Whether you’re reading this in the evening when you get home from work, or you already read it in an attempt to kill company time I welcome you to another edition of Mailbag Monday.  This feature is all about you guys, and if you have a question you’d like ask our panel of heroes just email it to me at baggedmilk@oilersnation.com. Sit back, relax, and learn something. Enjoy!

One of the more questionable decisions of the Oilers in 2015-16 was to keep Nurse up for the duration; presumably they had a development angle but it does make it more difficult to send him to the farm. Having said that, he’s on a two-way contract, so if assigned he would have little choice but to go.

The Oilers are still a building team, so Nurse in the AHL—if that is what is best for him—should be a priority. I said it last year and it came true—Edmonton did not have enough depth to keep him on the farm. That should be the goal this season, with the understanding he is no doubt good enough to be the first recall, or beat out the competition. A very good young player.

I’ve been having this same debate with myself; I fully agree that at least a little bit of time in Bako would probably do wonders to help Nurse’s development. But like you said, I think it would definitely be a tough sell for Chiarelli to sit him down and tell him he’s back in the AHL after playing what was more or less a full NHL season. Best case scenario is they do send him down and he turns his potential frustrations with that into motivation to play as well as he can so they have no choice but to call him up before Christmas.

But at the same time maybe he’ll have an unbelievable summer, and come into training camp legitimately ready to patrol the blue line on opening night.

It takes courage to do what is best for the player even if you anger him. Teams need to think long term. I do think some time in the AHL would be good for Darnell. One area that he can clean up is on ice awareness, knowing where everyone is on the ice. He gets puck focused and forgets to check over his shoulder. This is an issue all young D man struggle with.

What choice would he have but to accept it? Not sure I agree the ideal place is Bakersfield. There’s a happy medium between being forced into too many minutes with the Oilers and being sent to the AHL.

Players have done it before, so I doubt that is the issue. Nurse will come to camp stronger and more experienced. It is hard to predict how players will play. None of us thought Davidson would be as good as he was this year. Nurse might be ready, but the good news for the Oilers is they have enough depth on the left side right now that they don’t have to give him a spot. If he earns it, great, but if he isn’t better than the competition starting the season in the AHL won’t be bad, and he would accept it, although he would be disappointed.

I think he’d accept being anywhere if he truly gets outplayed for a position. However, I have him pencilled in on the third pair right now. I don’t think the plan includes a lot more AHL time anymore. If he adds more muscle this summer and plays with Davidson in the fall I think he can be part of an effective third pair. If the team sends him to Bakersfield without having someone else actually beat him for the spot on the NHL club then he will be upset for sure. He’s an emotional guy.

If the Oilers want Darnell Nurse in the AHL, playing with Bakersfield, then there’s not much ol’ Darryl can do about it. He could sit out, I guess, but I really can’t see that happening. If you take Chiarelli at his word about improving the defense, we will likely see Darnell playing third pairing minutes next season. That way he would be able to improve with sheltered minutes. That being said, if the defense improves so much that Nurse starts in the AHL then that can only mean good things going forward. People need to stop looking at playing in Bakersfield like it’s a punishment.

An actual player return makes more sense to me. There are a lot of teams out there with prospects/young NHL players with both a) formidable upside and b) tremendous warts in the present; in a 1-for-1 deal I assume Edmonton would get back a player who belongs in that category with Yakupov.

I think the Oilers would like a useful player, preferably a younger talent. I will list Damon Severson of NJD as someone who might be a match.

If all they’re going to get is a draft pick then I’m holding onto him. While Yak hasn’t lived up to his first overall billing he still has 250 NHL games under his belt and has proven that he can play at this level (your milage will vary on this). The last thing the Oilers need to do at this point is give up a roster player for more magic beans that could turn out to be even less useful. Minimum I’m looking for is a bubble player; someone who either hasn’t quite been ready to make the jump to the NHL, but is close or who hasn’t really had a chance due to playing for a team with actual depth.

Much like Justin Schultz I really hope Nail moves to a new team and does great. I got a chance to hang out with him during the final game at Rexall and he is just a very nice guy. That being said, a new home will be good for him to reignite. I know Lowetide doesn’t want to hear that though!

I suspect the Oilers would rather get a player 2-3 seasons into his pro career than a draft pick, especially since there’s no chance they’d get near a first-round pick, even a later in the round, for him.

I suspect they are looking for an actual NHL player. The Oilers don’t need to trade him for a pick that might help the team in four years. They need an NHL player ideally.

Actual return? Maybe a second rounder, an OK but overpriced 3C, or an equally late blooming former high pick. Alternatively Yak is packaged with someone else to get something better than what I previously mentioned. If they pull off a 1-for-1 deal netting a low return I will question why they even bothered to move him at all – acknowledging he’s asked for a trade.

I would think that Chiarelli will be looking for a player that’s at a similar stage in their career. It would likely be a young player with some warts that may be looking for a change of scenery. 

Of course there are, and the list is far too long to answer in a single question. For example, Edmonton might be interested in a backup goalie; if they went shopping on the UFA list we might include Karri Ramo, Anton Khudobin, Chad Johnson, Jhonas Enroth, Al Montoya, Antti Raanta, Jeff Zatkoff and Jeremy Smith as possibilities and that’s without even getting into plausible but unacceptable candidates like Cam Ward. That’s eight names right there for one job. Add in one depth forward and one depth defenceman and the list is already over 25 names and that’s before we start looking at players with a bigger impact.

