Oilers 2026-27 Player Previews: Colton Dach

The 2026-27 season starts this month, so let’s continue our Edmonton Oilers player preview series. The last player we looked at was goaltender Frederik Andersen, and now we turn our attention to Colton Dach.

The Oilers acquired Dach at the 2026 Trade Deadline, and he came as advertized. He scored two goals and four points in eight regular-season games, before adding one assist in five playoff games. He missed 11 games with a lower-body injury, but he made an impact when he played.

As a result, the Oilers inked him to a two-year contract extension with a $1.2 million cap hit. That’s a great deal for Edmonton, and he should be a lock to crack the opening night roster. He fills an important need and he injects youth and energy into the lineup. Let’s preview his 2026-27 campaign.

Dach Is a Fourth-Liner

Dach is a prototypical fourth-line player, and he brings an element that Edmonton’s bottom six has been lacking. He has some offence to his game, but he also brings a ton of physicality. He led the Chicago Blackhawks with 189 hits and 18.31 hits per 60 minutes. That carried over to Edmonton as he registered 30 hits in just eight games, with 22.18 hits per 60 minutes. His physicality has instantly made him a fan favourite.

The 23-year-old developed chemistry with Josh Samanski and Trent Frederic near the end of the season. That trio complemented each other extremely well. Samanski plays a smart two-way game, while Frederic and Dach bring physicality and aggressiveness. That line should be heavily explored this season and help develop an identity. They need a role, and there’s a ton of untapped potential. Dach should be a catalyst in getting fourth-line production.

Best Case Scenario

The best-case scenario is that Dach stays healthy and remains on the fourth line. Head coach Mike Babcock shouldn’t move him up the lineup. Last season, former head coach Kris Knoblauch tinkered with the lineup in training camp, which bled into the season. Knoblauch experimented with Frederic on the top line alongside Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, which failed from the get-go. Frederic struggled mightily and couldn’t establish an identity. He didn’t fit and couldn’t find a role. That mistake can’t happen with Dach.

The St. Albert, Alberta native has seven career goals in 86 games, so if he can add 10 goals and have a solid role, that would be ideal. If he can also register over 250 hits and lead the team, that would be fantastic. Vasily Podkolzin led the team in hits the last two seasons, including 242 hits in 2025-26. Dach has an opportunity to dethrone him. He’s an intriguing player to watch this season.

Worst Case Scenario

The worst-case scenario is that Dach doesn’t stay healthy and misses significant time. Or, he underperforms and loses his spot in the lineup. That would be even worse. He’s among five forwards competing for the final few spots. Dach, Max Jones, Isaac Howard, Mathieu Joseph, and Eduards Tralmaks are also in the mix. Mattias Janmark is there, but he’s currently recovering from a shoulder injury. Dach still has the inside track to win one of those spots. Therefore, if he loses that job and becomes a constant healthy scratch, that would be awful.

Offensively, anything under five goals and 15 points would be incredibly underwhelming. They need offence from their fourth line, because depth scoring is crucial. The Oilers don’t get enough of that. Extra goals from the bottom six will help alleviate some pressure off the big guns.

He must stick to his game and do what makes him successful. He’s a high-energy, physical power forward who isn’t afraid to drop the gloves and stick up for his teammates. If he gets away from that, he won’t stay in the lineup. He knows his role, but he must play it consistently. Anything less than 150 hits and one fighting major would be underwhelming. He has an opportunity to be an impactful player, and it’s up to him to keep his spot. If he does his job, he’ll be in the lineup every game. His potential is evident.

What should we expect from Dach this season? Keep following The Hockey Writers as we continue the Oilers’ player previews in anticipation of this season.