Oilers Sign Colton Dach To Two-Year Extension

This afternoon the Edmonton Oilers shared that Colton Dach has been re-signed on a two-year pact worth $1.2MM per season. The forward was the club’s last notable restricted free agent to deal with this summer.

Acquired at the deadline from Chicago along with Jason Dickinson, the St. Albert, Alberta native had a nice start to his Oilers tenure with four points in his first eight contests, then dealing with an injury which cost 12. Dach worked his way back for the playoffs, adding one helper in five appearances. Still aged 23, it’s fair to call Dach a prospect, as he was ranked 10th in Chicago’s system last August by The Athletic’s Corey Pronman as a player with below average skating but nice playmaking ability and vision for a 6’4″ frame. Dach is thought to have middle-six upside, and the Oilers will hope he can be a cost-effective everyday player in their bottom-six. Edmonton paid a pretty penny in the Dickinson trade to shed Andrew Mangiapane‘s contract, a conditional 2027 first-rounder, so there’s a real need for Dach to stay healthy and reach his potential in order to call the trade a success.

Selected in the second round by Chicago in 2021 (64th overall) Dach joined his brother Kirby in the organization until they were separated by his trade to Montreal one year later. Never able to play together with the Hawks, Colton still lined up against his brother during his NHL debut in January 2025 at the United Center. A solid piece for the young team’s bottom-six, Dach had nine points in 53 games last season prior to the trade. Regardless of the organization’s evaluation on the former second-rounder, a first-round-pick coming back was enough of an asset for them to part ways.

Listed as a center, Dach won just 36.6% of his draws with Chicago in 2025-26, not lining up for a single face-off with the Oilers. He was effective alongside 28-year-old Trent Frederic, bringing ruthless forechecking and energy and helping reinvigorate Frederic’s game, much needed considering his struggles on a long-term contract. Once a high scorer with the Kelowna Rockets, lighting it up with Capitals prospect Andrew Cristall, Dach’s calling in the NHL will be reliable play in his own end, net driving, and finishing checks.

With Dach crossed off their list the Oilers have around $4.7MM in cap space remaining. Shedding Darnell Nurse‘s $9.25MM allowed them to comfortably retain GM Stan Bowman‘s trade additions, also signing Ryan Shea and Frederik Andersen for just $5MM combined. It seems likely Bowman will utilize the remaining dollars on a free agent forward who could be a repeat of last season’s Jack Roslovic, who successfully netted 21 goals on a one-year deal. As for Dach, it’s expected he’ll be a regular in the lineup in 2026-27.