If you&#8217;re reading this intro, it must be Monday again. As always, I&#8217;ve got a fresh Mailbag where I take your questions and send them off to the crew for their take on whatever is on your mind. This week, we&#8217;re talking about division wins, Jay Woodcroft striking out in the coaching market, Edmonton&#8217;s drafting issues, and a lot 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 hit me up 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 quickly as possible.

<figure id="attachment_156166" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-156166" style="width: 1024px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-156166" src="http://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Edmonton-Oilers-celebrate-playoff-goal-at-Rogers-Place-1024x683.jpg" alt="Edmonton Oilers celebrate goal at Rogers Place" width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Edmonton-Oilers-celebrate-playoff-goal-at-Rogers-Place-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Edmonton-Oilers-celebrate-playoff-goal-at-Rogers-Place-300x200.jpg 300w, https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Edmonton-Oilers-celebrate-playoff-goal-at-Rogers-Place-768x512.jpg 768w, https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Edmonton-Oilers-celebrate-playoff-goal-at-Rogers-Place-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Edmonton-Oilers-celebrate-playoff-goal-at-Rogers-Place.jpg 1911w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-156166" class="wp-caption-text">Jun 15, 2024; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Edmonton Oilers left wing Dylan Holloway (55) celebrates a goal with teammates in the third period against the Florida Panthers in game four of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure>
1) Mitch asks &#8211; The Oilers haven&#8217;t won a division title since 1987 despite having some pretty talented teams over the last 30 years. What does the 2024-25 edition of the team need to do to take home the Pacific Division?
Jason Gregor:
Finish with more points than Vancouver, Vegas and LA. 😊 Just play up to their potential. They have the most talented roster in the Pacific Division. They understand the importance of home ice advantage more than ever and I expect they will win the division.
Zach Laing:
Beat the Vancouver Canucks in the regular season. The Oilers were six points back of winning the division last year, falling short of the Canucks&#8217; 109 standings points. Edmonton went 0-4 against Vancouver last year, and even if they went 2-2, they win the division.
Here&#8217;s a look at how the Oilers shaped up against Pacific Division teams last year:
<table dir="ltr" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<colgroup>
<col width="23" />
<col width="139" />
<col width="26" />
<col width="33" />
<col width="26" />
<col width="26" />
<col width="26" />
<col width="33" />
<col width="45" />
<col width="40" />
<col width="33" />
<col width="40" />
<col width="40" />
<col width="58" /></colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Rk</td>
<td>Opponent</td>
<td>GP</td>
<td>W</td>
<td>L</td>
<td>T</td>
<td>OL</td>
<td>PTS</td>
<td>PTS%</td>
<td>GF</td>
<td>GA</td>
<td>GF/G</td>
<td>GA/G</td>
<td>Games</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1</td>
<td>Anaheim Ducks</td>
<td>4</td>
<td>4</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>1.000</td>
<td>26</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>6.5</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>4 games</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>7</td>
<td>Calgary Flames</td>
<td>4</td>
<td>3</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>6</td>
<td>0.750</td>
<td>15</td>
<td>11</td>
<td>3.75</td>
<td>2.75</td>
<td>4 games</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>13</td>
<td>Los Angeles Kings</td>
<td>4</td>
<td>3</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>6</td>
<td>0.750</td>
<td>11</td>
<td>9</td>
<td>2.75</td>
<td>2.25</td>
<td>4 games</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>23</td>
<td>Seattle Kraken</td>
<td>4</td>
<td>4</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>1.000</td>
<td>14</td>
<td>7</td>
<td>3.5</td>
<td>1.75</td>
<td>4 games</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>24</td>
<td>San Jose Sharks</td>
<td>3</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>4</td>
<td>0.667</td>
<td>16</td>
<td>5</td>
<td>5.33</td>
<td>1.67</td>
<td>3 games</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>28</td>
<td>Vancouver Canucks</td>
<td>4</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>4</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0.000</td>
<td>7</td>
<td>21</td>
<td>1.75</td>
<td>5.25</td>
<td>4 games</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>29</td>
<td>Vegas Golden Knights</td>
<td>3</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>4</td>
<td>0.667</td>
<td>11</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>3.67</td>
<td>2.67</td>
<td>3 games</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>18</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>36</td>
<td>0.691</td>
<td>100</td>
<td>69</td>
<td>3.9</td>
<td>2.6</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Baggedmilk:
Avoid the disastrous start they had last season, and the Pacific Division will be theirs. From my side of the screen, all the Oilers need to do is play like the Edmonton Oilers without the wild ebbs and flows we saw a year ago and they&#8217;ll be fine.
