LD Sam Dickinson - London Knights, OHL (2024, 11th, SJ)

[coooldude]

I wonder if the Sharks give him the Will Smith treatment — 3rd pairing minutes with a good vet, development days, etc.

Probably depends how he shows up in camp, but I wouldn't rule it out, especially if we don't significantly improve on the blue line in the off-season.

 

[Juxtaposer]

Probably depends how he shows up in camp, but I wouldn't rule it out, especially if we don't significantly improve on the blue line in the off-season.

I think the question is if we should give Dickinson a roster spot even if he doesn't technically earn it. Smith objectively was not one of the best 12 forwards at NHL camp last September, but Grier bet that by the end of the year he would be comfortably and he's been vindicated by that choice now that Smith is easily one of our six best forwards.

So if Dickinson comes in not quite ready, do we keep him in the NHL anyway, hoping that he'll be a clear-cut NHLer by the end of the season? I could see an argument both ways. Especially if he dominates the CHL playoffs this spring.

 

[Stewie Griffin]

I think the question is if we should give Dickinson a roster spot even if he doesn't technically earn it. Smith objectively was not one of the best 12 forwards at NHL camp last September, but Grier bet that by the end of the year he would be comfortably and he's been vindicated by that choice now that Smith is easily one of our six best forwards.

So if Dickinson comes in not quite ready, do we keep him in the NHL anyway, hoping that he'll be a clear-cut NHLer by the end of the season? I could see an argument both ways. Especially if he dominates the CHL playoffs this spring.

It's tricky, you don't want him to go back and "waste a year" but also don't want him losing confidence if he gets shelled in the NHL.

I guess there's no real right/wrong answer either.

 

[Juxtaposer]

It's tricky, you don't want him to go back and "waste a year" but also don't want him losing confidence if he gets shelled in the NHL.

I guess there's no real right/wrong answer either.

It's semantics, but I would say that there is no right answer because both OHL and NHL are bad options, thereby implying that there is technically no wrong answer.

It's not that Dickinson is "too good for the OHL" in a literal sense, but more than there is nothing left for him to learn at the OHL level. He's been at the same level of hockey for three years now and IMO he needs a new challenge.

 

[Cas]

It's semantics, but I would say that there is no right answer because both OHL and NHL are bad options, thereby implying that there is technically no wrong answer.

It's not that Dickinson is "too good for the OHL" in a literal sense, but more than there is nothing left for him to learn at the OHL level. He's been at the same level of hockey for three years now and IMO he needs a new challenge.

This begs the question - what about Europe?

I don't know if this is possible, but can a Canadian player from the CHL, with a signed ELC, be loaned to a willing European team (say the SHL)? Is that even permissible?

I also don't know if that's the best idea for Dickinson - I'm starting to feel that a load-managed, sheltered NHL season (maybe with the WJC as well) might be the best idea, sort of like Smith - but I do wonder about whether a professional league in Europe is an option.

 

[Juxtaposer]

This begs the question - what about Europe?

I don't know if this is possible, but can a Canadian player from the CHL, with a signed ELC, be loaned to a willing European team (say the SHL)? Is that even permissible?

I also don't know if that's the best idea for Dickinson - I'm starting to feel that a load-managed, sheltered NHL season (maybe with the WJC as well) might be the best idea, sort of like Smith - but I do wonder about whether a professional league in Europe is an option.

No, it's not an option. It'll be London or San Jose.

London is an interesting option because the vast majority of their best players (Barkey, Bonk, Cowan, Halttunen, Julien, Sim, Montgomery) won't be back next season, so it may be a worthwhile challenge to see how far he can carry a drastically less talented and less experienced squad.

 

[wishman]

No, it's not an option. It'll be London or San Jose.

London is an interesting option because the vast majority of their best players (Barkey, Bonk, Cowan, Halttunen, Julien, Sim, Montgomery) won't be back next season, so it may be a worthwhile challenge to see how far he can carry a drastically less talented and less experienced squad.

Only exception is that he could make the NHL team then get loaned to AHL for a short amount of time for "conditioning stint". Which I believe was done with Shane Wright. So could be: 1) Make Sharks out of camp, 2) Get a few NHL games in, 3) AHL conditioning stint, 4) World Juniors, 5) Back to OHL, 6) Back to AHL depending on playoffs/timing. And do all of this without burning a year off ELC.

 

[Juxtaposer]

Only exception is that he could make the NHL team then get loaned to AHL for a short amount of time for "conditioning stint". Which I believe was done with Shane Wright. So could be: 1) Make Sharks out of camp, 2) Get a few NHL games in, 3) AHL conditioning stint, 4) World Juniors, 5) Back to OHL, 6) Back to AHL depending on playoffs/timing. And do all of this without burning a year off ELC.

That seems extremely convoluted for a prospect like Dickinson. I think they should just pick OHL or NHL and leave him there for the year.

Wright had some extenuating circumstances as well being an exceptional status player.

 

[Cas]

That seems extremely convoluted for a prospect like Dickinson. I think they should just pick OHL or NHL and leave him there for the year.

Wright had some extenuating circumstances as well being an exceptional status player.

Yeah, I'd rather not yank Dickinson around too much.

NHL in a sheltered role might be the best option, but that's pretty much impossible to answer at this stage for us.

 

[Juxtaposer]

Yeah, I'd rather not yank Dickinson around too much.

NHL in a sheltered role might be the best option, but that's pretty much impossible to answer at this stage for us.

I would lean that way unless he looks extremely not ready in camp. If he comes in, looks good enough, and has put the training in over the summer to get physically ready for the NHL, then I'm game to slow-play him like Smith. I really think how prepared he comes in for camp and how seriously he's taking trying to earn an NHL spot will be the deciding factor for me.

 

[Grinner]

Give him his 9 games and then take it from there.