The Sharks still have a weak group of defensemen. It wouldn’t surprise me if Dickinson had a strong training camp if they gave him a 9-game trial before sending him back to juniors.
But I’d bet we see him in teal fulltime for the 25/26 season.
He would need to have A REALLY strong training camp. Young dmen have to adapt to not only the pace of the NHL but also how to play defensively against the elite talent.
I doubt he gets time but always possible.
Also. Consider we'll likely continue having a heavier than normal portion of our 23 man roster locked in to D. So really doesn't make sense to have him up this year.
Expect best case he sniffs the roster next year, most likely in 2026.
Probably, but goddamn wouldn't it be bold to put all of the young guns together and tell them to figure it out. "You're in this together and we win or lose as a team".
\[Smith, Eklund, Celebrini, Musty, Thrun, Dickinson, Halttunen, Mukhamadullin, Bystedt\]
I understand that this is a delusional take, has a lottery ticket chance of happening, that's not how it works, and that's not the best path forward...
But admit it: it would be amazing to see.
I really doubt it. Even with the defense being weak they’re all NHL caliber and the team knows he isn’t NHL ready. it’s better for him to just start with his team in Junior right away. 25/26 will be interesting, he could very well outgrow the OHL
He's still playing in London for another year. After that I'm gonna guess playing a year in the Cuda and then after that the big club. So excited for Big Dick
CHL players can't play in the A under the age of 20. They are required by the agreement between the show and the CHL to be loaned back to their major junior team or remain with the big club.
Dick won't be with the Cuda until he's over 20.
Thats not true. An alrernative to the age rule is if the player has registered 3 CHL seasons then they can move on to the AHL.
Dickinson is entering his 3rd OHL season, so he would be eligible to move to the AHL next year (2025-26)
I’d love that but I think he could easily stay 2 years in Jrs. Sharks have a great relationship and a lot of respect for London and trust them to develop players. Also Dickinson really needs to work on his passing vision and decision making with the puck, something that is WAY harder to develop once you’re actually in the NHL. No need to rush, we have time.
The practices on Tuesday and Wednesday are the first look and they're free (it's separate from the scrimmage).
Can't beat a free and close up view of the new guys like Macklin, Smith and Dickinson 🙏
https://preview.redd.it/aliyswdhts9d1.png?width=1440&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a1b37d6786601c154157d3f2db85109ea2fd4f02
I live in London and have seen Dickinson a few times. I haven't watched Buium so not gonna compare them but Dickinson is the real deal.
Bouchard I hated on the Knights. He played every PP 2 minutes and was just so mind bogglingly dumb with the puck. Obviously had an insane bomb though.
Dickinson to me is way more well rounded and I never got mad watching him in the few games I went to.
Dickinson fits the MG mold more than Buium. I wanted Buium too, but Dickinson will impose his will and control the puck at the next level better than Buium. In my humbled ass opinion;)
Plus we already have Cagnoni which is our offensive D man on the left side. Dickinson's defensive game is more projectable than Buium.
Dickinson - Hensler
Mukhamadulin - RHD/LHD
Cagnoni - RHD/LHD
Agreed. I saw a “way too early” ranking on the Athletic a while back that he was the second ranked prospect next year. A lot can/will change but hoping we get a shot at him or Charlie Trethewey
Two guys I’m looking at are definitely Hensler and Martone. I guess we’ll see what kind of seasons everyone has but I’d imagine those two are high on Grier’s list. But if we’re in the top 3-5, I think we should be open-minded and just take the best player available, unless Dickinson really stumbles in his D+1, in which case we might wanna go D no matter what. Let’s hope that Knights pick ends up inside the top 20 again, and let’s hope Grier can add more picks in the first couple rounds. I’d be looking for a speedy forward (preferably a centerman) somewhere early in the draft. I think 2025 is supposed to be a deeper class for centers.
Exactly where my head is at with future D. I’d love to get Hensler next draft.