<figure id="attachment_155492" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-155492" style="width: 1024px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-155492" src="http://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/USATSI_23518593-1024x683.jpg" alt="Edmonton Oilers Florida Panthers" width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/USATSI_23518593-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/USATSI_23518593-300x200.jpg 300w, https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/USATSI_23518593-768x512.jpg 768w, https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/USATSI_23518593-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/USATSI_23518593-2048x1366.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-155492" class="wp-caption-text">Jun 10, 2024; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Edmonton Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch watches play during the second period against the Florida Panthers in game two of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena.</figcaption></figure>
2) Cliff asks &#8211; Jay Woodcroft had plenty of early success with the Oilers before things fell apart in the early part of the 2023-24 season. What does Kris Knoblauch have to do to ensure he doesn&#8217;t suffer that same fate?
Jason Gregor:
Knoblauch is a very different coach. I believe he will continue to rotate players on different lines and different D combos at times to keep things fresh. I think having Jeff Skinner and Viktor Arvidsson will help Knoblauch keep things fresh for the group.
Zach Laing:
There weren&#8217;t huge structural changes that Knoblauch and co. made when they came in. Instead, they simplified what the Oilers had, and Paul Coffey pushed the defencemen to not shy away from making plays. Rebuilding the teams&#8217; confidence was the biggest thing they could&#8217;ve done, and they did it well.
Baggedmilk:
Kris Knoblauch did a great job of maintaining his composure no matter what was going on, and I think that calmness helped the team tremendously. I think he&#8217;ll need to keep his willingness to make tough calls with his lineup to ensure accountability while also making sure guys feel rewarded when they&#8217;re playing well. More specifically, don&#8217;t immediately go back to Draisaitl/McDavid when things aren&#8217;t going your way.
<figure id="attachment_140184" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-140184" style="width: 1024px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-140184" src="http://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Edmonton-Oilers-coach-Jay-Woodcroft-1024x683.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Edmonton-Oilers-coach-Jay-Woodcroft-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Edmonton-Oilers-coach-Jay-Woodcroft-300x200.jpg 300w, https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Edmonton-Oilers-coach-Jay-Woodcroft-768x512.jpg 768w, https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Edmonton-Oilers-coach-Jay-Woodcroft-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Edmonton-Oilers-coach-Jay-Woodcroft-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-140184" class="wp-caption-text">May 14, 2023; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Edmonton Oilers head coach Jay Woodcroft looks on from the players bench during the second period against the Vegas Golden Knights in game six of the second round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Walter Tychnowicz-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure>
3) Gregg asks &#8211; Why do you think Jay Woodcroft hasn&#8217;t been able to land another NHL coaching gig? We saw his name in the running for a few different spots but he never ended up with the job. Do you think there&#8217;s anything behind this outside of being unlucky?
Jason Gregor:
I don’t think luck has much to do with the interview process. When Patrick Roy left Colorado he thought he’d get a job right away. It isn’t that easy and it took Roy seven years to get another NHL head coaching job. There are many qualified coaches, and each GM is looking for different attributes. A lot of it comes down to if they have a connection or if you connect with them during the interview process. Woodcroft will need to get back coaching in some capacity so he doesn’t become “out of sight, out of mind.”
Zach Laing:
While I don&#8217;t know this for certain, I&#8217;d speculate there&#8217;s likely some negative sentiment around him around the league. The fact the Oilers were able to rebound as much as they did under Knoblauch doesn&#8217;t paint a good image of Woodcroft, even though I still feel he&#8217;s an excellent coaching deserving of work in the NHL. I think he&#8217;ll be back sooner rather than later.
Baggedmilk:
I think a bunch of teams are looking for more experience than Woodcroft currently has. It&#8217;s no surprise to see the NHL re-treading old coaches over and over again, and Woody may have to wait until those old boys have all spun through the cycle another time or two. I mean, the way things ended in Edmonton certainly can&#8217;t help, especially when you see how the team was able to rebound under Knoblauch.
