As per tradition around here, Monday means that I’ve got a fresh Mailbag ready after taking your questions and sending them off to the crew for their take on whatever is on your mind. This week, we’re discussing the PTO gang, divisional rivals, the Edmonton Oilers’ defensive group, and much more. If you’ve got a question you’d like to ask, email it to me at baggedmilk@oilersnation.com or hit me up on Twitter at @jsbmbaggedmilk, and I’ll get to you as quickly as possible.

Edmonton has four returning defenders and Knoblauch is quite high on Ty Emberson. I think their D will be just fine for the regular season. The Oilers forwards have learned to be better defensively and help out. The continuity on the PK is a concern with Ceci and Desharnais gone, but the Oilers PK was only 79% (20^th) in the NHL until January 1^st. They were excellent in 2024, but struggled for the first three months. I’d say Oilers D corp is a 7.5 now.

That does seem to be the plan and if I’m being honest, I don’t dislike this group as much as some others. Im pretty confident in Troy Stecher’s ability to be an everyday defenseman and I think he can bring more value to the table than someone like Vinny Desharnais, who was prone to some big mistakes. I also think Emberson can be better than Cody Ceci, who I viewed as basically replacement level. They might actually be fine.

It’s new and scary and I think that’s causing pause for a lot of us, so I’m choosing to just take my hands off the wheel and let the Hockey Gords do the driving.

Dermott has the best chance for me. Weatherby has been in the AHL the past four seasons. Hoffman has slowed down each year. I could see Dermott starting in Bako, but they don’t really need him there either as they have Wanner, Dineen, Carrick, Kemp, Gleason and Hoefenmeyer already. But they might sign Dermott to a two-way deal.

I think all but Hoffman will, unless he’s willing to go play in the AHL. They need some vets in Bakersfield, so even if Weatherby and Dermott don’t earn NHL jobs, I could see the team wanting to keep them around as both an extra layer of depth and veteran help for the Condors.

I think Dermott will be signed as a hedge that Darnell Nurse’s injury is worse than it seems. Unless Mike Hoffman wants to ride the bus in the AHL, I can’t see him sticking.

Vancouver. Oilers beat them in seven last year, so the rivalry will naturally be higher this season.

It’s the Canucks. The fan bases hate each other, they’re the Oilers biggest obstacle when it comes to winning the division, and they just had a heated playoff series against each other.

It’s the Canucks. Easy answer. Going to a playoff game and dealing with their fanbase sets the table for a really nice rivalry this season. I’m looking forward to it.

I didn’t question his value. He adds the unique combination of skill, toughness and grit. The Oilers could use him, if he is healthy. Hopefully he doesn’t come back until he is healthy and able to play to his full potential. If he does he will be a big addition later in the season. There is no reason to rush him back for early February.

Not really. He can be very productive when he’s at his best, but he is just a bit too inconsistent. Yes, he says now that he was bothered all season but he also said late last season when he was healthy scratched that he was perfectly healthy. When he’s on, he’s great and he’s their third best play driving winger. We just don’t see that version of Kane enough.

When Kane is healthy, he’s one of the best power forwards in the league, but the problem is that he hasn’t been healthy in two years now. Frankly, it’s amazing he scored as much as he did last year. It was almost like getting his wrist stepped on in Tampa Bay a few years ago was the trigger for a run of bad luck, and I’m hoping these surgeries and some time to heal can remedy that.

James Hamblin or Rapheal Lavoie. Noah Philp and Lane Pederson could also be in the mix on the fourth line. I don’t see any other forwards with a chance.

I am contractually obligated to say Lane Pederson here.

To be different, I will say that Raphael Lavoie finally earns a spot.

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