Zach Hyman is back, but Mike Babcock is shaking up an Edmonton Oilers lineup that has been delivering results.
The Oilers have opened the 2026-27 season with an impressive 5-1-1 record, yet Babcock is making six lineup changes ahead of Saturday's matchup against Utah.
Edmonton has been winning games despite missing important players. Instead of keeping a successful lineup together, Babcock has decided to bring back several familiar faces.
Zach Hyman re-enters Oilers lineup Saturday
The first change is the return of Zach Hyman, who hasn't played since the season opener because of an upper-body injury. His return gives Edmonton another established offensive weapon.
Defenseman Jake Walman is also back after missing three games with an upper-body injury. His presence should strengthen the blue line, although Edmonton has managed well during his absence.
The third returning player is Colton Dach, who has been sidelined for 16 days. His return creates another option up front, but it also forces Babcock to make some uncomfortable decisions.
To accommodate those returns, forward Joshua Samanski will come out of the lineup. It's a tough development for a player who helped Edmonton navigate its early-season absences.
Forward Max Jones is also being removed from the lineup, giving the Oilers another change to their forward group despite the team's strong start.
The sixth adjustment involves defenseman Shakir Mukhamadullin, who will sit with Walman returning. That move changes the defensive rotation at a time when Edmonton has been collecting points.
Getting healthy players back is obviously good news. But making this many changes at once raises questions about whether Babcock is interfering with chemistry that was already working.
There's a difference between improving a lineup and changing it simply because established players are available. The Oilers haven't been struggling to find results.
Babcock now faces an interesting test. If Edmonton maintains its momentum, these decisions will look justified. If the team stumbles, questions about unnecessary lineup adjustments will follow quickly.
The Oilers have earned their strong start. Now Babcock must show that his decisions can make them better without disrupting what was already producing wins.
Is Mike Babcock making unnecessary lineup changes while the Oilers are winning?
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