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Monday Mailbag: What should be on the Oilers’ wishlist to Santa?

Photo credit: Tom Kostiuk
By baggedmilk
Dec 22, 2025, 09:00 ESTUpdated: Dec 22, 2025, 00:03 EST
Good morning, everyone, and a happy Christmas-week 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 Tristan Jarry’s injury, an Oilers wishlist for Santa, Trent Frederic, 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.

Dec 13, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Edmonton Oilers goaltender Tristan Jarry (35) kisses his goal stick before the start of the first period against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
1) Yves asks – There’s an obvious concern among the fanbase about Tristan Jarry after he got hurt in his third game as an Oiler. Some say he is injury-prone, but his career missed-game total doesn’t necessarily support that. Was this just bad luck or the start of a larger issue?
Jason Gregor:
No one can say for sure if it is the start of a larger issue, but the one element of Stuart Skinner’s game that was undervalued was his availability. The Oilers have to hope this is just bad timing for Jarry, but it will give them an opportunity to see if Connor Ingram can play well at the NHL level again.
Woz:
I’m going to go with bad luck here unless he has a history of groin injuries. He did have a lower-body injury earlier in November, so there’s a possibility he re-aggravated it. Timelines on stuff like this can be unpredictable, and everyone’s body heals at different speeds.
Zach Laing:
I’m hoping it’s just bad luck, and that Knoblauch’s “a couple weeks” timeline is accurate. Ingram looked solid Sunday, and if he can find his game, that’s good news for the team.
Baggedmilk:
Gregor did a breakdown on Twitter last week that Jarry has missed a total of 40 games over his career due to injury and illness. That’s not too bad for a guy who has been in the league for a decade. I’m banking on bad luck.

Oct 19, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Red Wings defenseman Albert Johansson (20) vies for the puck against Edmonton Oilers center Trent Frederic (10) in the first period at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
2) James in Peterborough asks – Trent Frederic has not delivered what we all hoped for this season. Could he still be suffering from the effects of that high-ankle injury? Or do you believe it’s more fundamental than that?
Jason Gregor:
I can say with certainty his ankle sprain is a non-factor. He’s in a funk and lacking in confidence, but physically, his ankle is fine.
Woz:
I think Frederic is suffering from not having a defined role on this team. We are clearly experiencing the worst version of Trent Frederic.
Zach Laing:
Knoblauch said after last night’s game, there could still be some lingering issues from that ankle injury. I think being healthy scratched for a few games could do him some good.
Baggedmilk:
I wonder how much of this has to do with the pressure he’s putting on himself after signing that monster eight-year contract? We’ve seen guys struggle in the first year of news deals before, and I wonder if any part of his struggles is a reflection of thinking he has to do more than he is capable of.

3) Marc asks – Name an NHL player, coach, or general manager you think Santa has on his Naughty or Nice list.
Jason Gregor:
Barry Trotz in Nashville. Not many moves he’s made have panned out.
Woz:
Naughty list it’s gotta be Mikko Rantanen. He’s tied with Logan Stanley for most PIM’s with 66 at the time of writing this, he seems a little more aggressive this season. The nice list? Stuart Skinner for putting up with so much in the media and from fans, and for dealing with all the noise so professionally.
Zach Laing:
Connor McDavid is on Santa’s nice list after this recent run.
Baggedmilk:
Naught list to Bill Guerin for pulling off a monster deal to bring Quinn Hughes in. As an Oilers fan, it’s annoying. Nice list nominee goes out to Ryan Nugent-Hopkins for quietly playing at a point-per-game pace, even though no one is talking about it.

4) Oilers fan in Van asks – What are the top three Oilers needs you’d have on Santa’s wishlist as we head into the new year?
Jason Gregor:
1. Get healthy
2. Need a top-six scoring winger
3. A masseuse who specializes in softening up hands…Frederic, Henrique, Mangiapane and others could use it.
Woz:
My wish list is simply a clean bill of health for the Oilers in 2026. The Pacific Division title is due for the Oilers, and lastly, bottom-six production.
Zach Laing:
- Getting healthy is top of the list, for sure.
- Players in the bottom-six who can score.
- Another third defenceman who can replace Alec Regula.
Baggedmilk:
It would be nice to have the full, healthy roster playing together even once. I don’t think that’s too much to ask for.

Thanksgiving Turkey
5) Christina asks – What is the worst traditional Christmas food that you would be happy to never see again?
Jason Gregor:
Stuffing. I can’t stand it.
Woz:
Since my heritage is Polish, we celebrate Christmas more so on the 24th, and my family serves pickled herring on the dinner table. It’s so gross, slimy and salty, I’m not sure how my parents enjoy it. I certainly can do without it.
Zach Laing:
Is this a safe space? There’s no more overrated Christmas food than turkey.
Baggedmilk:
Sugar cookies are dusty wastes of space.
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Breaking News
- Monday Mailbag: What should be on the Oilers’ wishlist to Santa?
- ‘It’s important Trent has a reset’: Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch details Frederic’s healthy scratch, potential lingering effects of injury
- Oilers hold off Golden Knights to get Ingram his first win in Edmonton: Recap, Reaction, and Highlights
- GDB 37.0: Oilers welcome the Golden Knights for first matchup of the season (6PM MT, SNW)
- Oilers news: Jarry to miss ‘a couple weeks’ as Frederic healthy scratched against Golden Knights
