The San Jose Sharks have done quite a bit of work to build a fearsome forward group, with young power forwards like Macklin Celebini, Will Smith, and Michael Misa leading the way for a new era of NHL. However, while it’s definitely better than last year’s group, defense is a major thorn in the Sharks’ side. Although there are some young defensemen to look forward to, there is still a major question looming overhead: Sam Dickinson. Dickinson, the 20-years-old, 6-foot-3 inch, 200 pound, left-handed defenseman, struggled last season. His spot on the roster remains a giant question mark.
Dickinson has been on a path to success the past few years, but it wasn’t always so linear for him. Prior to his selection at fourth overall in the 2022 OHL Priority Selections Draft by the Niagara IceDogs, Sam Dickinson had actually considered hanging up his skates and quitting hockey altogether. After being cut from the same team three consecutive years, Dickinson was ready to throw in the towel. However, the team needed a backup goalie and he was willing to give the sport one last chance in a position he would only play for one season. As he watched the game go by, either between the pipes or from the bench, he was reminded how much he loved the sport and being involved in the play. This lit a fire under him, and propelled him to improve to the point of being selected fourth overall.
However, Dickinson would never wear an IceDogs sweater. Clearly building to become a special player, the summer before his rookie season in the OHL the London Knights traded seven future draft picks to obtain the rights to him. Luckily for the Knights, Dickinson would need no time to adjust to life in junior hockey. In his rookie season, Dickinson recorded a solid 23 points (9G, 14A) and +5 in 68 games played. He even adjusted to the pressures of playoffs nicely, recording 8 points (4G, 4A) and +12 in 21 games. This great rookie campaign landed him a spot on the OHL First All-Rookie team, along with future Sharks teammate Michael Misa (at the time with the Saginaw Spirit).
In the middle of the season he even wore the “C” for Canada Black in the U17 World Hockey Challenge, where he’d help lead the team with another future teammate: Macklin Celebrini (who wore the “A”). In this tournament he was named to the All-Star Team for his 2 points (1G, 1A) in seven games. He’d then represent Canada again that summer and win gold in the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, an international tournament to showcase prospects ahead of their draft seasons. With his three assists in five games, Dickinson went into his draft season with London confident.
A player’s draft year is arguably the most important season of their lives, and Dickinson took his production to the next level in his second season as a London Knight. In 68 games played, Dickinson more than tripled his output by scoring 70 points (18G, 52A) and an incredible +56. Again handling playoff pressure well, he helped lead the Knights to an OHL Championship with 13 points (4G, 9A) and +11 in 18 playoff games. This outstanding second year not only earned him a spot on the OHL Second All-Star Team, but also a spot in the first round of the 2024 NHL Draft. 10 picks after selecting Macklin Celebrini first overall, the Sharks used the 11th overall pick on Sam Dickinson.
Now drafted, Dickinson went into his third and final season in the OHL with swagger and poise. Incredibly, he was able to take his production to an even higher level. In just 55 games played, Dickinson notched a whopping 91 points (29G, 62A) and an amazing +64. His 91 points were the most recorded by a defenseman in London Knights history, and he became only the eleventh defenseman in CHL history to break 90 points. Additionally, his +64 was a league best plus/minus. With another Canada outing in the middle of the season, this time in the U20 World Junior Championship where he put up two assists in five games, Dickinson would return to the OHL to dominate in playoffs.
Dickinson continued his OHL rampage in the postseason, and helped lead his team to victory again. In 17 playoff games, he recorded an astounding 31 points (9G, 22A) and +22. His incredible 31 points managed to tie the record for seventh most points in a postseason by a defenseman since 2000, leading the London Knights to yet another OHL Championship and, this time, the CHL Memorial Cup Championship. Unsurprisingly, Dickinson was named CHL Defenseman of the Year, named to the CHL First All-Star and Memorial Cup All-Star Teams, named to the OHL First All-Star Team, and awarded the Max Kaminsky Trophy crowning him the OHL’s most outstanding defenseman.
So when it came to the 2025-2026 season, it seemed like a no-brainer to call Sam Dickinson up to the NHL. However, despite his past success and adaptability, he struggled to find his footing. In 72 games with the Sharks, Dickinson put up 14 points (1G, 13A) and was -5. Although, his struggles were not entirely his fault: the organization could only send him down to the OHL, not the AHL. Considering he managed to score 91 points in 55 games in his last season in the OHL, he wasn’t going to develop any further playing in juniors. Because of this, the Sharks were more or less forced to keep him on the NHL roster, something that truly hurt his success. Of course, part of it was the lack of support from the other defensemen in the system last year. Yes, the team is in a better spot defensively now but it’s only marginally better. All this considered, he still managed to earn a spot on Team Canada for the World Championship and even made two (tough) appearances.
Now, though, Dickinson is eligible to be sent down to the AHL. Sure, incoming Jacob Trouba can do wonders for Dickinson’s growth and development as a proven leader/mentor, but he still needs to develop more before he can fly under Trouba’s wing. With incoming fellow left-handed defenseman Luca Cagnoni ready to make the jump, showing his confidence and prowess in just three NHL games this past season, it doesn’t seem likely Sam Dickinson will make the opening night roster. However, it’s not to discredit his skill and value. Defensemen take time to develop, and it’s at no fault of his own that Dickinson isn’t there yet. So, for now, it seems Cagnoni will fill the role until Dickinson can establish himself as a great defenseman.
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