Edmonton Oilers lineup for playoffs: Projected Oilers starting lineup ahead of Los Angeles Kings Game 1, 2024 NHL Playoffs

The final matchup to kick off in the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs is the Edmonton Oilers against the Los Angeles Kings in the Western Conference.

The Oilers are a Stanley Cup contender, and have been for a few seasons. Why wouldn't they be with one of the best players in the world Connor McDavid? But since McDavid came into the league, the Oilers have fallen short each and every time.

The real focus for Edmonton in the postseason is where they will line up their top talent. Will McDavid play with Leon Draisaitl? Will Evander Kane play on the top line or fourth line? Here's how the Edmonton Oilers' projected lineup for Game 1 against the Kings looks like.

Edmonton Oilers projected Game 1 lineup

Forwards

• Adam Henrique - Connor McDavid - Zach Hyman
• Ryan Nugent-Hopkins - Leon Draisaitl - Warren Foegele
• Dylan Holloway - Ryan McLeod - Corey Perry
• Evander Kane - Sam Carrick - Mattias Janmark

Defensemen

• Mattias Ekholm - Evan Bouchard
• Darnell Nurse - Cody Ceci
• Brett Kulak - Vincent Desharnais

Goalie

• Stuart Skinner

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Edmonton Oilers' overdependence on Connor McDavid set to be tested in 2024 NHL playofs

Edmonton Oilers have some of the best talent in the NHL. McDavid finished third in the league with 132 points (32 goals, 100 assists). Draisaitl finished seventh with 106 (41 goals, 65 assists). Evan Bouchard finished fourth among defensemen with 82 points (18 goals, 64 assists). And Zach Hyman scored 54 goals. That is some serious firepower.

And that is the problem for the Oilers. If their best three or four players are skating well and creating, they are golden and have a real good chance of winning. But if McDavid is quiet, Draisaitl is out or not at his best, or Bouchard is off his game, it can spiral out of control quickly.

Just take a look at the final game of the regular season, in which the Colorado Avalanche lit up the Edmonton Oilers 5-1 with many of Edmonton's top guys sitting out. That is an extreme example, but it proves the point.

So with that in mind, it would be smart for the Edmonton Oilers to start with McDavid and Draisaitl on separate lines. Give each of them a weapon on the wing, and go from there.

That is exactly what it looks like Edmon Oilers' coach Kris Knoblauch and his staff are going to do in Game 1. This lineup preaches consistency. It allows McDavid to have a great shift and be followed up by Leon Draisaitl and company.

It allows the third and fourth lines to have both grit and playoff experience, and the skill to create some offense. It also puts a couple of the better defensemen in the league on the same pairing.

Now it's time to see how it all comes together.