Good morning, everyone, and a happy Monday to all of you. I&#8217;ve got a fresh mailbag ready to go after taking your questions and sending them to the crew for their take on whatever is on your mind. This week, we&#8217;re talking New Year&#8217;s Resolutions, unsung heroes, Leon Draisaitl&#8217;s amazing season so far, and much more. If you’ve got a question you’d like to ask, email it to me at <a class="text-accent" href="mailto:baggedmilk@oilersnation.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">baggedmilk@oilersnation.com</a> or on Twitter at <a class="text-accent" href="https://www.twitter.com/jsbmbaggedmilk" rel="noopener noreferrer">@jsbmbaggedmilk</a>, and I’ll get to you as soon as I can.

<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-109690" src="http://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/pexels-damir-mijailovic-5267480-1024x694.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="694" srcset="https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/pexels-damir-mijailovic-5267480-1024x694.jpg 1024w, https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/pexels-damir-mijailovic-5267480-300x203.jpg 300w, https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/pexels-damir-mijailovic-5267480-768x520.jpg 768w, https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/pexels-damir-mijailovic-5267480-1536x1041.jpg 1536w, https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/pexels-damir-mijailovic-5267480-2048x1388.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />
1) Mr Ed asks &#8211; What should be some Oilers New Year’s Resolution? Besides the team, feel free to add coaches and front office personnel to this question.
Jason Gregor:
Add some skilled size, speed and ruggedness to the roster before the trade deadline.
Tyler Yaremchuk:
Get meaner! Sometimes this team takes their foot off the gas against lesser competition, and sometimes, they seem a little reluctant to want to jump into scrums or stand up for their teammates. I want them to blow out bad teams, show that they&#8217;re the best team in the NHL for a reason and that if you take an extra shot, they&#8217;ll punch back.
Baggedmilk:
I&#8217;d love for them to commit to a simpler, greasier style of play. The Oilers are incredibly effective when they play a North-South game without trying to get too fancy, and I&#8217;d love to see them do it every night and not just most nights.
<figure id="attachment_166617" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-166617" style="width: 1024px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-166617" src="http://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/USATSI_25043162_168383996_lowres-1024x682.jpg" alt="Edmonton Oilers Leon Draisaitl scores game winner" width="1024" height="682" srcset="https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/USATSI_25043162_168383996_lowres-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/USATSI_25043162_168383996_lowres-300x200.jpg 300w, https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/USATSI_25043162_168383996_lowres-768x512.jpg 768w, https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/USATSI_25043162_168383996_lowres.jpg 1298w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-166617" class="wp-caption-text">Dec 21, 2024; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl (29) celebrates after scoring a goal during overtime against the San Jose Sharks at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure>
2) Clay asks &#8211; How would you describe Leon Draisaitl&#8217;s season so far? It seems to me like we&#8217;re getting playoff Leon in December, which is something we haven&#8217;t seen before.
Jason Gregor:
He’s been very good in all facets of his game, offensively and defensively. I thought he had an underrated season last year, in terms of his defensive play. He’s taken it to a new level. He is a legit candidate for the Art Ross, Hart and Selke. Very impressive first 36 games for him.
Tyler Yaremchuk:
Dominant. With the puck on his stick, he just does such a good job of controlling play. He&#8217;s scoring at a ridiculous rate, he&#8217;s been productive at 5v5 without a true play driving linemate, and he&#8217;s looking like playoff Leon in the middle of December.
Baggedmilk:
Polished. This is the most well-rounded Leon Draisaitl has ever looked, and I&#8217;m a big fan of seeing that improvement in his game.
<figure id="attachment_166939" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-166939" style="width: 1024px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-166939" src="http://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/USATSI_24452375-1024x683.jpg" alt="Edmonton Oilers goaltenders Calvin Pickard and Stuart Skinner" width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/USATSI_24452375-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/USATSI_24452375-300x200.jpg 300w, https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/USATSI_24452375-768x512.jpg 768w, https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/USATSI_24452375-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/USATSI_24452375-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-166939" class="wp-caption-text">Oct 9, 2024; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Edmonton Oilers goaltender Calvin Pickard (30) replaces goaltender Stuart Skinner (74) after he gave up 5 goals on 13 shots against the Winnipeg Jets at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure>