<figure id="attachment_156184" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-156184" style="width: 1024px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-156184" src="http://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/USATSI_23597025_168383996_lowres-1024x683.jpg" alt="Edmonton Oilers Zach Hyman Game 6 Stanley Cup Final" width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/USATSI_23597025_168383996_lowres-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/USATSI_23597025_168383996_lowres-300x200.jpg 300w, https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/USATSI_23597025_168383996_lowres-768x512.jpg 768w, https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/USATSI_23597025_168383996_lowres-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/USATSI_23597025_168383996_lowres-2048x1366.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-156184" class="wp-caption-text">Jun 21, 2024; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Edmonton Oilers left wing Zach Hyman (18) celebrates his goal with teammates against the Florida Panthers during the second period in game six of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure>
4) Cody asks &#8211; With Nuge having his 104 point season in 22-23 and Hyman&#8217;s 54 goal effort in 23-24, who&#8217;s the most likely player to produce that one-off outlier season in 24-25 and what&#8217;s your prediction for their point/goal total?
Jason Gregor:
Jeff Skinner has had a 40-goal season and has scored 80 points and if he does either is won’t be a big surprise. Arvidsson has had multiple 30-goal seasons and 60-point campaigns so reaching that won’t be an outlier. I will say Dylan Holloway will score 18 goals and 45+ points and produce his best season thus far.
Zach Laing:
Pencil me in for a 40-goal, 80-point season from Jeff Skinner. The Oilers bought low on an elite goalscorer coming off a down year. The big limitation here could be power play time, but he has a career-high 34 goals at even-strength, which he racked up in 2022-23. I could see him replicating that in Edmonton this year, and if the Oilers give their second power play unit more time this year, Skinner could tack on a few more there as the primary shooter.
Baggedmilk:
I think Zach Hyman will hit 40 goals because he knows how to excel alongside Connor McDavid. Last season was magic, but I don&#8217;t expect Hyman to score 50 again this year. As for RNH, I&#8217;m thinking a 25-goal campaign with 75+ points sounds about right.
<figure id="attachment_118256" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-118256" style="width: 1024px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-118256" src="http://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/USATSI_18654156-1024x682.jpg" alt="Nashville Predators Reid Schaefer " width="1024" height="682" srcset="https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/USATSI_18654156-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/USATSI_18654156-300x200.jpg 300w, https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/USATSI_18654156-768x512.jpg 768w, https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/USATSI_18654156-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/USATSI_18654156-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-118256" class="wp-caption-text">Jul 7, 2022; Montreal, Quebec, CANADA; Reid Schaefer after being selected as the number thirty-two overall pick to the Edmonton Oilers in the first round of the 2022 NHL Draft at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure>
5) James asks &#8211; How can the Oilers improve their drafting and player development? Over the last couple of years, we&#8217;ve seen the team trade both Reid Schaefer and Xavier Bourgault with neither appearing like they&#8217;ll be NHL difference makers any time soon.
Jason Gregor:
They hired Rick Pracey last summer to oversee their amateur scouting. He wasn’t here when those selections were made, so that is a major change. However, Schaefer did land them Mattias Ekholm, so I’d argue that pick worked for the Oilers. He’s only played one season in the AHL, and was only drafted two years ago. Way too early to suggest he was a bad pick. It is important to remember that for the majority of draft picks you don’t know what they will be for five years, some times longer.
Zach Laing:
I think that work has already begun in full swing, with Tyler Wright departing the organization last year, and Rick Pracey joining for this most recent draft. I think at the draft, the best thing to do is essentially draft the best player available and players that are producing at junior levels. You want to get upside into your organization, and I think the team did a good job of that this year.
Baggedmilk:
I wish I could give you a better answer here because it&#8217;s definitely been annoying that the Oilers haven&#8217;t had a string of prospects come in and blow the door down. That said, the draft is a crapshoot at the best of times so maybe expecting nothing but bangers isn&#8217;t exactly realistic.
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If you're reading this intro, it must be Monday again. As always, I've got a fresh Mailbag where I take your questions and send them off to the crew for their take on whatever is on your mind. This week, we're talking about division wins, Jay Woodcroft striking out in the coaching market, Edmonton's drafting issues, and a lot 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 hit me up 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 quickly as possible.



