Jason Dickinson is expected to make his season debut Wednesday in Anaheim, giving the Edmonton Oilers a welcome boost up front.
Oilers Access reported that he was once again a full participant at Tuesday's practice, ahead of a California road trip.
He's expected to skate on a line with Trent Frederic and Kasperi Kapanen.
Dickinson missed the start of the season while rehabbing a foot injury he re-aggravated in training camp, per Sportsnet.
Good timing. The Oilers have been losing bodies up front all week, and HNIC's Saturday Headlines even had Edmonton looking to swap a defenseman for a forward.
It's getting your snow shovel back from the neighbor right before the first storm. Nothing fancy, just exactly what you needed.
Who still needs to come back? Zach Hyman is listed as out until at least October 17.
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Oilers get major boost as Jason Dickinson returns to practice
Frederic has a goal through three games and dropped the gloves with Ryan Lindgren on Saturday.
Kapanen has a goal and an assist, but he's also a -4. That goal was a shorthanded winner in the 9-7 game in Vancouver.
Frederic carries a $3,850,000 cap hit, and Kapanen is at $2,600,000.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins also started the season on the sidelines after getting hurt in practice.
Mike Babcock's group is 2-0-1 after Saturday's 3-1 win over Seattle.
Devon Levi is coming off a 19-save night in that one, and Frederik Andersen remains out until at least December.
Joel Quenneville's Ducks are 2-0-0, after a 4-3 win over Vegas and a 3-2 overtime win over Florida.
Leo Carlsson has five points and Cutter Gauthier has four for Anaheim, while Mikael Granlund already has a game-winner.
The Hockey Writers noted that Anaheim eliminated Edmonton in the first round last spring, so this one carries a little history.
After Anaheim, the Oilers visit San Jose on Saturday and Los Angeles next Tuesday.
Dickinson won't fix everything on his own. But one more healthy forward gives Babcock options he hasn't had all season.
Will Jason Dickinson make an immediate impact in his season debut?
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