Stat Hockey’s Edmonton Oilers 2023-24 Line Projections

This is a look at the Edmonton Oilers 2023-24 line projections. It will cover all forward lines, defense pairings, goaltenders, and scratches.

Projected Lineup

F

Evander Kane – Connor McDavid – Connor Brown

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins – Leon Draisaitl – Zach Hyman

Dylan Holloway – Ryan McLeod – Warren Foegele

Mattias Janmark – Derek Ryan – Sam Gagner

S- Raphael Lavoie

D

Mattias Ekholm – Evan Bouchard

Darnell Nurse – Cody Ceci

Brett Kulak – Philip Broberg

S- Vincent Desharnais

G

Stuart Skinner

Jack Campbell

Forwards

The Oilers are going to be very good this season, especially offensively. They added and expect to have very good pieces for the entire season this time around. They led the league in goals in 2022-23 and should have both Kane and Brown flanking McDavid on the top line. This is likely to change throughout the season, but the top-six players should remain the same barring any injuries. McDavid appears to finally have suitable help on both sides of him without hurting the second line.

Although McDavid and Draisaitl are incredible together, they must be separated. Draisaitl will once again lead his own line and his chemistry with Nugent-Hopkins is very good. Hyman spent time with both centermen last season, so I expect the same again in 2023-24. He is likely to start out on the second line though.

The Oilers’ depth should be a little better this season. Foegele had a strong second half of the season that included playoffs. The Oilers liked his game so much that he was kept around and will be on the third line. The third line centerman should once again be McLeod. He continues to get better and his scoring touch will soon come. As for the other winger, there are a few options. I like Holloway getting the opportunity. It does no good burying him on the fourth line like before. He even has the talent level to be the first brought up to the top-six if there’s an injury. This is an underrated line that could be very good for the Oilers this season.

There are a lot of options for the Oilers’ fourth line this season. What’s different about them though is that there might only be room for 12, possibly 13 forwards on the roster. This means decisions in training camp are more serious. Ryan and Janmark did well for the Oilers last season and earned new contracts this summer. These are veterans the Oilers will want in the lineup. The final spot is up for grabs with players like Lavoie, Lane Pederson, Drake Caggiula, and PTOs Gagner and Brandon Sutter. It will be interesting to see who comes out on top.

Defense

Once Ekholm got to Edmonton, things changed on defense. Bouchard got elevated to another level and played with a ton of confidence. Ekholm took on the mentor role and this pairing was elite in the final 20 games and in playoffs. Despite Nurse being the number one defenseman, this duo should be the top pairing on the team. They can handle themselves offensively and defensively.

While Nurse is a good player, it’s unfortunate that the Oilers can’t find him a suitable partner just yet. Ceci was his regular partner and they struggled a lot together. I would like to see Broberg or Kulak tested out beside Nurse in preseason at least and take over that role on the second pairing. Broberg is the future and some think he can take that step this season.

Related: Stat Hockey’s Detroit Red Wings 2023-24 Line Projections

As for the third pairing, Kulak has been great in this role, which is why it might be best to keep him here. I personally think Broberg jumps over Desharnais in the depth chart and gets many more games. I bet we’ll see lots of 11-7 lineups from the Oilers to begin the season before they commit to Broberg or Desharnais fully.

Goaltending

Goaltending was interesting to say the least last season for the Oilers. Campbell was expected to be the starter and was paid like it, but the rookie Skinner took over. Not only did Campbell struggle mightily, Skinner had an impressive season. Trust was lost in Campbell, but I think he started to gain it back. I can see the duo splitting time, but being a much more effective tandem this time around without any major struggles.