[caption id="attachment_156166" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]<img class="size-large wp-image-156166" src="http://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Edmonton-Oilers-celebrate-playoff-goal-at-Rogers-Place-1024x683.jpg" alt="Edmonton Oilers celebrate goal at Rogers Place" width="1024" height="683" /> Jun 15, 2024; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Edmonton Oilers left wing Dylan Holloway (55) celebrates a goal with teammates in the third period against the Florida Panthers in game four of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports[/caption]

1) Mitch asks - The Oilers haven't won a division title since 1987 despite having some pretty talented teams over the last 30 years. What does the 2024-25 edition of the team need to do to take home the Pacific Division?

Jason Gregor:

Finish with more points than Vancouver, Vegas and LA. 😊 Just play up to their potential. They have the most talented roster in the Pacific Division. They understand the importance of home ice advantage more than ever and I expect they will win the division.

Zach Laing:

Beat the Vancouver Canucks in the regular season. The Oilers were six points back of winning the division last year, falling short of the Canucks' 109 standings points. Edmonton went 0-4 against Vancouver last year, and even if they went 2-2, they win the division.

Here's a look at how the Oilers shaped up against Pacific Division teams last year:
<table dir="ltr" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><colgroup> <col width="23" /> <col width="139" /> <col width="26" /> <col width="33" /> <col width="26" /> <col width="26" /> <col width="26" /> <col width="33" /> <col width="45" /> <col width="40" /> <col width="33" /> <col width="40" /> <col width="40" /> <col width="58" /></colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Rk</td>
<td>Opponent</td>
<td>GP</td>
<td>W</td>
<td>L</td>
<td>T</td>
<td>OL</td>
<td>PTS</td>
<td>PTS%</td>
<td>GF</td>
<td>GA</td>
<td>GF/G</td>
<td>GA/G</td>
<td>Games</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1</td>
<td>Anaheim Ducks</td>
<td>4</td>
<td>4</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>1.000</td>
<td>26</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>6.5</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>4 games</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>7</td>
<td>Calgary Flames</td>
<td>4</td>
<td>3</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>6</td>
<td>0.750</td>
<td>15</td>
<td>11</td>
<td>3.75</td>
<td>2.75</td>
<td>4 games</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>13</td>
<td>Los Angeles Kings</td>
<td>4</td>
<td>3</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>6</td>
<td>0.750</td>
<td>11</td>
<td>9</td>
<td>2.75</td>
<td>2.25</td>
<td>4 games</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>23</td>
<td>Seattle Kraken</td>
<td>4</td>
<td>4</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>1.000</td>
<td>14</td>
<td>7</td>
<td>3.5</td>
<td>1.75</td>
<td>4 games</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>24</td>
<td>San Jose Sharks</td>
<td>3</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>4</td>
<td>0.667</td>
<td>16</td>
<td>5</td>
<td>5.33</td>
<td>1.67</td>
<td>3 games</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>28</td>
<td>Vancouver Canucks</td>
<td>4</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>4</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0.000</td>
<td>7</td>
<td>21</td>
<td>1.75</td>
<td>5.25</td>
<td>4 games</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>29</td>
<td>Vegas Golden Knights</td>
<td>3</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>4</td>
<td>0.667</td>
<td>11</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>3.67</td>
<td>2.67</td>
<td>3 games</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>18</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>36</td>
<td>0.691</td>
<td>100</td>
<td>69</td>
<td>3.9</td>
<td>2.6</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Baggedmilk:

Avoid the disastrous start they had last season, and the Pacific Division will be theirs. From my side of the screen, all the Oilers need to do is play like the Edmonton Oilers without the wild ebbs and flows we saw a year ago and they'll be fine.

[caption id="attachment_155492" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]<img class="size-large wp-image-155492" src="http://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/USATSI_23518593-1024x683.jpg" alt="Edmonton Oilers Florida Panthers" width="1024" height="683" /> Jun 10, 2024; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Edmonton Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch watches play during the second period against the Florida Panthers in game two of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena.[/caption]

2) Cliff asks - Jay Woodcroft had plenty of early success with the Oilers before things fell apart in the early part of the 2023-24 season. What does Kris Knoblauch have to do to ensure he doesn't suffer that same fate?

Jason Gregor:

Knoblauch is a very different coach. I believe he will continue to rotate players on different lines and different D combos at times to keep things fresh. I think having Jeff Skinner and Viktor Arvidsson will help Knoblauch keep things fresh for the group.

Zach Laing:

There weren't huge structural changes that Knoblauch and co. made when they came in. Instead, they simplified what the Oilers had, and Paul Coffey pushed the defencemen to not shy away from making plays. Rebuilding the teams' confidence was the biggest thing they could've done, and they did it well.

Baggedmilk:

Kris Knoblauch did a great job of maintaining his composure no matter what was going on, and I think that calmness helped the team tremendously. I think he'll need to keep his willingness to make tough calls with his lineup to ensure accountability while also making sure guys feel rewarded when they're playing well. More specifically, don't immediately go back to Draisaitl/McDavid when things aren't going your way.

[caption id="attachment_140184" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]<img class="size-large wp-image-140184" src="http://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Edmonton-Oilers-coach-Jay-Woodcroft-1024x683.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="683" /> May 14, 2023; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Edmonton Oilers head coach Jay Woodcroft looks on from the players bench during the second period against the Vegas Golden Knights in game six of the second round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Walter Tychnowicz-USA TODAY Sports[/caption]

3) Gregg asks - Why do you think Jay Woodcroft hasn't been able to land another NHL coaching gig? We saw his name in the running for a few different spots but he never ended up with the job. Do you think there's anything behind this outside of being unlucky?

