Sam Dickinson was the second of the San Jose Sharks' two first-round draft picks in the 2024 NHL entry draft. The first was Macklin Celebrini, who seems to be doing decently. Still, the Sharks picked up Dickinson, too, hoping he could become an answer to some of their defensive concerns. That has been a significant issue for the Sharks for a few seasons, but Dickinson is the missing piece for Team Teal.
With the London Knights this season, Sam Dickinson played in 55 games. In that time, Dickinson recorded 29 goals and 62 assists. That's 91 points from a defenseman. That isn't quite what the Sharks need now, but it would be a lovely addition to the backend. San Jose's defensive game is the major weakness of this core, but there is a lot to love moving forward. We'll see what happens, but Dickinson could be a massive addition to Team Teal.
Dickinson would be the ultimate addition to the blueline on a roster that needs help. Jake Walman was a good addition, but his trade to the Edmonton Oilers opened up a hole on the backend, which screams like a fit for Dickinson. We cannot put too much pressure on Sam before he makes the NHL, but the more you look at the core for the future, the higher the level of excitement should be for this roster.
Mike Grier will need to add some veteran leadership to the backend of this roster before the Sharks can consider themselves in a playoff race, but there is no denying the exciting young core building for the Sharks. They will be looking to add another fantastic talent at the draft when that rolls around, but Team Teal has a good foundation for the suffering it endured recently. A bright future indeed follows the dark days.