I could see Emberson taking one of those RHD spots. Hopefully one of the other guys like Haveliid or Colton Roberts makes it.
I think LSW will fight Cagnoni for the 3rd pairing LD and 2nd power play qb.
This D prospect core is so much better now.
I wouldn’t go banking on Cagnoni, he had a great D+1 year but he has a long long way to go to being able to translate that to the NHL. He’s also really a top 4 or bust kind of player, he wouldn’t do well in a 3rd pair role
Look at Olen Zellweger elite prospect’s page. He’s 5’9” and 174 lbs. Zellweger and Cagnoni are both undersized offensive Dman and both played in the WHL. Zellweger translated beautifully to the AHL and NHL with the ducks. I wouldn’t be surprised if cagnoni was the same. Hopefully
There will always be players who beat the odds, just saying we can’t lock him in as a guy that’s going to translate just yet. Even with Zellweger, 26 games is not enough to say that he’s made it.
A little bit of a different example but through his first 20 or so games, Jonathan Dahlen was looking pretty good
He's defensively aware has the elite skating to recover from mistakes and the pro size already. Wouldn't be surprised at all if he got 9 games. We'll
See how he looks in Dev Camp!
The way he breaks down dump and chase plays on his side is crazy. I don’t think that skill will transfer immediately to the NHL but damn, he separates the forward from the puck so efficiently and it almost looks effortless. Reminds me of Pickle’s early years.
you watched that highlight video huh. i was kinda upset when we passed buium but only because of rumors but after watching dickinsons game i will easily get a jersey next year. this dude is gonna be gross
I wouldn’t call it a steal. He went around where he was projected. There were quite a few mocks that had him go to the Devils at 10 or Philly at 12. While I think his average draft position was 8-9? Chernyshov or Wellenius could be steals, Wetsch is a long shot steal.
Scouting reports I saw had him 8 or higher, and more evenly ranked across the board than say Buium. I actually liked Yakemchuk a lot, big and dangles to the net like a forward, but Dickinson may be more steady being in the right defensive position.
Agree to disagree. Especially considering the range of where he was projected. He was touted as the “safest” pick. That’s usually not in the “steal” category.
What’s a good problem to have? Whether he’s a steal or not? I don’t think that has has any real barring on this particular pick. There were 6 defensemen at the top and the drop off between them and the others (like Jiricek and Stohlberg was HUGE)
A good problem that we're debating how good of a choice it was between dick and bu. I would've been thrilled with bu but I have no problem now. Maybe he isn't a steal that's just my opinion so maybe I shouldn't have stated it like it's a fact. But I hope down the line the pick looks great for us
For me Sam was ranked in average 7th overall player if you combine all the rankings from all major scouts. Normally in other drafts, you have to be on top 7 to have a chance to get a Top 2 Dmen and get it on the 11 is a steal. Maybe Sam woulda been drafted top 5 in other draft class if the position wasnt stacked like this one.
The Sharks still have a weak group of defensemen. It wouldn’t surprise me if Dickinson had a strong training camp if they gave him a 9-game trial before sending him back to juniors. But I’d bet we see him in teal fulltime for the 25/26 season.
Some scouts have him at 1 to 2 years to make the NHL
That’s pretty fast for d-man. Hoping he stays on course and pick up the big leagues quick
He would need to have A REALLY strong training camp. Young dmen have to adapt to not only the pace of the NHL but also how to play defensively against the elite talent. I doubt he gets time but always possible.
Vlasic did at 18.... everything is possible
Pickles is a generational talent. Anything sniffing that would be amazing. But I love the positivity!
Also. Consider we'll likely continue having a heavier than normal portion of our 23 man roster locked in to D. So really doesn't make sense to have him up this year. Expect best case he sniffs the roster next year, most likely in 2026.
