Jason Dickinson Grading Oilers 5-year extension – Hockey Writers – Edmonton Oilers

The Edmonton Oilers are in the midst of their most important season in recent history, and it’s already working on all fronts. On Sunday (Jun. 21) morning, they announced that they have finalized Jason Dickinson’s five-year contract extension.

BIG JASON ENERGY 🔋

The #Oilers signed forward Jason Dickinson to a five-year contract with an AAV of $4.0 million. pic.twitter.com/HF5yMk4QLw

— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) June 21, 2026

The immediate reaction of many fans seemed to be divided. Some called it an overpayment with too much time, while others considered it a very good contract.

In a summer with a weak free agent class, the Oilers would focus on adding a third-line center if they lost Dickinson, so bringing him back, knowing he’s a good fit with the team, seems like a smart move.

Dickinson, 30, is coming off a strong campaign, in which he scored seven goals and added 10 assists for 17 points in 64 games between the Oilers and the Chicago Blackhawks. In the playoffs, he had two goals and one assist with three points in four games. In 566 career games, he has scored 75 goals and added 97 assists for 172 points.

Dickinson’s style does not focus on offensive production, but rather a strong defense of shutting down forwards. His numbers on the defensive end are excellent, and alongside Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, the Oilers should have a solid third line that can do it all next season.

Jason Dickinson, extended for 5x$4M via EDM, is a third-line center with shutdown ability, good shooting, and very little offense. pic.twitter.com/fvKySSlDHG

— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) June 21, 2026

If Dickinson had hit the open market, he likely would have commanded more money in less time, so giving him an extra year to lower the annual cap seems like a neat move from Oilers general manager Stan Bowman.

Term May Be Scary, Cap Hit Is Right

Dickinson’s five-year tenure scares some fans, given that he is an aging veteran and may be past his prime. However, with a maximum of $4 million per year, there is nothing to fear. Considering the rate of player movement in the third-line center role, combined with the salary cap, this is a solid deal for the Oilers, and it compares favorably to other players in the same role.

If you click on the 3C depth chart button on Dickinson’s page, you can see how he compares to the 3C position on every other team. pic.twitter.com/e8j3B9v4og

— PuckPedia (@PuckPedia) June 21, 2026

The Oilers still have cap space to bring back Connor Murphy, and are also considering bringing back Kasperi Kapanen, while they have room to try to bring in a goaltender and a top-six forward, but, they will have more flexibility if they trade Darnell Nurse.

At the end of the day, this is an excellent job from Bowman. The Oilers kept their third-line center that they traded for a first-round pick at the 2026 deadline, and got him for a really good price in the extension. Knowing that Dickinson would have asked for around $6 million on the open market, I have no problem giving him more time to lower the cap.

The Oilers are in winning mode right now, and seeing how Dickinson elevated his play in the postseason against the Anaheim Ducks, even with the injury, makes me excited to see what he can bring next season.

This is not a perfect deal for Bowman, and it will be stronger if the Oilers can create cap space and other moves, but for now, this is a solid deal, and something that should give Oilers fans hope heading into the offseason.

Grade: B+

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