Jason Dickinson setback leaves Oilers forward unlikely to start season

The Edmonton Oilers are preparing to open the 2026-27 campaign without forward Jason Dickinson. Head coach Mike Babcock told reporters on Friday that Dickinson has suffered a setback with a foot injury and is now unlikely to be ready when the regular season begins.

Playoff foot issue flares up again

Babcock explained that Dickinson is dealing with the same foot problem that bothered him during last year’s playoffs. The 31-year-old left practice on Sept. 18 and was visibly limping as he made his way off the ice, an early sign that the injury had resurfaced.

“It’s the same thing from playoffs. He tweaked it,” Babcock said, noting that he had believed the forward was progressing before the latest flare-up. The new setback disrupts Dickinson’s preparation for his first full season in Edmonton and leaves the Oilers adjusting their early-season plans up front.

New five-year deal hit by early injury concern

Dickinson signed a five-year contract with the Oilers in June that carries a US$4-million cap hit. He was projected to be a key part of Edmonton’s bottom six, providing depth minutes in a supporting role. With his status now uncertain for the start of the schedule, the Oilers will need to look elsewhere on their roster to fill those responsibilities in the short term.

Last season, Dickinson recorded seven goals and 10 assists over 64 games, marking a second straight year in which he did not reach the 20-point plateau. He began the campaign with the Chicago Blackhawks before being traded to the Oilers midway through the season in a deal that also involved Colton Dach, Andrew Mangiapane and a conditional first-round draft pick.

Fresh chapter in Edmonton put on hold

For Dickinson, a native of Georgetown, Ont., the injury delays his chance to fully establish himself with his new team after last season’s mid-year move. For the Oilers, it removes an experienced option from their bottom-six mix just as the season gets underway. Until there is more clarity on his recovery timeline, Edmonton will have to navigate the early portion of its schedule without the depth piece it had anticipated in Dickinson.