Insider Calls Oilers’ Dickinson the “Big One” For Specific Reason

During the most recent 32 Thoughts podcast, Elliotte Friedman made a brief comment on the Edmonton Oilers series with the Anaheim Ducks that starts Monday night at Rogers Place. While fans and analysts know that a difference-maker Leon Draisaitl will be if he returns for the series, Friedman suggested people don’t sleep on Jason Dickinson.

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Also returning from injury during the series for the Oilers, Dickinson is a glue guy. Not only is he a solid two-way center, but he’s a puzzle piece that is essential to the Oilers deploying their lines in a way that puts everyone else where they need to be.

Friedman explained:

“Draisaitl’s been going, so I’m not too worried about him. Dickinson, to me, is the big one because I think he makes everything fit. I’m hopeful—he’s a really good piece and a key part of that puzzle. I thought it was a good sign for Edmonton that he was at least practicing on Sunday.”

Dickinson was on the ice Sunday and may be set to join the Oilers for Game 1, although that hasn’t been confirmed. We may not learn his fate on Monday as the Oilers’ pre-game skate is optional. To date, Kris Knoblauch continues to say it could be Game 1 or Game 5 for players who are missing.

The good sign is that Dickinson was centering his own line and the Oilers had both he and Draisaitl doing the drills as if they were going to be part of the lineup. The Oilers are approaching Game 1 with what appears to be a mostly healthy lineup. Connor McDavid noted, “You know, health throughout the playoffs is important, and whoever can stay the healthiest has the best chance of winning. So, you want to be healthy day one, and we’re getting closer and closer to that.”

Dickinson is itching to get in. He wants to get medical clearance, and it will be intriguing to see if the Oilers give him the green light.

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