Why The Edmonton Oilers Are Just Warming Up With Dickinson Contract Extension
The Edmonton Oilers shored up their group of bottom-six forwards Sunday with the signing of veteran center Jason Dickinson to a five-year contract extension worth $4 million per season.
This was a move the Oilers could afford to make, especially after Dickinson proved to be a smart trade addition at the end of this past season.
Edmonton still has $10.6 million in salary cap space after the Dickinson signing, and while some of that will have to go toward paying for an experienced goaltender, there's still enough cap space there for the Oilers to add an above-average player.
4 Areas Of Concern: Fallout From Oilers' Mike Babcock Move To Make Him Coach
Edmonton's polarizing decision to hire Mike Babcock will raise questions about locker room stability and free agent appeal as the franchise balances championship ambitions against Babcock's controversial reputation and history.
Bringing in Babcock and re-signing Dickinson may make Edmonton a stronger regular-season team, but you have to wonder where the bigger roster moves are coming from to put them over the top and into the Stanley Cup final.
The Oilers can't afford another disappointing year – because if they once again fall short of their goal, Edmonton is going to be at a crossroads with superstar centers Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
The Oilers have steadily made changes to their supporting cast over the years, but the Nurse trade is really going to shake things up, and Bowman is going to have to hit a home run with the players he acquires this summer. Edmonton's competitive window in which to win is starting to close, and the Oilers must make the most of their opportunities to improve.
A year from now, Edmonton could be looking at bidding farewell to McDavid. That would be about as catastrophic a development as could befall the Oilers, but there's also a very real chance that Bowman gets it right and Edmonton wins a Cup.
One way or another, the Oilers are headed toward some sort of turning point with their top players. And unless Edmonton does win a championship, the Oilers will be looking at massive moves that change the core of the franchise.
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This story was originally published June 21, 2026 at 4:56 PM.