When the Edmonton Oilers begin the 2025-26 NHL playoffs this weekend, it is unclear how exactly they will lineup.
This is a scary proposition but with multiple players health up in the air, including star centre Leon Draisaitl along with forwards Jason Dickinson and Zach Hyman, the Oilers lines will ultimately be decided by their health.
Luckily, none of these injuries are expected to be long term, unlike the ones suffered by depth forwards Max Jones and Mattias Janmark. The latter who is out for the season after undergoing surgery to help a chronic injury.
Given the injury status of Draisaitl, Dickinson, and Hyman seems to be short term and their timeline is unclear, I will assume they will be healthy for game one.
Forwards
Nugent-Hopkins - McDavid - Hyman
Savoie - Draisaitl - Podkolzin
Frederic - Dickinson - Kapanen
Dach - Henrique - Roslovic
Ex. Lazar, Samanski
The top line of Ryan Nugent-Hopkins centred by Connor McDavid with Hyman on the other wing represents one of the Oilers best lines analytically according to Moneypuck.com. McDavid has shown plenty of chemistry with (well, anyone) Hyman and Nugent-Hopkins throughout their careers. It seems like the logical start for the postseason.
The second line of Draisaitl flanked by Matt Savoie and Vasily Podkolzin is another line that has greatly impressed when they have played together. Podkolzin and Draisaitl have been an incredible duo and adding the rookie Savoie into the mix helps to add another boost of offensive skill and forechecking that makes them a highly productive unit.
On the third line, Dickinson with both Trent Frederic and Kasperi Kapanen is a classic shutdown line that is capable of facing opposing team's top six lines. All three players can play a hardnosed game with Dickinson bringing his elite defence while Frederic and Kapanen are no slouches themselves. This unit gives head coach Kris Knoblauch at having a matchup line for now.
Finally, the fourth line of Colton Dach with Adam Henrique and Jack Roslovic seems like a bit of an 'island of misfit toys' kind of line but it surprisingly could work well. Dach brings a rugged and hard hitting style while Roslovic adds some legitimate scoring in a depth role while Henrique brings proficient faceoff results and a steady veteran presence. Together, they could beat up on opposing team's bottom-sixes.
Last but not least the extras are both Curtis Lazar and Josh Samanski. Lazar has been solid in a depth role for the Oilers but due to a combination of line fit and additions, he should sit out to start. It is similar for Samanski who has been impressive with the Oilers down the stretch but given his inexperience, it is both unlikely and understandable that the Oilers may not turn to him to start the playoffs.
These lines exclude Jones who has played relatively well with the Oilers this year but is expected to be out for a bit and is currently listed as week-to-week according to the Oilers Puckpedia page.
Defence
Ekholm - Bouchard
Nurse - Murphy
Walman - Emberson
Ex. Stastney
The duo of Mattias Ekholm and Evan Bouchard is almost legendary at this point. Bouchard has been an absolute monster for the Oilers this year and is likely to be a Norris Trophy contender while Ekholm has continued to be stabilizing force on the backend well into his 30's. They deserve to be the top pair to start but there are other combinations possible.
Darnell Nurse and Connor Murphy is a pair that has been basically set in stone since the Oilers acquired Murphy at the deadline from the Chicago Blackhawks. Nurse, who has struggled at limiting chances against has benefitted greatly from having the defensive stalwart in Murphy on his flank. As a pair they have been one of the Oilers best down the stretch and should get a shot in the playoffs.
Jake Walman and Ty Emberson follows a similar mould to the above pairs with a more offensively minded defender in Walman paired up with a more solid stay-at-home type in Emberson. It allows the Oilers to spread out the offensive impact of Walman and gives them plenty of balance on all three pairs.
Spencer Stastney is the Oilers' spare defenceman, his tenure has not gone as well as many hoped when he was first acquired but he has some legitimate potential. He can provide serviceable play in a pinch and represents yet another embarrassment of riches for the Oilers depth.
Goaltenders
Between the pipes, it seems all but guaranteed that goaltender Connor Ingram will get the nod to start in game one. He has been hot down the stretch as the Oilers near the playoffs and is deserving of the starting job.
Despite being acquire midseason, Tristan Jarry has struggled at times in goal and will likely not see the crease unless Ingram struggles. The Oilers will surely hope to get a better season out of Jarry next year but so far the acquisition has not looked good for general manager Stan Bowman.
The playoffs begin this weekend and the Oilers hope to grind their way back to the Stanley Cup Finals for a third straight year.
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