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 Josh Samanski’s role on the team, Jake Walman’s contract, summer BBQs, 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.

I see him starting as the 4C, but I don’t think it is a lock. His biggest benefit is the Oilers don’t have other natural centres competing for the fourth line role, so he should come into camp and be given every opportunity to win the job. The life of a bottom six forward is stressful. It is a battle to be in the lineup every game, and Samanski will need more games before he is a lock, but he showed good potential last year.

I am surprised there isn’t more competition for him heading into camp. However, I do like that they’ve cleared the way for him to play an everyday role on the team, especially as the 4C. Let the kid play through it and, worst case scenario, you go get another centre at the deadline if it doesn’t work out.

I’m curious whether his handedness is used against him long term in the 4C spot. The Oilers have few right-shot forwards, just Zach Hyman and Kasperi Kapanen as regulars. Owen Michaels is a righty. But I like Samanski’s game and hope he had a big summer.

I can see him starting the year at 4C but then also having to fight to keep that spot against guys like Quinn Hutson. Not to mention, we don’t know who might hit waivers, come in on a PTO, or any other number of ways that he could be forced out of the lineup.

Walman’s contract looks bad due to injury, not on-ice performance as much. When he’s healthy he is easily a top four D-man, but the issue is more his inability to stay healthy than it is a lack of skill. If he’s in the lineup regularly, his contract will be okay.

I understand why he’s on the list. He wasn’t good last season, especially defensively. He has more than enough ability to silence the haters, though. The biggest step will be him staying in the lineup for 84 games. On a positive note, he had good moments in that first round against Anaheim.

It’s an important season for Walman. He needs to be a big cog in the Oiler machine.

His contract will only look bad if he keeps getting hurt for big chunks every year. I mean, Vinny Desharnais makes $4.2 million, so I don’t see Walman’s as that bad unless he can’t be on the ice.

Ideally, he would play at least 50 NHL games, but if he doesn’t, and he takes another step in the American League and really dominates that would be a good season in my books. Becoming a top-six forward in the NHL isn’t a sprint, unless you are an elite player. The majority of players take many seasons of pro, either in the AHL, or in the NHL in a smaller role, before they emerge on the top two lines regularly.

Sticking in the NHL for a full season should be a win for him. Howard is going to have to earn everything he gets this season. He needs to be a consistent top nine player, which means he needs to have more impact offensively than not. A good season would be anywhere from 10 to 14 goals.

If Howard is with the Condors at the important points of the season, the anxiety meter about what he becomes grows, at least in my mind.

I think a good season is establishing himself as an every day NHL player. That’s the first step. And if he can go out and score 15-18 goals then that would certainly help too. Pressure is on a little bit.

Committing to managing the puck better, in all three zones, and being sound defensively. If we are looking at one specific area, it has to be the penalty kill. Outside of the final 69 games and playoffs in the 2024 season under Knoblauch, the PK has been very inconsistent.

The Oilers were horrendous defensively season, which includes the penalty kill. Establishing a strong defensive mindset, which they had the two previous seasons, is the key.

On the ice, I think the Oilers need to become a more aggressive away from the puck, forechecking, taking away time and space, and that will in turn support their goaltending.

There are two for me. Defensive zone coverage and the penalty kill. Fix those and the Oilers will be in a great spot.

Potato or egg salad. They sweat and dry out in the heat and look and taste terrible. Major fail to bring one to an outdoor BBQ when it is hot, unless you are hoping the guests get a foodborne illness.

People who bring the fruit tray. You don’t need to do that. People only each the watermelon then leave everything else. Just bring a watermelon!!

Salads that are too creative. If you’re bringing the rabbit food, keep it simple.

Don’t pretend your vegan/vegetarian burgers or hot dogs are the real deal. I don’t mind if they’re there, but let’s not “cauliflower wings” these things at my BBQ.