Edmonton Oilers’ insider Bob Stauffer mentioned on the “Oilers Now” show that the team is looking to add three more players by the trade deadline, specifically players with size. Hockey analyst Rob Brown proposed a 6-foot-2 and 200-pound player to consider, saying, “I just watched the player the Oilers would love to have, I just watched him last game and he was the best player on the ice and that was Jason Dickinson. He was excellent in that hockey game the other night, he wins faceoffs, he can lead, he can drive a line for you.”
The Oilers defeated the Chicago Blackhawks on January 9, with Dickinson scoring the Blackhawks’ only goal. Brown also remarked that “he was the best player on the ice” and that “he was dominant when he was on the ice.” That’s exactly what the Oilers need.”
Currently, Oilers forwards Ryan McLeod and Warren Foegele are dominating on the second line alongside Leon Draisaitl, and most hockey analysts believe it’s just a matter of time before their hot streak fades. However, they have not showed indications of slowing down, and if they continue to play well and remain in the top six down the playoff stretch, they will need to upgrade the 3C spot, which formerly belonged to McLeod. Derek Ryan, who now fills that job, lacks the size and foot quickness required to be a long-term option.
Perhaps Dylan Holloway can cover that vacuum at some time after he comes up to speed as a centerman with the Bakersfield Condors; however, if he doesn’t pan out in the middle, Dickinson This would be a fantastic low-cost purchase to fill the 3C position.
Dickinson Is Having a Career-Year with the Blackhawks
Dickinson is a centerman from Georgetown, ON and was drafted in the first round in 2013 by the Dallas Stars after playing four seasons in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). He played six seasons with the Stars and recorded 63 points in that span.
Dickinson was traded to the Vancouver Canucks in July 2021 for a third-round draft pick and he, along with a second-round draft pick was dealt a year later to the Blackhawks in exchange for defenceman Riley Stillman. The centerman recorded a career-high 30 points last season in Chicago and he’s continuing his offensive upswing as he’s on pace to surpass 40 points this season.
Also, he’s set a career-high with 14 goals already in the 2023-24 campaign, and notably, an impressive 13 of the tallies were scored at even strength. Another noteworthy stat is his leading plus/minus rating of plus-8 among Blackhawks players, which is significant considering the team has a minus-59 goal differential, which is the second lowest in the league. Additionally, he leads the forward group with almost 95 minutes played on the penalty kill.
Why Would Dickinson Be Good for the Oilers?
As previously stated, the Oilers will most likely want a third-line centre moving into the playoffs, and Dickinson might be a low-cost option to fill that job. He can kill penalties, and his size appeals to the centre. He’s not hesitant to use his body, as evidenced by his 112 hits last season, which ranked third on the Blackhawks.
The Oilers have a history of third-line centres with poor offensive flair, and Dickinson was previously criticised for his inability to score points, but this season has shown a different narrative. At 28 years old, he appears to be finding his groove, on track for a nearly 28-goal season. Furthermore, the Oilers witnessed the centerman’s finishing talent firsthand in January.
9 as he scored a highlight reel goal by making a slick toe drag move on Oilers defenceman Darnell Nurse and shooting a rocket high glove past Stuart Skinner.
Leave a Reply