Predicted Oilers lineup tonight: Edmonton's projected lineup for NHL season opener game against Jets | Oct 9th, 2024

On Wednesday, the Edmonton Oilers will play their season opener against the Winnipeg Jets at home. After coming up just shy of a historic comeback in the Stanley Cup Finals, the team will be looking to start the 2024-25 season off strong in hopes of making another deep postseason run.

Throughout the preseason, the Oilers posted a 3-5 record that saw them start the preseason off with a narrow 3-2 win over the Winnipeg Jets in OT. The two teams then faced off again just a few days later, with Winnipeg picking up a dominant 6-1 win.

Of course, with Wednesday's game set to be the season opener for both teams, the stakes are high as the two Western Conference contenders look to get the 2024-25 campaign off on the right foot.

With puck-drop set for 7 p.m. Pacific (10 p.m. Eastern), let's take a look at the Edmonton Oilers' projected lineup for Wednesday's game:

Forwards

L1: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins | Connor McDavid | Zach Hyman

L2: Jeff Skinner | Leon Draisaitl | Viktor Arvidsson

L3: Mattias Janmark | Adam Henrique | Connor Brown

L4: Vasily Podkolzin | Derek Ryan | Corey Perry

Defense

L1 Mattias Ekholm | Evan Bouchard

L2: Darnell Nurse | Ty Emberson

L3: Brett Kulak | Travis Dermott

Goalies

Stuart Skinner

Calvin Pickard

1st Powerplay Unit

Zach Hyman | Ryan Nugent-Hopkins | Leon Draisaitl

Connor McDavid | Evan Bouchard

2nd Powerplay Unit

Viktor Arvidsson | Adam Henrique | Jeff Skinner

Darnell Nurse | Mattias Ekholm

1st Penalty Kill Unit

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins | Mattias Janmark

Mattias Ekholm | Brett Kulak

2nd Penalty Kill Unit

Adam Henrique | Connor Brown

Darnell Nurse | Travis Dermott

Looking at the Edmonton Oilers' offseason moves and schedule for the start of the 2024-25 season

Last season, the Edmonton Oilers came just one game shy of winning the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs after forcing a Game 7 against the Florida Panthers following an 0-3 series deficit.

In the offseason, newly-appointed GM Stan Bowman went to work consolidating the team's roster, sending out a number of assets in order to bolster their depth chart for the season ahead.

Most notably, the team acquired Jeff Skinner on a one-year deal, and Viktor Arvidsson on a two-year deal, giving coach Kris Knoblauch two talented veterans to pair alongside Leon Draisaitl.

In addition, the team also managed to retain a number of key role players, preventing the roster overhaul that the Florida Panthers underwent after their Stanley Cup win.

Following tonight's season opener at home against the Winnipeg Jets, the Oilers will play three more games at home over the next week, hosting the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday, the Calgary Flames on Sunday, and the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday.