Western Conference Injury Updates: Oilers, Canucks, Kings

The Oilers may be without third-line center Jason Dickinson to start the season. Per Jim Matheson, Dickinson, who broke his foot late last season and gutted through the playoffs, has suffered a setback with the same injury after tweaking it at a camp practice. He hasn’t appeared in the exhibition schedule, and coach Mike Babcock confirmed Friday that Dickinson won’t play in the final tune-up and is unlikely to be ready for the opener. “He’s had a setback,” Babcock said, offering no specifics on a timeline while acknowledging the mental toll of a recurring issue.

It’s a tough break for the 31-year-old entering his first full season in Edmonton. Acquired from Chicago at last year’s deadline, alongside Colton Dach, for Andrew Mangiapane and a conditional 2027 first-round pick, Dickinson signed a five-year deal worth $4MM annually in June and had been penciled in as the third-line center between Kasperi Kapanen and had been expected to center the third line, with Kasperi Kapanen among his projected linemates. With him sidelined, the Oilers have Trent Frederic, Owen Michaels, and Josh Samanski as options to fill the middle. The injury doesn’t appear long-term, but no timeline was given, and Dickinson looks ticketed for injured reserve when Edmonton hosts Vancouver on Tuesday.

Additional notes:

• Canucks starter Thatcher Demko remains without a timeline as he works back from January hip surgery; GM Ryan Johnson reiterated, and with Vancouver’s 23-man roster due Monday, it’s reasonable to expect Demko will open the season on some form of injured reserve. He has been skating at camp but has yet to join the main group or see game action. Kevin Lankinen is set to shoulder the crease in the meantime, with Chris Driedger on a PTO as insurance. An All-Star and Vezina runner-up as recently as 2023-24, Demko has been limited to just 43 games over the past two seasons.
• Kings newcomer Mats Zuccarello is dealing with a minor shoulder injury after a fall during a captain’s skate, but the 39-year-old is expected to be ready for opening night, per GM Ken Holland. Zuccarello, who joined Los Angeles this offseason following years in Minnesota, opened camp in a non-contact jersey while still taking part in drills, and he’s a possibility to suit up for the preseason finale on Saturday, per Zach Dooley, an encouraging sign that the issue won’t cost him regular-season time. The Norwegian produced at almost a point-per-game rate last year, with 54 points in 59 games, and will look to provide a jolt to the King’s offense, which finished 29th in goals for last season.