It&#8217;s the Wednesday after the start of NHL free agency, which means a fresh episode of Better Lait Than Never is ready to recap what was another busy week in Edmonton. On today&#8217;s podcast, I discussed the Oilers signing <a href="https://publish.oilersnation.com/2025/07/01/edmonton-oilers-sign-andrew-mangiapane-two-year-3-6-million-aav-contract/">Andrew Mangiapane to a two-year deal</a>, <a href="https://publish.oilersnation.com/2025/06/30/edmonton-oilers-sign-evan-bouchard-four-year-10-5-million-aav-extension/">Evan Bouchard&#8217;s extension</a>, said goodbye to some old friends, and much more.
We made it through the NHL draft and the start of free agency, and the Edmonton Oilers were quieter than many fans had hoped they would be, but I wasn&#8217;t actually all that surprised. Given the lack of tradable assets and minimal cap space available, from my side of the computer screen, I wasn&#8217;t overly surprised that the Oilers were quiet even though my heart hoped Stan Bowman would pull out some magic. Looking at some of the contracts GMs handed out around the league as the day wore on, I found myself feeling increasingly happier that Stan Bowman wasn&#8217;t blowing the dollars he had on players like Tanner Jeannot and Cody Ceci. I&#8217;m not saying I wanted the Oilers to go out and sign those guys, but my point was that some very mid players locked in for a pile of money.
Finally, I wrapped up this week&#8217;s episode of BLTN with a Righteous Sack Beating about overreacting to free agency before wrapping up the podcast with another round of voicemails. The voicemail was quieter again this week, but the messages were still as fun as ever. As always, the voicemails are a fun way to wrap up the show and give everyone a chance to share their thoughts. Another hearty thank you to everyone who contributed to this week&#8217;s episode, because having all of you in the mix makes the show so much better.
<a class="text-accent" href="https://www.speakpipe.com/SpilledMilk" rel="noopener noreferrer">Want to leave a voicemail for next week’s show? Do it here!</a>
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Subscribe to Better Lait Than Never for FREE on <a class="text-accent" href="https://t.co/mZJAMT9Woj" rel="noopener noreferrer">Spotify</a>, <a class="text-accent" href="https://t.co/uStl8rWDcT" rel="noopener noreferrer">Apple Podcasts</a>, <a class="text-accent" href="https://t.co/qhmoKorIuI" rel="noopener noreferrer">Google Podcasts</a>, and wherever else you get your podcasts from! Better Lait Than Never is proudly presented by <a href="https://starmechanical.ca/?utm_source=nation_network&amp;utm_medium=blog_post">Star Mechanical</a>, <a href="https://www.oddcompany.ca/new-blog/2024/10/8/nationbeer-everyday-lager" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Odd Company</a>, and <a class="text-accent" href="https://www.trilogyrentals.ca/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Trilogy Oilfield Rentals.</a> Without them, this podcast would not be possible.

Better Lait Than Never - Edmonton Oilers sign Andrew Mangiapane

It's the Wednesday after the start of NHL free agency, which means a fresh episode of Better Lait Than Never is ready to recap what was another busy week in Edmonton. On today's podcast, I discussed the Oilers signing <a href="https://publish.oilersnation.com/2025/07/01/edmonton-oilers-sign-andrew-mangiapane-two-year-3-6-million-aav-contract/">Andrew Mangiapane to a two-year deal</a>, <a href="https://publish.oilersnation.com/2025/06/30/edmonton-oilers-sign-evan-bouchard-four-year-10-5-million-aav-extension/">Evan Bouchard's extension</a>, said goodbye to some old friends, and much more.

We made it through the NHL draft and the start of free agency, and the Edmonton Oilers were quieter than many fans had hoped they would be, but I wasn't actually all that surprised. Given the lack of tradable assets and minimal cap space available, from my side of the computer screen, I wasn't overly surprised that the Oilers were quiet even though my heart hoped Stan Bowman would pull out some magic. Looking at some of the contracts GMs handed out around the league as the day wore on, I found myself feeling increasingly happier that Stan Bowman wasn't blowing the dollars he had on players like Tanner Jeannot and Cody Ceci. I'm not saying I wanted the Oilers to go out and sign those guys, but my point was that some very mid players locked in for a pile of money.

Finally, I wrapped up this week's episode of BLTN with a Righteous Sack Beating about overreacting to free agency before wrapping up the podcast with another round of voicemails. The voicemail was quieter again this week, but the messages were still as fun as ever. As always, the voicemails are a fun way to wrap up the show and give everyone a chance to share their thoughts. Another hearty thank you to everyone who contributed to this week's episode, because having all of you in the mix makes the show so much better.

<a class="text-accent" href="https://www.speakpipe.com/SpilledMilk" rel="noopener noreferrer">Want to leave a voicemail for next week’s show? Do it here!</a>

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Subscribe to Better Lait Than Never for FREE on <a class="text-accent" href="https://t.co/mZJAMT9Woj" rel="noopener noreferrer">Spotify</a>, <a class="text-accent" href="https://t.co/uStl8rWDcT" rel="noopener noreferrer">Apple Podcasts</a>, <a class="text-accent" href="https://t.co/qhmoKorIuI" rel="noopener noreferrer">Google Podcasts</a>, and wherever else you get your podcasts from! Better Lait Than Never is proudly presented by <a href="https://starmechanical.ca/?utm_source=nation_network&amp;utm_medium=blog_post">Star Mechanical</a>, <a href="https://www.oddcompany.ca/new-blog/2024/10/8/nationbeer-everyday-lager" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Odd Company</a>, and <a class="text-accent" href="https://www.trilogyrentals.ca/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Trilogy Oilfield Rentals.</a> Without them, this podcast would not be possible.

Better Lait Than Never: Recapping the Oilers’ slow start to free agency

‘That might be the best signing of the day’: Oilers fans react to Andrew Mangiapane addition

‘The big thing for me is consistency’: Evan Bouchard wants to evolve his game over length of new contract with Oilers

Edmonton Oilers General Manager Stan Bowman

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