3) Jim asks &#8211; Is save percentage a broken stat? Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard have been playing well over the last month, but their save percentages are stuck around .900 even though they&#8217;ve both exceeded that since the slow start.
Jason Gregor:
It is hard for it to go up when they don’t get a lot of shots. I’d focus more on the GAA stat. That matters much more for me. Do we focus more on a shooter’s SH% or his goal total? I think Sv% doesn’t always tell the story.
Tyler Yaremchuk:
It&#8217;s just hard to overcome a slow start. I don&#8217;t think it&#8217;s a broken stat, but it shouldn&#8217;t really be viewed in isolation because there are so many variables to consider with it. Quality of chances, the score of the game, all of that stuff is important to consider.
Baggedmilk:
I think it&#8217;s a pretty solid stat. What is the percentage of shots that they stop? Makes sense to me.
<figure id="attachment_166042" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-166042" style="width: 1024px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-166042" src="http://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/USATSI_24973069-1024x683.jpg" alt="Edmonton Oilers Ty Emberson" width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/USATSI_24973069-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/USATSI_24973069-300x200.jpg 300w, https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/USATSI_24973069-768x512.jpg 768w, https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/USATSI_24973069-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/USATSI_24973069-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-166042" class="wp-caption-text">Dec 12, 2024; Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Wild center Jakub Lauko (94) and Edmonton Oilers defenseman Ty Emberson (49) fight in the first period at Xcel Energy Center.</figcaption></figure>
4) Yves asks &#8211; Who is your first half unsung hero for the Oilers?
Jason Gregor:
Brett Kulak. He’s been very solid.
Tyler Yaremchuk:
I will say its Vasiliy Podkolzin. He hasn&#8217;t chipped in a lot of offense but he&#8217;s been a good source of energy and he helps on the PK. I&#8217;ve liked him game. Ty Emberson is getting better and better as well. Can you imagine if he wasn&#8217;t developing and the team had to play Josh Brown every night? Yikes.
Baggedmilk:
I&#8217;m going to go with Calvin Pickard. When he was signed ahead of last season, no one would have ever expected him to be the Oilers&#8217; every day backup, and yet, here he is. He doesn&#8217;t play all that often, but when he does, he gives the Oilers reasonable minutes, and that&#8217;s all you can ask for.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-158255" src="http://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Edmonton-Oilers-Stan-Bowman-Jeff-Jackson-1024x575.jpg" alt="Edmonton Oilers Stan Bowman Jeff Jackson" width="1024" height="575" srcset="https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Edmonton-Oilers-Stan-Bowman-Jeff-Jackson-1024x575.jpg 1024w, https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Edmonton-Oilers-Stan-Bowman-Jeff-Jackson-300x168.jpg 300w, https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Edmonton-Oilers-Stan-Bowman-Jeff-Jackson-768x431.jpg 768w, https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Edmonton-Oilers-Stan-Bowman-Jeff-Jackson.jpg 1288w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />
5) James in Peterborough asks &#8211; Stan Bowman has had some time in the GM position now. What letter grade would you give him so far and why?
Jason Gregor:
Podkolzin and Kapanen moves have both worked out really well. I didn’t expect him to make many other moves thus far. Now until the trade deadline is where he will earn his money this year.
Tyler Yaremchuk:
I will say he gets a C+. He&#8217;s made some good moves but nothing flashy. He&#8217;ll be judged on how he does with his big swings. I like Emberson, Podkolzin and Kapanen, but he needs to find a top four defenseman and that&#8217;s the move that will really effect his grade. The offer sheet stuff wasn&#8217;t totally his fault, but he could have pushed to lock up one of those players when he first got his job.
Baggedmilk:
I&#8217;ll go with a C grade mostly because he hasn&#8217;t had a chance to do too much yet. I like the Emberson and Podkolzin trades, I like the Kapanen waiver claim, and I don&#8217;t blame him for the way the offer sheet scenario played out either. After Jeff Jackson signed all of the free agents on July 1st, Bowman basically walked up to the table with his cards half-played. We&#8217;ll have a better idea of how he&#8217;s doing once the deadline rolls around.
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Good morning, everyone, and a happy Monday to all of you. I've got a fresh mailbag ready to go after taking your questions and sending them to the crew for their take on whatever is on your mind. This week, we're talking New Year's Resolutions, unsung heroes, Leon Draisaitl's amazing season so far, and much more. If you’ve got a question you’d like to ask, email it to me at <a class="text-accent" href="mailto:baggedmilk@oilersnation.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">baggedmilk@oilersnation.com</a> or on Twitter at <a class="text-accent" href="https://www.twitter.com/jsbmbaggedmilk" rel="noopener noreferrer">@jsbmbaggedmilk</a>, and I’ll get to you as soon as I can.



