The Edmonton Oilers enter the 2026-27 NHL season with a reshaped roster built around Connor McDavid after their disappointing playoff exit. The projected lineup offers an early look at how the team plans to integrate its offseason additions while chasing the Stanley Cup.
Edmonton finished 41-30-11 last season before losing in the first round to the Anaheim Ducks. The result led to sweeping changes, including Mike Babcock replacing Kris Knoblauch behind the bench and several key roster moves.
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Oilers’ 2026-27 projected lineup
Per NHL.com’s projected lineup, the Oilers’ top line keeps Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Zach Hyman alongside McDavid. Leon Draisaitl centers Vasily Podkolzin and Matthew Savoie on the second line, while rookie Isaac Howard is projected to debut in the middle six.
Here’s the full forward lineup:
- Ryan Nugent-Hopkins – Connor McDavid – Zach Hyman
- Vasily Podkolzin – Leon Draisaitl – Matthew Savoie
- Isaac Howard – Jason Dickinson – Kasperi Kapanen
- Mathieu Joseph – Josh Samanski – Trent Frederic
On defense, Ryan Shea and Shakir Mukhamadullin join the lineup after offseason arrivals.
- Mattias Ekholm – Evan Bouchard
- Jake Walman – Connor Murphy
- Ryan Shea – Shakir Mukhamadullin
Frederik Andersen headlines the goaltending group following his one-year deal after helping the Carolina Hurricanes win the Stanley Cup.
- Frederik Andersen
- Tristan Jarry
New faces to support Connor McDavid & Leon Draisaitl
Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid (second from left) celebrates with teammates after scoring a a power play goal during the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
The Oilers hope Andersen provides stability in net after inconsistent goaltending hurt them last season. Andersen said Edmonton’s championship ambitions influenced his decision.
“Edmonton has been knocking on the door for a while now, so it’s a team that has aspirations to try and win,” Andersen said. “They’ve been close and it would be awesome to be part of the team to get over the hump.”
He added, “Obviously, they’re very serious about it.”
The projected lineup also reflects Edmonton’s commitment to adding mobility and depth around McDavid. Shea brings puck-moving ability after a 35-point season, while Mukhamadullin offers another young option on the blue line. Howard’s inclusion signals confidence in the organization’s prospect pipeline.
The biggest question remains whether the supporting cast can rebound after McDavid’s blunt assessment of last season.
“We were an average team all year,” the captain said following the playoff elimination. “An average team with high expectations, you’re going to be disappointed.”
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Edmonton’s success will still begin with McDavid and Draisaitl. However, the additions of Andersen, Shea, and Howard suggest management recognized that elite stars alone are not enough. If those newcomers strengthen the lineup as expected, the Oilers could be better equipped to return to contender status instead of relying almost entirely on their superstar core.
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