Jason Dickinson proved to be a good fit as the Oilers' third-line center. Leila Devlin / Getty ImagesJune 21, 2026 12:54 pm EDT Updated The Edmonton Oilers signed veteran center Jason Dickinson to a five-year, $20 million contract extension Sunday, taking the pending unrestricted free agent off the market before July 1.Dickinson was acquired by Edmonton from the Chicago Blackhawks on March 5 along with Colton Dach for a 2027 first-round pick and Andrew Mangiapane. He was ranked 13th on The Athletic’s UFA Board.Dickinson had a goal and three assists in 17 regular-season games before adding two goals and an assist in four playoff games for Edmonton. He was in and out of the lineup during the Oilers’ first-round series against the Anaheim Ducks due to an ankle injury.However, the defensively responsible forward and penalty killer proved to be a good fit as the Oilers’ third-line center.“I think the thing that’s really impressive about him and his game is the fact that he takes pride in that role,” Oilers GM Stan Bowman said after acquiring Dickinson. “I think he’s got a very clear job to do, and he embraces that. He does it very well. I’ve thought about this over the last few months here. I think the really important part for our team to be successful is that we’re trying to build a team, not just a collection of players. There’s a difference there.”The market is light on available centers this summer, and Dickinson would have been tough to replace elsewhere if he had walked away. The Oilers now have approximately $10.6 million in available cap space with 18 players signed for the 2026-27 season, according to PuckPedia.In 566 career NHL games for the Dallas Stars, Vancouver Canucks, Chicago and Edmonton, Dickinson has 75 goals and 172 points.Jun 21, 2026Connections: Sports EditionSpot the pattern. Connect the termsFind the hidden link between sports terms