Chicago Blackhawks activate Jason Dickinson

After being acquired from the Vancouver Canucks last night, Jason Dickinson finally has his visa issues sorted out, as the Chicago Blackhawks activated the veteran forward today, sending Buddy Robinson to the AHL to make room.

Dickinson, 27, came in a deal that saw the Canucks give up a second-round pick to get his salary off the books, an asset the Blackhawks will happily take in their scorched-earth rebuild. Signed to a three-year, $7.95M ($2.65M AAV) contract in 2021, Dickinson lasted just 62 games with the Canucks before being shipped out of town.

A first-round pick of the Dallas Stars in 2013, the 6’2″ center has never really paid off on his early promise of offensive potential. He has never had more than nine goals in a single season and had just 11 total points last year for the Canucks.

It will not be surprising to see him eclipse those numbers with the Blackhawks this season, given how much opportunity there likely is for depth players to play a lot, but it is hard to imagine him being much more than a bottom-six defensive contributor on a contending team.

His current cap hit makes that sort of untenable for most contending clubs, but there is the possibility that the Blackhawks can flip him down the line by retaining some of the remaining salary.

For now, he will join a group that is winless through the first two games of the season.