<img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-109690" src="http://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/pexels-damir-mijailovic-5267480-1024x694.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="694" />

1) Mr Ed asks - What should be some Oilers New Year’s Resolution? Besides the team, feel free to add coaches and front office personnel to this question.

Jason Gregor:

Add some skilled size, speed and ruggedness to the roster before the trade deadline.

Tyler Yaremchuk:

Get meaner! Sometimes this team takes their foot off the gas against lesser competition, and sometimes, they seem a little reluctant to want to jump into scrums or stand up for their teammates. I want them to blow out bad teams, show that they're the best team in the NHL for a reason and that if you take an extra shot, they'll punch back.

Baggedmilk:

I'd love for them to commit to a simpler, greasier style of play. The Oilers are incredibly effective when they play a North-South game without trying to get too fancy, and I'd love to see them do it every night and not just most nights.

[caption id="attachment_166617" align="alignnone" width="1024"]<img class="size-large wp-image-166617" src="http://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/USATSI_25043162_168383996_lowres-1024x682.jpg" alt="Edmonton Oilers Leon Draisaitl scores game winner" width="1024" height="682" /> Dec 21, 2024; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl (29) celebrates after scoring a goal during overtime against the San Jose Sharks at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images[/caption]

2) Clay asks - How would you describe Leon Draisaitl's season so far? It seems to me like we're getting playoff Leon in December, which is something we haven't seen before.

Jason Gregor:

He’s been very good in all facets of his game, offensively and defensively. I thought he had an underrated season last year, in terms of his defensive play. He’s taken it to a new level. He is a legit candidate for the Art Ross, Hart and Selke. Very impressive first 36 games for him.

Tyler Yaremchuk:

Dominant. With the puck on his stick, he just does such a good job of controlling play. He's scoring at a ridiculous rate, he's been productive at 5v5 without a true play driving linemate, and he's looking like playoff Leon in the middle of December.

Baggedmilk:

Polished. This is the most well-rounded Leon Draisaitl has ever looked, and I'm a big fan of seeing that improvement in his game.

[caption id="attachment_166939" align="alignnone" width="1024"]<img class="size-large wp-image-166939" src="http://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/USATSI_24452375-1024x683.jpg" alt="Edmonton Oilers goaltenders Calvin Pickard and Stuart Skinner" width="1024" height="683" /> Oct 9, 2024; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Edmonton Oilers goaltender Calvin Pickard (30) replaces goaltender Stuart Skinner (74) after he gave up 5 goals on 13 shots against the Winnipeg Jets at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images[/caption]

3) Jim asks - Is save percentage a broken stat? Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard have been playing well over the last month, but their save percentages are stuck around .900 even though they've both exceeded that since the slow start.

Jason Gregor:

It is hard for it to go up when they don’t get a lot of shots. I’d focus more on the GAA stat. That matters much more for me. Do we focus more on a shooter’s SH% or his goal total? I think Sv% doesn’t always tell the story.

Tyler Yaremchuk:

It's just hard to overcome a slow start. I don't think it's a broken stat, but it shouldn't really be viewed in isolation because there are so many variables to consider with it. Quality of chances, the score of the game, all of that stuff is important to consider.

Baggedmilk:

I think it's a pretty solid stat. What is the percentage of shots that they stop? Makes sense to me.

[caption id="attachment_166042" align="alignnone" width="1024"]<img class="size-large wp-image-166042" src="http://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/USATSI_24973069-1024x683.jpg" alt="Edmonton Oilers Ty Emberson" width="1024" height="683" /> Dec 12, 2024; Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Wild center Jakub Lauko (94) and Edmonton Oilers defenseman Ty Emberson (49) fight in the first period at Xcel Energy Center.[/caption]

4) Yves asks - Who is your first half unsung hero for the Oilers?

Jason Gregor:

Brett Kulak. He’s been very solid.

Tyler Yaremchuk:

I will say its Vasiliy Podkolzin. He hasn't chipped in a lot of offense but he's been a good source of energy and he helps on the PK. I've liked him game. Ty Emberson is getting better and better as well. Can you imagine if he wasn't developing and the team had to play Josh Brown every night? Yikes.

Baggedmilk:

I'm going to go with Calvin Pickard. When he was signed ahead of last season, no one would have ever expected him to be the Oilers' every day backup, and yet, here he is. He doesn't play all that often, but when he does, he gives the Oilers reasonable minutes, and that's all you can ask for.

<img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-158255" src="http://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Edmonton-Oilers-Stan-Bowman-Jeff-Jackson-1024x575.jpg" alt="Edmonton Oilers Stan Bowman Jeff Jackson" width="1024" height="575" />

5) James in Peterborough asks - Stan Bowman has had some time in the GM position now. What letter grade would you give him so far and why?

Jason Gregor:

Podkolzin and Kapanen moves have both worked out really well. I didn’t expect him to make many other moves thus far. Now until the trade deadline is where he will earn his money this year.

Tyler Yaremchuk:

I will say he gets a C+. He's made some good moves but nothing flashy. He'll be judged on how he does with his big swings. I like Emberson, Podkolzin and Kapanen, but he needs to find a top four defenseman and that's the move that will really effect his grade. The offer sheet stuff wasn't totally his fault, but he could have pushed to lock up one of those players when he first got his job.

Baggedmilk:

I'll go with a C grade mostly because he hasn't had a chance to do too much yet. I like the Emberson and Podkolzin trades, I like the Kapanen waiver claim, and I don't blame him for the way the offer sheet scenario played out either. After Jeff Jackson signed all of the free agents on July 1st, Bowman basically walked up to the table with his cards half-played. We'll have a better idea of how he's doing once the deadline rolls around.
<h2>PRESENTED BY STAR MECHANICAL</h2>
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