Sam Dickinson stands out as a promising blue-line prospect with a game that’s remarkably well-rounded, lacking any glaring weaknesses. At the age of 17, with a June birthday, he’s already showcasing an advanced level of development that positions him as a top-tier talent in the upcoming draft.
What sets Dickinson apart is his versatility on the ice. Excelling in various aspects of the game, he combines adept defensive skills with a strategic blend of aggressiveness and passiveness. Standing tall at 6’3″, his strong defensive presence is complemented by impressive skating abilities.
Confidence defines Dickinson’s play, evident in his assertive approach when attacking the offensive zone on rushes. His ability to distribute the puck seamlessly once London establishes itself in the zone adds another layer to his dynamic skill set. It’s clear that Dickinson is the type of defenseman who won’t linger long in the draft.
Delving into the specifics, Dickinson’s stats speak volumes about his prowess. Approaching a point-per-game average at his age is a testament to his offensive contribution. Notably, he consistently generates significant offense without compromising his defensive responsibilities.
Considering the combination of his developmental progress, imposing size, impressive statistics, and overall skill set, it’s no surprise that Dickinson is widely projected to be a top-10, perhaps even a top-5, pick. Now, let’s take a closer look at what makes Dickinson’s game truly exceptional.
Facts
| Age: 17 | Height: 6’3″ |
| Date of Birth: June 07 2006 | Weight: 194 lbs |
| Origin: Canada | Position: LD |
| Projection: Top 5 | Shoots: Left |
Skill Grades
Statistics
Skating
Dickinson’s skating abilities are a notable strength in his game. While he may not be the fastest skater, his technique stands out for its ease and efficiency. With a solid knee bend and smooth recovery, he moves effortlessly on the ice, maintaining a consistent stride without breaking down over time.
When it comes to defending against rushes, Dickinson proves capable of keeping pace with attackers, even those using speed manipulation and crossovers. His agile and seamless pivoting allows for quick transitions from pressuring the blue line to swift recovery after challenging defensive situations.
Dickinson’s light-footedness shines when evading pressure and outmaneuvering forecheckers, facilitating clean breakouts. Though not a frequent coast-to-coast player, the sight of the 6’3″ defenseman accelerating up the middle is always eye-catching.
In essence, Dickinson is a well-rounded skater, excelling across various aspects. Whether it’s lateral mobility, clean pivots, bursts of acceleration, or maintaining top speed, each element of his skating can be comfortably rated at a solid above average grade.
Defense
As mentioned earlier, I believe Dickinson surpasses many highly productive players in the OHL in terms of defense, though he falls short of being a spectacular defender. Comparatively, players like Simashev from the previous draft showcase a slight edge in defending, but what sets Dickinson apart is the completeness of his overall game. Across the board, he consistently performs above average.
In terms of defense alone, there’s room for improvement. While Dickinson effectively maintains a tight gap and defends against rushes, his approach is somewhat passive. I find that he could be more assertive in stopping attackers in the neutral zone. Personally, I appreciate defenders who play aggressively, denying easy entry into the zone. However, this isn’t Dickinson’s style. Nevertheless, he excels in seizing loose pucks and handling 50-50 situations in the neutral zone.
From my observations, Dickinson tends to allow entries but strategically traps players on the outside, using his body to pin them to the boards or employing his stick to disrupt passes to the middle. However, this approach is inconsistent and lacks some of the physical dominance, such as pinning players to the boards, overwhelming them with his size, reach, and strength. Some nights, he displays assertiveness in defending his zone, while on others, he relies heavily on his stick skills, neglecting his physical advantages.
It’s important to note that Dickinson’s defensive fluctuations are understandable, given his age and the demanding OHL environment. It’s relatively rare to see a 17-year-old defenseman consistently exhibit a strong and assertive defense in the league. This divergence in defensive styles also reflects the difference between defensemen in Europe and the CHL. Leagues like the SHL, Liiga, and KHL prioritize defense, especially when facing older, faster, and stronger opponents. It’s a noteworthy aspect to consider in the broader context of player development.
Transition
I consider Dickinson’s transition game to be his most consistent and impressive attribute. It’s a pleasure to witness. While not flawless, it’s remarkably smooth. He adeptly breaks the puck out with either a clean, firm pass or by carrying it out himself, using his skating to evade forecheckers and create space for either skating or passing the puck out.