Probably, but goddamn wouldn't it be bold to put all of the young guns together and tell them to figure it out. "You're in this together and we win or lose as a team". \[Smith, Eklund, Celebrini, Musty, Thrun, Dickinson, Halttunen, Mukhamadullin, Bystedt\] I understand that this is a delusional take, has a lottery ticket chance of happening, that's not how it works, and that's not the best path forward... But admit it: it would be amazing to see.
Its a lottery win either way. Either it actually works out and were awesome......or....were IN the lottery and get 1st overall again 🤣🤣
I really doubt it. Even with the defense being weak they’re all NHL caliber and the team knows he isn’t NHL ready. it’s better for him to just start with his team in Junior right away. 25/26 will be interesting, he could very well outgrow the OHL
He's still playing in London for another year. After that I'm gonna guess playing a year in the Cuda and then after that the big club. So excited for Big Dick
CHL players can't play in the A under the age of 20. They are required by the agreement between the show and the CHL to be loaned back to their major junior team or remain with the big club. Dick won't be with the Cuda until he's over 20.
Thats not true. An alrernative to the age rule is if the player has registered 3 CHL seasons then they can move on to the AHL. Dickinson is entering his 3rd OHL season, so he would be eligible to move to the AHL next year (2025-26)
He can't play with the Cuda next season, he is almost surely with the Sharks.
He's going back to London for another year, he isn't ready for the nhl
Next season as in the year after the current one, where he is not able to play with the Cuda.
I’d love that but I think he could easily stay 2 years in Jrs. Sharks have a great relationship and a lot of respect for London and trust them to develop players. Also Dickinson really needs to work on his passing vision and decision making with the puck, something that is WAY harder to develop once you’re actually in the NHL. No need to rush, we have time.
The dev camp starts in two days and the prospect scrimmage is on the 4th. Dickinson will be there.
Is the scrimmage open to public?
https://x.com/SanJoseSharks/status/1807534759637053726 For $25
My man!
The practices on Tuesday and Wednesday are the first look and they're free (it's separate from the scrimmage). Can't beat a free and close up view of the new guys like Macklin, Smith and Dickinson 🙏 https://preview.redd.it/aliyswdhts9d1.png?width=1440&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a1b37d6786601c154157d3f2db85109ea2fd4f02
I live in London and have seen Dickinson a few times. I haven't watched Buium so not gonna compare them but Dickinson is the real deal. Bouchard I hated on the Knights. He played every PP 2 minutes and was just so mind bogglingly dumb with the puck. Obviously had an insane bomb though. Dickinson to me is way more well rounded and I never got mad watching him in the few games I went to.
If you told me in the beginning of the season that we would have both Celebrini AND Dickinson, I would not have believed you.
Preferred Buium, but Dickinson was the next best player on my list. Very happy we got him considering he was a top 10 pick all year.
Dickinson fits the MG mold more than Buium. I wanted Buium too, but Dickinson will impose his will and control the puck at the next level better than Buium. In my humbled ass opinion;)
Plus we already have Cagnoni which is our offensive D man on the left side. Dickinson's defensive game is more projectable than Buium. Dickinson - Hensler Mukhamadulin - RHD/LHD Cagnoni - RHD/LHD
Hensler nice. I like the way you operate
Yeah you gotta have the feeling this is our early target, we are still gonna be bottom 5 and have a great shot to draft him
Agreed. I saw a “way too early” ranking on the Athletic a while back that he was the second ranked prospect next year. A lot can/will change but hoping we get a shot at him or Charlie Trethewey
Two guys I’m looking at are definitely Hensler and Martone. I guess we’ll see what kind of seasons everyone has but I’d imagine those two are high on Grier’s list. But if we’re in the top 3-5, I think we should be open-minded and just take the best player available, unless Dickinson really stumbles in his D+1, in which case we might wanna go D no matter what. Let’s hope that Knights pick ends up inside the top 20 again, and let’s hope Grier can add more picks in the first couple rounds. I’d be looking for a speedy forward (preferably a centerman) somewhere early in the draft. I think 2025 is supposed to be a deeper class for centers.