Jason Gregor:

I don’t think luck has much to do with the interview process. When Patrick Roy left Colorado he thought he’d get a job right away. It isn’t that easy and it took Roy seven years to get another NHL head coaching job. There are many qualified coaches, and each GM is looking for different attributes. A lot of it comes down to if they have a connection or if you connect with them during the interview process. Woodcroft will need to get back coaching in some capacity so he doesn’t become “out of sight, out of mind.”

Zach Laing:

While I don't know this for certain, I'd speculate there's likely some negative sentiment around him around the league. The fact the Oilers were able to rebound as much as they did under Knoblauch doesn't paint a good image of Woodcroft, even though I still feel he's an excellent coaching deserving of work in the NHL. I think he'll be back sooner rather than later.

Baggedmilk:

I think a bunch of teams are looking for more experience than Woodcroft currently has. It's no surprise to see the NHL re-treading old coaches over and over again, and Woody may have to wait until those old boys have all spun through the cycle another time or two. I mean, the way things ended in Edmonton certainly can't help, especially when you see how the team was able to rebound under Knoblauch.

[caption id="attachment_156184" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]<img class="size-large wp-image-156184" src="http://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/USATSI_23597025_168383996_lowres-1024x683.jpg" alt="Edmonton Oilers Zach Hyman Game 6 Stanley Cup Final" width="1024" height="683" /> Jun 21, 2024; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Edmonton Oilers left wing Zach Hyman (18) celebrates his goal with teammates against the Florida Panthers during the second period in game six of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports[/caption]

4) Cody asks - With Nuge having his 104 point season in 22-23 and Hyman's 54 goal effort in 23-24, who's the most likely player to produce that one-off outlier season in 24-25 and what's your prediction for their point/goal total?

Jason Gregor:

Jeff Skinner has had a 40-goal season and has scored 80 points and if he does either is won’t be a big surprise. Arvidsson has had multiple 30-goal seasons and 60-point campaigns so reaching that won’t be an outlier. I will say Dylan Holloway will score 18 goals and 45+ points and produce his best season thus far.

Zach Laing:

Pencil me in for a 40-goal, 80-point season from Jeff Skinner. The Oilers bought low on an elite goalscorer coming off a down year. The big limitation here could be power play time, but he has a career-high 34 goals at even-strength, which he racked up in 2022-23. I could see him replicating that in Edmonton this year, and if the Oilers give their second power play unit more time this year, Skinner could tack on a few more there as the primary shooter.

Baggedmilk:

I think Zach Hyman will hit 40 goals because he knows how to excel alongside Connor McDavid. Last season was magic, but I don't expect Hyman to score 50 again this year. As for RNH, I'm thinking a 25-goal campaign with 75+ points sounds about right.

[caption id="attachment_118256" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]<img class="size-large wp-image-118256" src="http://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/USATSI_18654156-1024x682.jpg" alt="Nashville Predators Reid Schaefer " width="1024" height="682" /> Jul 7, 2022; Montreal, Quebec, CANADA; Reid Schaefer after being selected as the number thirty-two overall pick to the Edmonton Oilers in the first round of the 2022 NHL Draft at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports[/caption]

5) James asks - How can the Oilers improve their drafting and player development? Over the last couple of years, we've seen the team trade both Reid Schaefer and Xavier Bourgault with neither appearing like they'll be NHL difference makers any time soon.

Jason Gregor:

They hired Rick Pracey last summer to oversee their amateur scouting. He wasn’t here when those selections were made, so that is a major change. However, Schaefer did land them Mattias Ekholm, so I’d argue that pick worked for the Oilers. He’s only played one season in the AHL, and was only drafted two years ago. Way too early to suggest he was a bad pick. It is important to remember that for the majority of draft picks you don’t know what they will be for five years, some times longer.

Zach Laing:

I think that work has already begun in full swing, with Tyler Wright departing the organization last year, and Rick Pracey joining for this most recent draft. I think at the draft, the best thing to do is essentially draft the best player available and players that are producing at junior levels. You want to get upside into your organization, and I think the team did a good job of that this year.

Baggedmilk:

I wish I could give you a better answer here because it's definitely been annoying that the Oilers haven't had a string of prospects come in and blow the door down. That said, the draft is a crapshoot at the best of times so maybe expecting nothing but bangers isn't exactly realistic.
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Monday Mailbag – What do the Oilers have to do to win the Pacific Division?

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