PROJECTED LINEUP: Dickinson activated off IR to make season debut against Ducks

ANAHEIM, CA – Forward Jason Dickinson has been activated off Injured Reserve and will make his season debut on Wednesday night at Honda Center as the Edmonton Oilers open their three-game California road trip against the Anaheim Ducks.

In a corresponding move, Colton Dach was placed on IR with an upper-body injury.

Dickinson is expected to start on the second line with Trent Frederic and Kasperi Kapanen after missing the first three games as he worked his way back from a challenging ankle injury he sustained late in the regular season last year in San Jose.

The Oilers will be getting back a key piece of their penalty kill, a stalwart defensive centre and capable puck-mover on the breakout in Dickinson, who his teammates say makes their jobs a whole lot easier, especially for the defencemen.

"He's just sound defensively, smart and responsible," Ty Emberson said. "I think he's always in the right spot in the breakouts. He's always making sure he's doing the small things. Babs talks about getting a lot of skin for us, so it makes our breakouts a little easier. He's someone you can trust who is going to be in the right place all the time."

After last playing in Game 6 of Edmonton's first-round defeat to Anaheim on April 6, Head Coach Mike Babcock wants to see the 31-year-old get back into game shape quickly, but said he isn't about to rush him back into a compromising situation.

"Anytime you miss camp and you haven't played because you've been injured, it's going to take you some time," Babcock said. "So he's got to be kind to himself, and we got to be patient with him.

"His biggest thing is ramping up the pace. Obviously, he's a really intelligent, useful player for us, especially when you look at our top six. He really gives us a different complexion. We look forward to him getting up and rolling, and it's probably going to take him a bit of time."

Wednesday's Oilers practice was optional, so lines will be confirmed during warmups. Coach Babcock didn't name a starter in his morning media availability after saying on Monday that Devon Levi and Tristan Jarry will each play one of the first two games.

Newly acquired forward Filip Hallander will join the team in San Jose on Thursday, Oilers GM & VP of Hockey Operations Stan Bowman said, with the Swede potentially making his Oilers debut in Saturday's afternoon matchup with the Sharks.

With the return of Dickinson, the Oilers are marching their way back to full health and having more options up front that can positively impact their lineup construction, such as splitting Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl on separate lines when on the road.

Babcock is hopeful that Dickinson's return can create another effective line for the Oilers, much like how Owen Michaels' success alongside Alex Formenton and Mathieu Joseph has made for an effective and productive fourth line.

"Before I started, I thought were going to have like full roster," Babcock said. "I would have maybe divided [McDavid and Draisaitl], but we've got to have something going, so we've kept them together. It seems to have pace and gets us going.  

"The Michaels kid has given us another line. Hopefully, Dicky can give us another group, and we start to get deeper again because I think we're going to be a deeper team than I expected.  But that's going to take us some time to get people back."