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Oilers Colton Dach the poster boy for upward mobility

Does Dach, 23, have more offensive ability than the coach thought? Maybe.

Published: Friday, 6 November 2026 at 9:21 PM
Oilers Colton Dach the poster boy for upward mobility
Key Things to Know
  • Jim Matheson highlights Colton Dach's emergence as an offensive contributor on the Edmonton Oilers' second line.
  • Dach has scored three goals while averaging 14 and a half minutes of ice time during Zach Hyman's absence.
  • Zach Hyman is expected to return to the lineup as soon as Saturday's game against the Vancouver Canucks.
The Story in 60 Seconds

Edmonton Oilers forward Colton Dach has earned an elevated role under head coach Mike Babcock, establishing himself on the team's second line alongside Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Kasperi Kapanen. Playing roughly 14 and a half minutes per game, the 23-year-old winger has scored three goals in the absence of the injured Zach Hyman and recently received power-play minutes alongside Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.

Jim Matheson writes that Dach represents a major success among general manager Stan Bowman's smaller acquisitions following a March deadline trade. With Hyman nearing a return from a neck injury, Dach or Kapanen could shift to a third-line role with Jason Dickinson, though Matheson notes Dach has cemented his standing as a viable top-nine NHL forward.

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