The Chicago Blackhawks have an important season ahead of them. The organization has committed to building through the draft, and a plethora of draft picks are NHL-ready, or on the cusp of being NHL-ready. Many young players will have a chance to make their mark this season; some becoming everyday players while many others will make their NHL debuts. Meanwhile, a small group of veterans will be tasked with helping the youngsters find their way.
In this series headed into the 2025-26 campaign, we’ll preview each player projected to make the roster, and what their role will be with the team. Today we highlight forward Jason Dickinson.
Dickinson by the Numbers
Drafted: 29th Overall (1st Round) in 2013 by the Dallas Stars
Position: Center (shoots left)
Height/Weight: 6-foot-2, 200 pounds
Age/Birthdate: 30 years old (7/4/1995)
Country: Canada
2024-25 Stats: 7 goals, 9 assists, 16 points in 59 games
Career Stats: 68 goals, 87 assists, 155 points in 502 games
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How He Got Here
Dickinson was drafted and spent the first six seasons of his NHL career with the Stars, where he established himself as a solid two-way forward. In his three most productive seasons with the club, a span from 2018-2021, he accumulated 22 goals and 36 assists for 58 overall points in regular season play. He also added five goals and nine points in 40 playoff games during the Stars’ playoffs runs in the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons.
Now, these numbers don’t exactly jump off the page for a former first-round draft pick. But Dickinson put together some good contributions on the defensive end of things. In the same three-year span, he was credited with 154 blocked shots and 273 hits. Oh, and 105 takeaways! He added 45 blocked shots, 92 hits and 17 takeaways in the playoffs. It’s safe to say Dickinson was a solid player in Dallas.
Alas, the Stars were faced with a difficult decision at the end of the 2020-21 season. They weren’t going to protect Dickinson in the expansion draft, so they traded him to the Vancouver Canucks for a third-round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft. He didn’t fare as well with the Canucks, recording just five goals and 11 points in 62 games. Although, his secondary stats were consistent with his time in Dallas. He registered 43 blocked shots, 101! hits, and 20 takeaways.
In Oct. 2022, Blackhawks’ general manager Kyle Davidson took advantage of the cap-strapped Canucks to acquire Dickinson and a 2024 second-round pick for defenseman Riley Stillman. Dickinson has been a solid addition ever since, contributing 30 points in the 2022-23 season and a whopping 22 goals and 35 points in the 2023-24 season. Yes, this was the season the Ontario native was asked to step out of his comfort zone on a very offensively challenged Blackhawk’s team. He responded admirably.
Related – Jason Dickinson Remains Valuable Asset for Chicago Blackhawks
This earned Dickinson a two-year extension with the organization to the tune of $4.25 million per season, a sizable upgrade from his previous contract with a $2.65 million AAV. The Blackhawks had chosen Dickinson to stick around with the franchise and be one of their veteran leaders.
Dickinson’s Role in 2025-26
The 2024-25 season wasn’t as kind to Dickinson. He dealt with a high-ankle sprain and then a wrist injury that limited him to 59 games and only seven goals and 16 points. But’s let’s also remember the offensive side of play is not exactly what Dickinson is here for!
Even with limited playing time, the now 30-year-old was a valuable member of the penalty kill. He also started 74.6% of his zone starts in the in the defensive zone (the most on the team), making his minus-11 plus/minus rating commendable. Finally, he took the most faceoffs on the team (916) and his 49.5% success rate led the team as well. Considering this is something lacking with the rest of the team, he will likely be leaned on once again at the dot.
In this upcoming season, Dickinson hopes to be fully healthy, and continue the role he’s most comfortable with; that of a shutdown defensive forward. He said as much at his exit interview in April.
Next year, I imagine that I’ll continue in the same position that I like to fill. I want to take on those matchups. I want to be a third line, two-way centerman that does penalty kill; the hard jobs. So that’s where I think it will stay for me.
Considering the team will have a plethora of young talent trying to take up most of the top-six forward spots, it would make sense for Dickinson to be deployed to his strengths. After all, somebody has to do the “hard jobs”. It might as well be someone that wants to! Time will tell whether new head coach Jeff Blashill agrees.
