The Edmonton Oilers just made a move, signing 23-year-old Colton Dach to a two-year, $2.4 million extension on Sunday, and for anyone who remembers his time ripping it up for our very own Seattle Thunderbirds, it's a solid play.
Oilers Lock Up Young Talent
This isn't some massive blockbuster deal that breaks the bank, but at $1.2 million per year, it's a sweet spot for a young player with some serious hockey pedigree. Dach, who's the younger brother of Montreal Canadiens forward Kirby Dach (talk about good genes, right?), got to Edmonton in a midseason trade. He came over with Jason Dickinson, while Andrew Mangiapane and a conditional 2027 first-round pick went to the Chicago Blackhawks in that swap. So, he's already part of their long-term plan, and now they've locked him in for a couple more years. Smart business, no doubt.
From Thunderbirds Ice to the NHL
Dach played eight games for the Oilers after the trade, netting two goals and two assists in the regular season. He even got into five playoff games, picking up an assist. Before that move, he had nine points across 53 games with the Blackhawks. The kid was a second-round pick by Chicago back in 2021, and before he hit the big leagues, he spent time in the Western Hockey League. That's where our paths crossed, right? He laced up for both the Kelowna Rockets and, yeah, our very own Seattle Thunderbirds. You know we love seeing our former T-Birds make it big and get rewarded for their grind!
What This Means for Edmonton, and a Nod to Our Guy
He also put in time in the AHL with the Blackhawks' affiliate in Rockford for the 2023-24 season, and again in 2024-25, alongside his NHL stints over the last two seasons. Edmonton isn't exactly expecting him to be a top-line superstar overnight, but at just 23 with those undeniable 'good hockey genes,' this extension makes a ton of sense. The cost is low, the potential is there, and they just traded for him a handful of months ago, so they clearly believe in what he brings. It's smart business for the Oilers, securing a developing talent who once graced the ice right here in our corner of the world. You gotta respect that commitment to a young player, especially one we remember from his days absolutely buzzing with the Thunderbirds. It's always cool to see guys who came up through our local hockey scene make it to the biggest stage and get rewarded for their hustle. This isn't just a win for Edmonton; it's another feather in the cap for the quality of talent that comes out of the WHL, including our own corner of the world. Looking forward to seeing him build on those first NHL seasons and really cement his spot with the Oilers!
This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.