As details emerged surrounding the Chicago Blackhawks trade with the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday night, the second in three days between the two teams, insider Frank Seravalli reported that another player would be involved in the deal, going from Chicago to Edmonton along with veteran center Jason Dickinson.
Another deal pending player waiver of his no-trade clause, here is the framework of what’s been discussed:
To #LetsGoOilers:
C Jason Dickinson
another piece
To #Blackhawks:
F Andrew Mangiapane
Conditional pick
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) March 5, 2026
After much anticipation, it was finally revealed roughly one hour later that forward Colton Dach was the mystery man. The 23-year-old physical winger and Dickinson are the package going to Edmonton in exchange for Andrew Mangiapane and a 2027 top-12 protected first-round pick. Credit to Frank for including the condition this time (only half kidding).
Trade details, per sources:
To #LetsGoOilers:
C Jason Dickinson (50% retained)
F Colton Dach
To #Blackhawks:
F Andrew Mangiapane
2027 1st Round Pick
Condition: 1st round pick is Top 12 protected.
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) March 5, 2026
Dach was selected in the second round (No. 62 overall) by the Blackhawks in the 2021 NHL Draft, when current Oilers GM Stan Bowman was still calling the shots in Chicago. That’s yet another former player of his that he’s reacquired.
The 2025-26 campaign is Dach’s first as a full-time NHLer, though he did appear in 25 games with the Blackhawks last season, tallying two goals and five assists for seven points. In 53 games this year, he’s recorded three goals and six assists for nine points. He doesn’t offer much offense or puck skills in the bottom six, but he’s always willing to throw the body around with his robust 6-foot-4, 218-pound frame. Among all NHL skaters, Dach ranks 10th with 189 hits this season. He’s first among all NHL rookies in that category.
After being a regular in the lineup for the first half of this season, Dach started to become a healthy scratch more consistently once the calendar flipped to 2026. Over the Blackhawks’ last 11 games, he had only suited up four times. With Landon Slaggert’s recent ascension in a fourth-line role and as a penalty killer, there just wasn’t enough room for Dach to play consistently. And it wasn’t about to get any easier for him to receive ice time.
With high-end prospects like Anton Frondell, Sacha Boisvert, and potentially Nick Lardis expected to join the Blackhawks for the finishing stretch, they all would certainly get opportunities over Dach, whose ceiling projects as a fourth-line grinder.
It’s tough to see Dach and Dickinson go, but GM Kyle Davidson fetched a wonderful return for those two players. By including Dach in the deal, retaining half of Dickinson’s $4.25 million cap hit, and willingly taking on Mangiapane’s contract, the Blackhawks have added another first-round pick to their arsenal. That now gives them FIVE first-round selections over the next three NHL Drafts.
While it’s unclear at this time what the Blackhawks plans are for Mangiapane, who’s signed through the remainder of next season with a $3.6 million cap hit, there’s no real downside in taking on his contract.
Mangiapane already cleared waivers on Monday before getting traded to Chicago, meaning he can immediately report to the Rockford IceHogs of the AHL. The Blackhawks can leave him there for all of next season if they so choose, which would help the team reach the salary cap floor and wouldn’t block a young player from an NHL roster spot.
Davidson has also had success taking low-risk gambles on players who need a change of scenery. For example, both Dickinson and Ilya Mikheyev were acquired from the Vancouver Canucks as part of salary-cap dumps and ended up rekindling their careers in Chicago. That’s not to say it will happen again with Mangiapane, but crazier things have occurred. And if he doesn’t figure it out, the Blackhawks can still benefit by keeping him in the AHL.
All in all, it’s another bargain well struck by Davidson.
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