For a few days, there was a question about whether the Blackhawks would sign or trade Jason Dickinson as a result of his career year. That question didn’t linger for long, though.
General manager Kyle Davidson reacted quickly to forward Nick Foligno’s recent lobbying for Dickinson to be extended by doing just that Tuesday, signing the versatile 28-year-old forward to a two-year contract extension with a $4.25 million salary-cap hit.
“It’s nice to be somewhere you’re wanted,” Dickinson said, a smile stretched across his face. “I’m appreciative of Kyle and his team and my agent, Pat Morris, for getting something done because it’s a place I want to be.’’
Dickinson has given the Hawks some much-needed productivity and stability on both ends of the ice, and his strong play had raised his trade value significantly. Davidson said Saturday that people around the NHL had “taken notice.”
Only 16 months ago, the Hawks essentially received a second-round pick from the Canucks just for absorbing Dickinson’s current $2.65 million salary-cap hit (and giving up Riley Stillman). This winter, they conceivably could’ve gotten a second-round pick for Dickinson — another example of Davidson’s savvy asset management.
But, ultimately, the Hawks decided Dickinson offered more value to them than to anyone else — and they were probably correct in that assessment.
He’s on pace for about 27 goals, shattering his previous career high of nine. Although that exact scoring pace might be unsustainable, his shooting accuracy and scoring-chance generation have improved substantially. He’s also an intelligent, friendly guy who fits well into a locker room and offers some insightful leadership.
And he’s a proven defensive forward who has evolved into an arguably elite one this season, shutting down such stars as Connor McDavid and Jason Robertson within the last week. If the Hawks were a better team, Dickinson would be getting some Selke Trophy dark-horse buzz.
It was telling when Foligno brought up Dickinson — unprompted — after receiving his extension Saturday.
“[Jason is] a guy that I want to go to war with a lot more and hopefully will be able to,” Foligno said. “[I’ve seen] the way he plays the game and what he’s meant to our club, the stability he’s provided [through] all the injuries.
“He’s still out there eating a ton of hard minutes, playing against teams’ best. I’ve just been really impressed with him. He’s a guy that I’ve gravitated to a lot already to start the year, and he has delivered in every aspect.”
Dickinson joked that Foligno might deserve a small cut of his payday after he “pumped my tires enough.”
The two veterans and rookie Connor Bedard are the only three Hawks forwards signed through the summer of 2026, which could be the offseason in which the organization pivots from rebuilding to contending.
“I’m not going to lie, I would’ve liked a few more years because I see what’s down the line,” Dickinson said. “I see the potential. I see where things can go. And I would love to be a part of that. I’m a building block right now as we move forward. Who knows? In a couple of years, we could be talking [about] another extension to really see things through.”
Added coach Luke Richardson: “You want people who want to be here. They make a bigger impact and a bigger difference.”
Dickinson is a perfect fit for this situation because he thinks like a GM. He has always taken serious interest in the art of NHL roster-building, perusing the contract- and pick-tracking website CapFriendly from time to time and following the development of Hawks prospects in juniors and college.
The next time he checks CapFriendly, he definitely will enjoy the name and salary figure he sees atop the Hawks forwards section.
