Sam Dickinson

April 2024 – Every team needs a defenseman like London’s Sam Dickinson, a player with impressive physical gifts who can defend at a high level. He has an explosive first few strides and can reach a top speed that’s rivalled by few in this draft class. Dickinson defends well and can eliminate rush opportunities completely using his unfair combination of length, skating, and gap control. Because of his physical tools, Dickinson can maintain wider gaps as he knows he’ll be able to close in on the puck carrier with ease. Dickinson is physical and competes really well, something that bodes well for him when defending in his own zone. He’s not the highly cerebral playmaker like others in this class, but he generates offense in other ways thanks to a booming shot. Dickinson gets pucks through and on net and can shoot to score or generate rebounds. Dickinson also jumps up in the play as a trailer and can finish at a high rate. The biggest weakness in Dickinson’s game is his hockey sense. He can misread plays in both ends and make questionable decisions. Still, Dickinson’s physical tools, skating, and competitiveness will allow him to succeed even if the hockey sense is lacking. Expect Dickinson to go in the top 10 and be a heavy minutes eater who can also chip in about 30-40 points while he’s at it. Jordan Harris (April Rankings: 10th overall)

November 2023 – Players of Dickinson’s size and athleticism profile will always grab scouts’ attention. Combine that prototypical frame with excellent skating and advanced defending, and you get a player with early first round potential. Dickinson routinely kills plays, especially in transition. Players have a difficult time gaining the zone against him as he’s got the feet to stay with almost anyone, combined with the ideal length, reach, and stick work to knock pucks away. He’s tough and physical in his own end and ties up players in front of his net. His defensive game is truly spectacular. Dickinson transitions the puck up the ice with a nice first pass and can carry the puck through the neutral zone. Upon gaining the offensive zone is where Dickinson struggles to create as he loses his teammates and skates into defensive traps at times, resulting in missing open teammates to pass to. Still, on the cycle, he can be an effective passer and he can get hard, accurate shots on net in locations that can cause rebounds or be tipped. He’s been effective putting up points even if the offensive IQ isn’t there yet. Overall, even if he’s just a decent offensive producer, his elite defending combined with the ideal physical profile make him a worthy top 10 pick. If he can take another step as a puck carrier and offensive creator then he could be a big-time player in the NHL. Jordan Harris (November Rankings: 3rd overall)