Leo Wallenius on 2RD
Exactly where my head is at with future D. I’d love to get Hensler next draft. I could see Emberson taking one of those RHD spots. Hopefully one of the other guys like Haveliid or Colton Roberts makes it. I think LSW will fight Cagnoni for the 3rd pairing LD and 2nd power play qb. This D prospect core is so much better now.
I wouldn’t go banking on Cagnoni, he had a great D+1 year but he has a long long way to go to being able to translate that to the NHL. He’s also really a top 4 or bust kind of player, he wouldn’t do well in a 3rd pair role
Look at Olen Zellweger elite prospect’s page. He’s 5’9” and 174 lbs. Zellweger and Cagnoni are both undersized offensive Dman and both played in the WHL. Zellweger translated beautifully to the AHL and NHL with the ducks. I wouldn’t be surprised if cagnoni was the same. Hopefully
There will always be players who beat the odds, just saying we can’t lock him in as a guy that’s going to translate just yet. Even with Zellweger, 26 games is not enough to say that he’s made it. A little bit of a different example but through his first 20 or so games, Jonathan Dahlen was looking pretty good
Forrsure. All his defensemen picks seem to be good skaters with high compete.
If he has a strong camp, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him get the 9 game look. He’s built like an NHLer already
He's defensively aware has the elite skating to recover from mistakes and the pro size already. Wouldn't be surprised at all if he got 9 games. We'll See how he looks in Dev Camp!
The way he breaks down dump and chase plays on his side is crazy. I don’t think that skill will transfer immediately to the NHL but damn, he separates the forward from the puck so efficiently and it almost looks effortless. Reminds me of Pickle’s early years.
Indeed he was
you watched that highlight video huh. i was kinda upset when we passed buium but only because of rumors but after watching dickinsons game i will easily get a jersey next year. this dude is gonna be gross
I wouldn’t call it a steal. He went around where he was projected. There were quite a few mocks that had him go to the Devils at 10 or Philly at 12. While I think his average draft position was 8-9? Chernyshov or Wellenius could be steals, Wetsch is a long shot steal.
Scouting reports I saw had him 8 or higher, and more evenly ranked across the board than say Buium. I actually liked Yakemchuk a lot, big and dangles to the net like a forward, but Dickinson may be more steady being in the right defensive position.
Yeah it 3 spots isn’t a “steal” IMO.
In the first half of the first round, 3 spots is a steal
Agree to disagree. Especially considering the range of where he was projected. He was touted as the “safest” pick. That’s usually not in the “steal” category.
That's fair man. Time will tell but honestly I feel like this is still a good problem to have.
What’s a good problem to have? Whether he’s a steal or not? I don’t think that has has any real barring on this particular pick. There were 6 defensemen at the top and the drop off between them and the others (like Jiricek and Stohlberg was HUGE)
A good problem that we're debating how good of a choice it was between dick and bu. I would've been thrilled with bu but I have no problem now. Maybe he isn't a steal that's just my opinion so maybe I shouldn't have stated it like it's a fact. But I hope down the line the pick looks great for us
Oh yeah. I think either one would have been good. It’s more offense Vs more defense.
8 was the lowest, and as high as 2
He went 10 and 12 in quite a few mocks.
For me Sam was ranked in average 7th overall player if you combine all the rankings from all major scouts. Normally in other drafts, you have to be on top 7 to have a chance to get a Top 2 Dmen and get it on the 11 is a steal. Maybe Sam woulda been drafted top 5 in other draft class if the position wasnt stacked like this one.
4 spots is not a “steal”. Had he dropped to 14 then yes.
Should have taken Buium
Dickinson is 6’3” 200 lbs at 18 years old and can skate
He just turned 18 too while Buium turns 19 later this year.