I would target Jason Demers among defenders, Jhonas Enroth from the available goalies (unless Chiarelli wants to spend more and James Reimer is available). I bet Peter Chiarelli will make a charge for Milan Lucic if he comes available.

I answered this a couple mailbags ago, but I’m fully on Team Chad “Not Ocho Cinco” Johnson for backup goalie duties next season.

I can’t answer this question until we know what happens with the Draft Lottery. If the Oilers get the first pick everything changes ask me in two weeks.

I think we just answered this, but it’s worth at least making a call on David Backes, Milan Lucic, Jason Demers and maybe Keith Yandle.

Hard to say who will still be a UFA on July 1st. But of those currently, David Backes could help so could Jason Demers, but price point will be the issue. I don’t overpay either of them. If you could get at the right price, then sure.

There are a few UFAs that could help. Lucic and Demers are 2 names we’ll here about until they hit the market or re-sign. Demers could add a solid 2nd pair presence and Lucic is a Chiarelli-type player all over. Not sure the Oil want to spend Lucic money and he’s expressed a desire to stay in LA, but they would be valuable additions.

I know Oilers fans are hoping for Lucic but I’m going to guess that LA finds a way to keep him. I don’t know how they’ll make it work, but they’re one of those teams that always seems to find a way to free up cap space. I think Backes would be fun, albeit unlikely. I would like Demers on the right side. I hope for Stamkos only because it would be hilarious to laugh at Leafs fans. Kyle Okposo would be a solid replacement for Eberle if the Oilers do decide to move him. Lots of options that would be fun, but who knows how many would come around here.

Excluding paper routes and all the little small jobs that kids go looking for, my first job was at a fast food joint. I spent about a year there and if I remember correctly my first check bought a Nintendo 64 and a KOHO Hockey hoodie (it had to be KOHO given my Finnish roots).

First job was probably picking rocks, then delivering Saskatoon Star-Phoenix and delivering parcels for Sears. First job where I went to work every day and stayed without going to school? CJOI Radio, Wetaskiwin. My first cheque was for $600, I cashed it at the CIBC and bought Ray Stout a beer at the Driard Hotel because I owed him. The rest of that money probably went to putting gas and oil in my 1967 Chevy Bel Air Super Sport. I loved that car. Ray was cool, too.

I helped a friend deliver the St. Albert Gazette for a couple weeks one summer, and I did a couple shifts with my friends moms catering company, but my first REAL job was working in the deli at Save On Foods (#StAlbertNorthForLife). I have no idea what I spent my first cheque on but I assume it was a combination of beer, gas and McDonalds.

I was a carpet cleaner. I did it for 10 days. I got drafted and quit on day 11. I needed more time to train in the morning then I did yard work in the pm. I bought a pair of Big Star jeans. 100$. My dad thought I was crazy but the ladies loved it!

First ever job was my paper route. Bought gum and Pez.

My first job was working as a gas jockey at the Mohawk in Beaumont. I was 14. I have no idea what I spent the money on. Nothing memorable. Probably junk food and some Intellivision games.

My first real job was at Panagopoulos Pizza, before it was called Panago. I was in Grade 9 going into Grade 10 that summer. I think I was make $5.95 an hour to toss pizzas. I don’t remember how long I worked there, I just remember really not getting along with the Manager. I’m pretty sure most of my first several pay cheques were spent on CDs.

My first paying job was probably vacuuming the bar at my uncle’s hotel in Manning, Alberta, when I was a kid. Every morning I would come in to vacuum the bar, drink countless glasses of fountain pop, eat beef jerky, and keep whatever change the drunks had dropped on the floor. 

Oh, there’s a long, long list of fun summer activities and I’m not even going to get started because this is Year ?? of a ??-year project to renovate my house. So plumbing, electrical, gas-fitting, dry-walling, flooring, painting, you name it, that’s where my spare hours this summer are going.

I enjoy biking, long walks and BBQ. I also enjoy listening to summer music in the car (loud!) and puttering around in the yard. Yelling at young people is becoming increasingly popular as I age.

There’s no better way to spend a weekend than hanging out at the lake; drinking too many beers, taking the boat out for a rip, eating way too many hot dogs, passing out in a bush and then doing it all again the next night.

And for a more local flavour you can catch me drinking team pitchers of Nation Beer on the Pint patio way too often this summer.

Running in the river valley.

Watching my son play soccer. Collector car events. 

I enjoy BBQing. I’m not a great cook in the kitchen, but I can whip up some great meals on the BBQ. Also, road biking and walking through the fields at the farm.

My family keeps me running around like crazy all the time so I don’t get a lot of free time, but I get to play a lot more video games in the summer. I’m a PS4 guy so I’m pretty excited about the new Uncharted coming out. I’m also into smaller, story based games like Firewatch. If ON would let me churn out summer video game content, I would be all over it.

I’m excited to spend time outside again. We BBQ a lot at the Castle Milk and that tends to also mean day drinking int he sun. The same can be said about going out to the lake on what seems like a bi-weekly basis. I roll into Nation HQ with a beer/rum/vodka/wine/sangria-related hangover far too often in the summer, and it all stems from my lifelong commitment to battling dehydration and sobriety.

I’m also looking forward to the Nation events we have coming for the summer. We like to party, and we like to invite all you to join us.