Good morning, everyone, and a happy Monday to each and all of you. I’ve got a brand new 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 discussing Noah Philp’s NHL debut, Oilers dropping the mitts, the defence, 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.

Keeping playing the same. In his two games he looked like he did in preseason. Smart, poised, good on faceoffs and chipping in offensively. He will need to continue to play well, because Derek Ryan won’t give up his roster spot easily. I’m sure Ryan sees what is happening. Ryan played equally as well as Philp in the preseason, which is why Philp started in Bakersfield, but Ryan will need to respond when he gets back in the lineup.

Just keep doing what he’s doing. The guy is already playing some solid bottom-six hockey, and I think his size and speed will result in plenty of leash, as he works to find his way. I also think he actually earned a job right out of training camp, but understand why the Oilers wanted to give him some at-bats in the AHL before being recalled. I’m already betting on him sticking with the team for the rest of the year.

They had 20 fights last season and already have seven this year, although I suspect they won’t remain on pace for 47 tilts. Most of their fights have been spur-of-the-moment, and those types of fights seem to get a bench more engaged. They’ve done well in their scraps, and that always helps. It can often just add some juice to the bench. Not every fight will lead to a momentum swing, but teammates always respect a player who is willing to drop the gloves, especially when it is players who don’t fight regularly.

I think it means they’re starting to gel as a team. I think it goes a long way if the boys are willing to defend each other regardless of who the opponent is, and it’s not surprising to me to see the bench get a lift after a good scrap. That said, I also don’t think the Oilers will continue to fight at this rate. They’ll be way more selective on when they go once they start to turn the corner offensively.

He essentially has replaced Connor McDavid’s production. McDavid had 10 points in 10 games, and now Podkolzin has two in two games without McDavid. I’m kidding of course, but I feel Podkolzin has been quite strong ever since the Dallas game. He’s been much more engage in the past seven games and with three points in his last five games he’s gaining offensive confidence. Scoring a goal would give him a bigger boost.

I’m really liking his game. He’s solid on the forecheck, has a knack for freeing up loose pucks, and watching him beat up Jeremy Lauzon last week was the cherry on top. I also believe the goals will come if he can just keep putting himself in the greasy areas on the ice.

If they go 5-3, I’d consider that a major win as that is a 50-win pace on the season. Going 2-0 already means they just have to be .500 the rest of the way.

I’ll go with 5-2-1. I think the Oilers are better as a whole than people give them credit for, and even though you can never fill Connor McDavid’s shoes, the task gets easier when you have a player as good as Leon Draisaitl available to pick up some slack.

They’ve had some good games, and some rough ones. It is similar to what I expected. Everyone reading this knows they need a long-term second-pair right defender, but for now they will try different players. The past few weeks, excluding the Columbus game, I think the overall defensive play has improved. Ty Emberson played his 40th NHL game in Calgary, so people need realistic expectations of how much he will contribute. He is starting to look more comfortable and he’s more physical, which is one of his strengths. I still prefer Stecher instead of Dermott with Nurse, because it creates more continuity, but I understand why they don’t just sit Dermott every game. You want to keep guys involved.

They’re a yard sale sometimes, and that’s concerning. Ty Emberson looks to be settling in a little bit, and it would be a massive win for the team if that continues to happen because the right side of our defensive group is a major question mark from my side of the computer screen.

Star Mechanical is one of Edmonton’s biggest locally owned and operated plumbing and heating businesses. They have been working within the community for over 20 years, and many of the homes built in Edmonton over the last two decades have had their plumbing and heating systems installed by Star Mechanical.  Visit them at starmechanical.ca to schedule an appointment and let them help keep your home running smoothly.