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Knoblauch: Dickinson addition gives Oilers option of ‘more line matchups’ moving forward
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Photo credit: YouTube/Edmonton Oilers
Michael Menzies
Mar 5, 2026, 19:00 ESTUpdated: Mar 5, 2026, 19:06 EST
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Head coach Kris Knoblauch sees the addition of Jason Dickinson giving the Edmonton Oilers an option to match lines, while also alleviating pressure on Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl for key faceoffs. 
Before general manager Stan Bowman took the podium, Knoblauch was asked by reporters for his thoughts on Wednesday’s trade, which saw Dickinson and Colton Dach come over from Chicago. 
Knoblauch said the team wasn’t looking to add more goal scorers, which hints at what Bowman would allude to later on. The Oilers were looking to build a team with specific roles, not just a collection of players.
“He’s a really good shutdown centreman, and that should alleviate some of the pressure on McDavid and Draisaitl, not having to play against the best players all the time,” said Knoblauch.  
“We would have a good shutdown line, and whoever you pair them with, they can play against other teams’ top lines. McDavid and Draisaitl, obviously, they’ll have some heavy competition, but maybe not as heavy all the time. 
“He’s an elite penalty killer, and we envision him being part of our penalty kill.” 
Dickinson played the fourth-most minutes among Blackhawks forwards on their NHL first-ranked penalty kill. 
Knoblauch said he envisions Dickinson being paired with Kasperi Kapanen. That would keep the pairs of Matthew Savoie and Adam Henrique, as well as Connor McDavid and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, together with continuity.  

Matching lines?

But five-on-five line matching isn’t something this coaching staff has done very often. This trade gives them more options, the coach thinks. 
“We have the option of more line matchups,” Knoblauch said. “That’s something we haven’t done very much. That’s just not only because of personnel, it’s also the players that we have, how much Connor and Leon play, and how important it is that they’re on the ice as much as they are.
“So if you’re always chasing matchups, it does make it difficult, takes away shifts from them, but I think we’ve got a line that I’ll probably use more of a shutdown role than we have in the past.” 
Meanwhile, another acquisition in local boy Colton Dach is 10th in the NHL in hits with 189, which is eight more hits than Oilers leader Vasily Podkolzin. 
“He adds a little sandpaper to our team, a little bit of grit, gets in on the forecheck, finishes his checks,” said Knoblauch. “Allows the opposition, especially the opposition defenceman, to know that we’re a hard team to play against.”

Murphy with Walman

Connor Murphy took part in his first full Oilers practice on Thursday morning. After being elusive the last two days, Knoblauch said Murphy would be paired with Jake Walman, who’s struggled as of late. 
Knoblauch reunited Evan Bouchard and Mattias Ekholm together at practice, while Darnell Nurse played with Ty Emberson. 
“I think he’ll be moving around a little bit,” Knoblauch said on Murphy’s role. 
“I think he’s going to start with Walman. That allows Walman to play his strong side. We got a lefty, righty on every unit right now, every pair. That’s something we’re gonna start with, but I think we’ll play around with a little bit too.”
There’s a high likelihood this roster is now set, as Bowman said he doesn’t think the Oilers will make any moves between now and the Trade Deadline on Friday. The Oilers also host the Hurricanes on Friday.
Michael Menzies is an Oilersnation columnist and has been the play-by-play voice of the Bonnyville Pontiacs in the AJHL since 2019. With seven years news experience as the Editor-at-Large of Lakeland Connect in Bonnyville, he also collects vinyl, books, and stomach issues.

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