The Edmonton Oilers are shaking things up as they prepare to face the Carolina Hurricanes, most notably by slotting Zach Hyman into a different spot in the lineup. Hyman is set to make his season debut after recovering from a wrist injury sustained in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals against the Dallas Stars on May 27. To make room for Hyman, the Oilers have placed defenseman Troy Stecher on waivers and assigned forward Isaac Howard to the AHL's Bakersfield Condors.

Hyman's return is highly anticipated, as he has been a key player for the Oilers, scoring at least 27 goals in each of his four seasons with the team, including a career-high 54 in the 2023-24 season. His absence has been felt, with the team struggling to generate offense at even strength.

While many expect Hyman to return to his familiar spot on the top line with Connor McDavid, the Oilers are considering other options. One possibility is to start Hyman on the third line to ease him back into the lineup and provide better matchups as he regains his comfort level. Another option is to put Hyman back on the top line with Connor McDavid and rookie Matt Savoie. Shuffling Hyman into the third line could provide a boost to the team's depth and create more offensive opportunities throughout the lineup.

The projected lineup for the Oilers against the Hurricanes is as follows:

• Forwards: Leon Draisaitl - Connor McDavid - Zach Hyman, Vasily Podkolzin - Jack Roslovic - Andrew Mangiapane, Adam Henrique - Noah Philip - Trent Frederic, Matt Savoie - Mattias Janmark - Curtis Lazar.
• Defense: Mattias Ekholm - Evan Bouchard, Darnell Nurse - Adam Regula, Brett Kulak - Jake Walman.
• Goaltender: Calvin Pickard.

The Carolina Hurricanes, who are currently second in the Metropolitan Division with a 12-5-0 record, are slight favorites to win the game. They are coming off a 4-3 overtime win against the Vancouver Canucks. Sebastian Aho scored the game-winning goal in overtime, while Andrei Svechnikov scored twice in a 54-second span. The Hurricanes may be without forwards Seth Jarvis and Jesperi Kotkaniemi, who both left the game against the Canucks early due to injuries.

The Oilers are looking for a pick-me-up, as they have only two wins in their last six games and are in the midst of a seven-game road trip. Coach Kris Knoblauch is hoping that Hyman's return will provide a boost to the team.

The odds for the game are tight, with the Hurricanes having a slight edge on the moneyline at -115, while the Oilers are at -104. The over/under is set at 6.5 goals.