Oilers Adjust Lines with Draisaitl, Hyman Out

Edmonton looks to secondary scorers to step up during key road trip

Apr. 6, 2026 at 4:41pm

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A cubist, geometric illustration depicting an Oilers hockey game, with overlapping planes of orange, blue, and white shapes representing the players and action on the ice.The Oilers' lineup will require a creative, multifaceted approach to overcome the loss of two key offensive weapons.San Jose Today

The Edmonton Oilers will be without star forwards Leon Draisaitl and Zach Hyman for their upcoming three-game road trip, forcing head coach Jay Woodcroft to shuffle the lineup. The team will lean on Connor McDavid's line and a revamped second line featuring Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Kasperi Kapanen to provide the offense, while the third and fourth lines will focus on defense and physicality.

Why it matters

The Oilers are in a tight playoff race in the Western Conference, and losing two of their top scorers for this crucial road trip could significantly impact their postseason positioning. How Woodcroft manages the lineup and gets secondary contributions will be key to the team's success.

The details

With Draisaitl and Hyman sidelined, Woodcroft plans to keep the top line of Vasily Podkolzin, Connor McDavid, and Matt Savoie intact, as that trio has shown strong possession numbers lately. On the second line, Kasperi Kapanen will move up to play with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Jack Roslovic, providing more offensive punch. The third line of Trent Frederic, Jason Dickinson, and Josh Samanski will focus on defense and physicality, while the fourth line of Max Jones, Curtis Lazar, and Adam Henrique will aim to chip in offensively when possible.

  • The Oilers will be without Draisaitl and Hyman for their next three road games.
  • The Oilers' upcoming road trip includes matchups against the Utah Mammoth, San Jose Sharks, and Los Angeles Kings.

The players

Connor McDavid

The Oilers' captain and one of the NHL's elite players, McDavid will be relied upon to drive offense with Draisaitl out.

Leon Draisaitl

The Oilers' star center and one of the league's top scorers, Draisaitl will miss the upcoming road trip due to injury.

Zach Hyman

The Oilers' power forward and two-way winger, Hyman will also miss the next three road games due to injury.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins

The Oilers' second-line center, Nugent-Hopkins will be counted on to provide secondary scoring in Draisaitl's absence.

Kasperi Kapanen

The Finnish forward will move up to the second line, looking to provide an offensive boost alongside Nugent-Hopkins.

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What they’re saying

“Without Draisaitl in the lineup, and after McDavid, the next best offensive option down the middle is Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.”

— Sean Panganiban, Writer

“Podkolzin, like he has all season, is hard on the forecheck, gets the puck in his linemates' hands with ease, and chips in on the scoresheet, while the blossoming chemistry between McDavid and Savoie has Oilers fans giddy that the captain may have a fixture on the wing for years to come.”

— Sean Panganiban, Writer

What’s next

If the Oilers struggle out of the gate on the upcoming road trip, head coach Jay Woodcroft may consider giving Max Jones a chance in a more prominent role, as the young power forward has shown flashes of offensive potential in limited minutes.

The takeaway

The Oilers' depth will be tested without Draisaitl and Hyman, but the team has the talent to weather the storm. Woodcroft's ability to get secondary scoring from the likes of Nugent-Hopkins, Kapanen, and the third line will be crucial in maintaining the Oilers' playoff position during this key road trip.