He employs both his eyes and body to deceive opponents, often selling one direction while executing another. While not as flashy as Lane Hutson, Dickinson incorporates stutters in his skating, fake passes, and deceptive looks to mislead defenders, seamlessly executing these maneuvers even at high speeds or under pressure. This results in precise and swift breakouts, swiftly converting defense into offense.
Moreover, he demonstrates patience with the puck. If there are no viable options, he refrains from forcing plays to covered teammates and instead opts to reset while maintaining space. While there are occasional instances where he forces a play to a covered teammate or waits too long for options to materialize, these occurrences are infrequent and do not raise significant concerns in my opinion. It’s possible that the system encourages entering the zone as a cohesive unit with close support, or perhaps it’s simply his deliberate approach.
Overall, Dickinson’s transition game revolves around clean passes and smooth exits.
Offense
Regarding Dickinson’s offensive prowess, some may harbor doubts, but I’m unequivocally sold. While some players dazzle with their offensive output, leaving questions about its translation to the NHL level, Dickinson isn’t one of them. Each play he makes, whether generating offense from rushes or on the cycle, feels familiar, akin to scenarios played out countless times in the NHL. I’m not referring to the likes of Makar or Quinn Hughes, whose elite creativity sets them apart, but players like Noah Dobson and Shea Theodore, who thrive by executing simpler yet effective plays.
I envision Dickinson’s offensive game falling within the 45 to 55 point range. He’s a cerebral player, adept at reading and executing plays. He consistently joins rushes as the trailer or leads them as the driver, showcasing confidence in his backchecking ability by venturing deep into the offensive zone. His composure at the blue line under pressure is remarkable, allowing him to command the offensive zone effectively. Dickinson isn’t afraid to engage in cycling plays to create scoring opportunities or to distribute accurate passes from the point, even on his backhand.
His offensive contributions are diverse, emanating from various situations, whether it’s rushing from the trailer or driver position, executing low pad shots for rebounds, or facilitating quick breakouts and stretch passes to counter neutral zone pressure. His decision-making on the ice is astute, consistently opting for the optimal play rather than settling for a mediocre one.
As for his shooting, while Dickinson possesses a formidable shot, particularly his heavy wrister and powerful slap shot, there’s room for improvement in their release speed. Additionally, refining his slapper to keep it lower and more controlled would mitigate the risk of deflections at the NHL level. Nonetheless, these are minor details compared to his overall offensive prowess and can be honed with time and practice.
In conclusion, Dickinson is a multifaceted offensive threat whose skills are highly translatable to the NHL. From his breakout passes to his presence in front of the crease, he poses a danger from all areas of the ice, showcasing remarkable versatility and potential.
Physicality
When it comes to physicality, there isn’t much more to elaborate on beyond what’s covered in the defensive part of the article. While Dickinson is undeniably competitive, he’s not what you’d call an overly physical player. Although he occasionally looks to deliver a bone-crushing hit, it’s not a frequent aspect of his game, nor do I believe it’s his preferred method of defense.
He employs his body effectively to separate opponents from the puck or to shield it along the boards. Additionally, he utilizes his body to protect the puck under pressure from forecheckers or when maneuvering from the top of the zone to the goal line to set up a play. These techniques are effective for him, and he doesn’t require a more physical approach. However, it’s evident that he possesses the physical tools to engage in a more aggressive style of play if necessary, and I’m certain coaches will emphasize this aspect of his game moving forward.
While Dickinson’s physicality isn’t lacking, I personally enjoy seeing a bit more aggression on the ice. Nonetheless, it’s clear that he employs physical tactics judiciously, focusing more on strategic positioning and puck protection.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I’d be genuinely surprised if Dickinson doesn’t emerge as the top defender by the end of the year. While some may excel in different areas such as physicality or offensive creativity, Dickinson possesses a well-rounded skill set that includes solid defensive abilities, offensive prowess, and a desirable physical profile. While players like Yakemchuk may bring more physicality or Parehk, Hutson, and Levshunov may shine offensively, there are often question marks defensively or in other aspects of their game. Even those with well-rounded skills like Zeev Biuim may lack Dickinson’s physical tools.
Player comparisons can be contentious, as every player is unique. However, after careful consideration, I believe a comparison to Hampus Lindholm with a touch more natural offensive flair and a heavier shot is apt. Like Lindholm, Dickinson is a reliable, minute-munching defenseman who excels in all situations, capable of joining and leading the rush while defending against top opponents at a high level. While not necessarily a bruiser, he possesses the skills and versatility to contribute effectively on both ends of the ice, making him an invaluable asset to any NHL team.
