Jason Dickinson’s new deal with the Edmonton Oilers says a lot about where this group sees itself headed.
The five-year contract extension, signed in late June, came with a quote that cut straight to the heart of why Dickinson wanted to stay. He didn’t just talk about comfort or familiarity. He talked about a team that still believes there’s more to do.
“As soon as I came in, it felt like a place I wanted to be for a long time,” said Dickinson. “We connected with the guys really easily, and it’s a great place for our families to live and grow. Then you get the itch as soon as you start playing serious hockey.
“Although we lost in the first round and it sucked, I have that itch to keep going with this group. It’s not just an itch to be in the playoffs - it feels like unfinished business almost, that we have a good group that can push this forward. I want to be a part of that.”
That idea of unfinished business runs through the Oilers’ summer business, too. Dickinson and Murphy both made clear they wanted to remain in Edmonton, and both pointed to the city as a fit for their families and to the Stanley Cup as the ultimate goal.
They followed that up with nearly matching contracts on back-to-back days. Dickinson signed for five years at a flat $4 million per season, while Murphy’s deal came in just a shade higher at $4.1 million.
For Dickinson, the playoff run left a sour taste. An ankle injury late in the regular season made it harder for him to be at full strength when the games mattered most.
Even so, he still managed two goals in Game 1 against the Anaheim Ducks despite missing two games in the series. That only added to the what-if feeling around his postseason.
Murphy said the frustration of that early exit has lingered and can be used the right way.
“I think just moving forward, having a lot of time to sit on it and feel that pain of being out so early as a group brings back that motivation and health for everyone,” said Murphy. “Just making sure that the team puts our best foot forward and realizes what hasn’t worked in the past and what’s going to work going forward.”
When those comments were made, Mike Babcock had not yet been officially hired, but Dickinson said he had no problem with the possibility at the time and viewed it as exciting.
What stands out most about Dickinson is how clearly he understands his lane. He knows exactly what he’s there to do, and he’s not trying to be something he’s not.
“If you start getting guys playing a different style of game, all of a sudden now - if you’re talking about Connor and Leon and the top six in particular - they’re not putting up 100 points, and you guys will start questioning why they’re not doing that,” said Dickinson.
“There’s a fine line of being focused on it (defensive play), but also allowing guys like myself and Murph to take on those responsibilities. You bring in these defensive-minded players that can manage those hard objectives to allow them to play a little bit freer against maybe a second or third line, instead of going up against top players all the time. They get a little bit of time to play easier matchups, and I get the job to make sure that they don’t score on us.”
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