The San Jose Sharks need help on the blue line. After trading Cody Ceci and Jake Walman, gaps have been opening up that need replacements. For now, the Sharks are just trying to get to the end of the season, but one name long-term to keep an eye on is a prospect that is currently ripping up the Ontario Hockey League with the Sudbury Wolves. That is the 11th overall pick from last year, Sam Dickinson.
Dickinson has lit the OHL on fire this season, collecting 28 goals and 55 assists for 83 points in 52 games. He's on pace to break 90 points in the OHL. Now, most elite OHL scorers pass the 100-point mark with no issues, and some may not view their point totals as elite scorers. Considering that Dickinson is a defenseman, I'd still say that is a pretty good season for the Torontonian left-shot defenseman.
Dickinson will have the weight of the world on his shoulders moving forward as he looks to be the future of Team Teal's blue line. San Jose hopes that he will become the next person in line for the sensational offensive the organization has experienced. Brent Burns and Erik Karlsson spring to mind, and Dickinson can be the next era of offensive defenseman patrolling the Sharks blueline. It's a lofty expectation, but he is capable.
At 6'3, 210 lbs, Dickinson is a big man already, and he's still growing. He will be a force when he fills out into a proper NHL stature. That size, combined with his skating ability and offensive skillset, will make him one of the best defensemen in the NHL for the foreseeable future. The San Jose Sharks will hope for the best when it comes to Dickinson and what he can bring to this organization for the years to come.