term, 3-4 years, his contract wouldn’t look as bad. He hasn’t found his stride yet, but I still think he will be a decent contributor, but the term will always be a concern.

Yes. Not much more to add to that. You’d be out of the bad contract earlier and locked in with the good player for longer. Easy.

Yeah, that would’ve been a great idea. It’d be interesting to know why they didn’t do that.

Yes. An absolute no-brainer.

As I was reading this question, my brain went to the idea of “when is the next round of compliance buyouts?” I hate to admit that, but it’s true.

The 2002 Olympics. When Mario Lemieux let the Chris Pronger pass go through his legs right to Paul Kariya. Such a heads up play. Of course the Golden Goal was great, but I’m assuming others picked it.

For the Olympics has to be the Crosby golden goal. I was 12 years old at the time so it really is one of my formative hockey memories. Just a perfect storybook sports moment. Outside of Olympics, Eberle’s tying goal at the WJC still gives me goosebumps when I watch it.

Mine would be the World Juniors in Halifax a few years ago. The atmosphere was fantastic and should be the reason why all World Juniors are played in smaller towns and cities.

I remember watching the Golden Goal in 2010 in my parent’s living room, but going to the bar with my Dad to watch the semi-final game in 2014 and being drunk by 9 am might take the cake.

I was over in Southeast Asia during the 2010 Olympics, and I remember waking up at like four in the morning to watch the game and drink beers by myself. It was wonderful, but I was in a house full of sleeping people, so I had to keep my Crosby-related screams to a minimum.

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