Owen Michaels looks set to open the season at center for Mike Babcock's Edmonton Oilers, stepping in for the injured Dickinson.
Jim Matheson reported the expected change late Saturday. The Oilers open Tuesday at home against Vancouver.
What's clear is that Babcock suddenly has a hole to fill down the middle.
With the opener three days away, the Oilers can't exactly go shopping before puck drop.
Michaels has been getting a long look. He logged 17:48 in Thursday's 2-1 win in Vancouver.
His ice time dipped to 10:56 in Saturday's 4-1 home win to Calgary, though he still put two shots on goal.
Mike Babcock's first opening night lineup gets a surprise at center
So is this a real opportunity or a stopgap? Matheson's wording, "looks like," leaves room for Babcock to change course before Tuesday.
Either way, this is why Stan Bowman should get serious about Kirby Dach. Frank Seravalli reported the Oilers are "drooling" over the Montreal forward, and a thin middle only raises the urgency.
Right now, the young forward is the understudy told an hour before curtain that the lead has the flu. Great chance, huge spotlight, no margin.
He's been a regular all camp, logging 13:26 in Tuesday's win past regulation in Winnipeg.
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The pressure around him won't be subtle. Connor McDavid carries a $12,500,000 cap hit, and Leon Draisaitl sits at $14,000,000.
Jeff O'Neill already floated the idea that McDavid gave the Oilers a two-year window. Every lineup hole feels bigger under that kind of clock.
The Oilers play Vancouver twice to open the season, Tuesday at home and Thursday on the road.
If Michaels holds the middle through those two games, Babcock has a real option. If he doesn't, the Dach rumors will get a lot louder in a hurry.
Should the Oilers trade for Kirby Dach to fill the hole at center?
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