Jason Dickinson gave Mike Babcock and the Edmonton Oilers an immediate injury scare when the newly signed forward left Friday's practice.
The concern surfaced during the skate when Dickinson departed after getting hurt, turning what should have been routine preseason work into a lineup issue worth watching.
Ryan Rishaug reported from the rink that Dickinson had left with an injury. For Edmonton, the timing couldn't be much worse with roster roles being established.
Dickinson was brought in to give the Oilers another experienced option up front. Losing him before the schedule even gets moving would immediately complicate Babcock's early forward combinations.
There was at least one encouraging development. Dickinson later returned to the ice to test the issue rather than remaining completely out of the session, but he was unable to stay on the ice.
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That return matters, but it doesn't erase the concern. Players testing an injury during practice can give the coaching staff information without guaranteeing they're ready for full contact or game action.
Jason Dickinson injury puts Oilers depth under pressure
The sequence made the scare especially uncomfortable. Dickinson left the ice, raised immediate concern around the rink, then came back out while the Oilers continued their work.
For Babcock, the next decision will be whether Dickinson can resume his normal workload or needs to be held back. September is already about finding chemistry, and an absence can disrupt those evaluations quickly.
Edmonton signed Dickinson to strengthen its options deeper in the forward group. His ability to handle difficult minutes could become important once the coaching staff starts sorting out regular-season deployment.
That makes his availability more than a minor preseason storyline. Every missed practice can affect line combinations, special-teams looks and the competition for spots around him.
The encouraging part is simple: Dickinson was able to return and test himself. The worrying part is that he had to leave in the first place.
There's no reason for Edmonton to push a newly signed forward through discomfort in September. Babcock has time to adjust the practice groups while the club gets a clearer read on Dickinson.
For now, the Oilers avoided the worst possible sight of Dickinson leaving and never returning. But until he's back taking a full workload, his status becomes one of the first injury situations to monitor at camp.
Should the Oilers keep Jason Dickinson out until he is fully healthy?
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