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Monday Mailbag: How often do the Oilers play Tristan Jarry down the stretch?
Photo credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images
By baggedmilk
Mar 23, 2026, 09:00 EDTUpdated: Mar 23, 2026, 00:02 EDT
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 Leon Draisaitl’s injury, Tristan Jarry’s appearances, Matt Savoie’s scoring, 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.
Jan 20, 2026; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; The Edmonton Oilers celebrate a goal scored by forward Matt Savoie (22) during the second period against the New Jersey Devils at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images
1. Blair asks – What does Matt Savoie need to do to improve his finishing abilities? It seems like he’s in the right spot more often than not, but can’t quite get enough of those chances over the finish line.
Jason Gregor:
Will come with experience and patience. Another off-season working with skill coach on finishing helps, but more just the experience of knowing he might have an extra split second of time will help.
Tyler Yaremchuk:
I really don’t think there’s much to it. He’s scoring on 10% of this shots, which is pretty average and doesn’t reflect having poor finishing abilities or anything like that. I would maybe like to see him shoot the puck more. If he fired a few more shots a game then his goal totals would climb and this probably wouldn’t be a conversation.
Zach Laing:
Repetition and a strong summer will be key. At five-on-five, he’s averaging 6.41 shots on goal per hour, the seventh-best rate among regular Oilers forwards, and has done a good job of putting himself in good spots to score. Maybe some time with Vasily Podkolzin’s skills coach could help.
Baggedmilk:
At-bat and increasing his shot volume. I think that’s the ticket. He’ll get there.
Mar 10, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Edmonton Oilers center Leon Draisaitl (29) during the first period against the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
2. Gregg asks – Losing Leon Draisaitl is a massive blow to the Oilers’ stretch run, but other teams seem to find a way to get the job done anyway. Are there specific players who must step up significantly in Draisaitl’s absence, and why those players in particular?
Jason Gregor:
One player won’t replace him. The Oilers need scoring by committee, but I think the power play, where he has been their main finisher for the past five seasons (he has 109 goals, followed by McDavid 58, Hyman 51 and RNH 37), will need McDavid to become a more consistent shooter.
Tyler Yaremchuk:
I think there is some pressure on Ryan Nugent-Hopkins to start driving and producing at 5v5. The Oilers will need some secondary scoring without Draisaitl in the lineup and he’s a guy who can do that. I also wonder if an increase in ice-time and o-zone starts could spark Adam Henrique down the stretch.
Zach Laing:
No one person stepping up will fill the void. It has to be a collective effort, which sounds so cliché, but it’s so cliché for a reason. More depth scoring can help on that front.
Baggedmilk:
The whole lot of players need to be better. But not only do the boys need to pull up their socks, but they also need to ramp up the urgency. The emotional preparation could use a jolt.
Mar 12, 2026; Dallas, Texas, USA; Edmonton Oilers goaltender Tristan Jarry (35) looks down during the second period against the Dallas Stars at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
3. Yves asks – Not expecting a game-by-game breakdown, but how many of the remaining 11 games (by the time this is posted) should Tristan Jarry play down the stretch?
Jason Gregor:
It will depend on how he plays in his next start, which will be one of Utah or Vegas, I’d guess. If he plays well, then he could get another start sooner. I’d say he should start at least three.
Tyler Yaremchuk:
I would give him one on this road trip (maybe Utah), maybe the game against Chicago to start April and then the second half of the back-to-back the next week. If they’re locked into a playoff spot, he should get the last game of the regular season too.
Zach Laing:
The Oilers have only one back-to-back left this season, played on April 7 against the Utah Mammoth and April 8 against the San Jose Sharks, so Jarry will start one of those games. My guess would be the front half, as the Sharks are a Pacific Division foe in the midst of the playoff race, but the Oilers do have two days without games bookending the games. Maybe they consider Ingram on a back-to-back?
Baggedmilk:
I’d bet he gets 2-3 more starts unless something drastically changes.
Mar 15, 2026; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Edmonton Oilers left wing Zach Hyman (18) and Edmonton Oilers center Matt Savoie (22) celebrate a goal on Nashville Predators goalie Justus Annunen (29) during the second period at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Walter Tychnowicz-Imagn Images
4. Oilers fan in Van asks – Do you at all see it as a positive that, in a year where the Oilers are struggling for consistency, they still have a real chance to win their first division title since 1987? They make me madder than hell some nights, but I wonder if we’re missing some perspective on how close they are to still landing home ice for the first part of the playoffs.
Jason Gregor:
The positive is that they are in the Pacific “Pillow Fight” Division. Yes, they can still gain home ice in the first round, and once the playoffs begin, the regular season means nothing. IT is a new season, and the Oilers’ experience should help them. They’ve had spurts where they have looked good, but consistency has been their nemesis all season, and that will have to change in the playoffs if they want to win at least two rounds.
Tyler Yaremchuk:
No. It’s not a positive that their division is bordering on historically bad. It’s the only reason why they’re in a playoff spot and it’s probably the only reason that certain people haven’t lost their jobs yet.
Zach Laing:
It’s great that they’re once again in a position to take the division, and to be honest, this year is more for their taking than ever before, with the pillow fight Pacific being what it is. It would be more disappointing if they aren’t able to find that next level.
Baggedmilk:
The Pacific Division stinks, and that’s turned out to be a real blessing. Thank you to everyone else sucking too, I suppose.
Jun 3, 2025; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Edmonton Oilers general manager Stan Bowman along with Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch are seen during media day in advance of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Walter Tychnowicz-Imagn Images
5. Mathieu asks – The core is getting older, but the Oilers are also trading away assets to keep the Cup window open. How can Stan Bowman balance selling the future to maintain the present while also not letting the team get too old again?
Jason Gregor:
It is difficult to do both at once, but the Oilers aren’t that old. They’ve added Matt Savoie and Vasily Podkolzin to their top six/nine. McDavid and Draisaitl are still elite. Evan Bouchard is just entering his prime. Zach Hyman is among the top-five goal scorers in the past 50 games. He started the season slowly, recovering from wrist surgery, but isn’t showing signs of slowing down. I think the Oilers will transition from RNH to Savoie in the top six next season, and RNH can be a solid third-line player and isn’t overpaid.
They have Josh Samanski, who looks like a legit bottom-six NHLer, to replace Adam Henrique (UFA at the end of the season). Maybe Isaac Howard is ready next year. I think the Oilers have injected some youth to complement their core players. But they will need to find more 22-24-year-olds to fill more holes down the road.
Tyler Yaremchuk:
He has to keep doing what he’s already been doing. He acquired Ike Howard, who was closer to helping at the NHL level than Sam O’Reilly but still has years of upside. McLeod for Savoie wasn’t his trade, but it was a move that made them younger. Acquiring players like Podkolzin and Emberson are good examples of adding young players without giving up many assets. Even this year, they kind of swapped Stastney for Kulak on their blueline. They need to keep finding young players who have maybe fallen out of favour with their current organizations and can be acquired cheaply.
Zach Laing:
I really liked Jack Han’s take on this: the Oilers need to try to replicate the success they had with Podkolzin, acquiring a once-promising player who is struggling and in need of a change of scenery.
Baggedmilk:
I recommend that ownership look into hyperbaric chambers and blood boys. The fountain of youth is our ticket.
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