‘Physically, he’s a beast’: Why NHL teams like 2024 NHL Draft defenseman Sam Dickinson

Steven Ellis
Steven Ellis
Sam Dickinson (Natalie Shaver/OHL Images)
Credit: Sam Dickinson (Natalie Shaver/OHL Images)

OSHAWA, Ont. – There was no designated seating for scouts at the Tribute Communities Centre in Oshawa for Game 4 of the OHL Championship. But the whole upper bowl was dominated by team representatives of all different levels getting a first-hand look at London Knights defenseman Sam Dickinson, one of the top prospects for the 2024 NHL Draft.

“He turns heads, he gets fans talking, he makes things happen,” one scout said. “He’s not hard to notice out there.”

Dickinson entered Wednesday’s championship-clinching game with nine assists, 12 points and 12 penalty minutes in 17 playoff contests. And on his very first shift, he nearly added another point, rushing down the ice and creating a partial breakaway off a feed from fellow 2024 prospect Sam O’Reilly.

But then, at 3:00 in the first, his wrist shot from the point pinged off the post and in, giving London the 1-0 lead on the road. It helped spark a three-goal first period, which eventually led to London pulling off the first OHL championship sweep since London did the same thing against Niagara in 2016.

It was truly one of the most dominant performances we’ve seen from a junior hockey team in quite some time, and Dickinson was a big part in making that happen as a minute-munching 17-year-old.

Next up? The Memorial Cup. A chance for him to go head-to-head with Saginaw’s Zayne Parekh in an attempt to prove they’re the real deal in the final game action before the NHL Draft.

Ranked fourth in Daily Faceoff’s most recent draft list, Dickinson isn’t expected to sit long in the stands at The Sphere in Vegas on June 27. At 6-foot-3, Dickinson has the size teams crave. But you can’t go high on size alone – you need speed, skill and brains all packaged into one. He’s one of the most-rounded defensemen available this year, and that versatility is attractive to NHL scouts.

“You can throw him in any situation – PP, PK, (even strength), everything, and he’ll be good at it,” a scout said. “He does it all so well. He’s a player coaches want to coach and rely on.”

With that size comes a boatload of athleticism. He has a quick, powerful stride that he uses to win battles. He’s so difficult to beat in 1-on-1 situations along the boards because even if you think you’ve got the footwork to pivot quickly, he’ll match you and pin you against the glass. Dickinson can also take long shifts without it affecting his play in any meaningful way because he’s conditioned as well as anyone.

“When he gets to the (NHL Draft) combine, watch out,” a scout said. “Physically, he’s a beast. He’s on a whole other level.”

The one thing Dickinson was missing the most as a Draft-1 defender was the pure offense. He had nine goals and 23 points with London as a rookie, which was fine but definitely left room for significant improvement. So, how do 18 goals and 70 points sound? Few CHL defensemen were more productive, and Dickinson did it while still being strong defensively in his own zone.

Having high-end offensive talents to pass to like Easton Cowan (Toronto Maple Leafs) and Kasper Halttunen (San Jose Sharks) doesn’t hurt, but Dickinson got better throughout the year at dictating the play himself, no matter whom he was playing with. Building up his confidence in shooting the puck also helped significantly, too.

If there’s one thing that stands out the most, it’s how Dickinson skates for his size. He’s got speed, he moves well laterally, and he can hustle back after pinching in on a rush, just like he did this year. His mobility in transition is near the top of this class, and then when you put in a 1-on-1 situation in his own zone, he’ll work you to the bone. All that, combined with his tremendous hockey IQ and the uptick in offense this year and you’ve got one of the most well-rounded blueliners available.

“His shot is high-end for this class,” a scout said. “And then you mix that in with his skating and the minutes he eats and you see a guy who can just dominate and take over when the offense isn’t.”

The top defensemen in this draft all have their own identity. Artyom Levshunov is considered the best blueliner in the class thanks to his high hockey IQ, stout defense and high-end physical play. Zeev Buium is a tremendous play-driver who took huge steps to having one of the most productive freshmen seasons by a defenseman in NCAA history. Parekh broke the 30-goal, 90-point barrier and still has more hockey to play. And then there’s Dickinson, whose size, skating, and own-zone play make him an attractive option early in this draft.

And getting to play in the Memorial Cup gives him an opportunity to cap off a perfect year in front of all 32 NHL scouting departments. Dickinson won gold at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, the OHL championship and now he’s chasing the ultimate prize in major junior hockey. The spotlight’s going to be bright on the a kid who plays with about as much confidence as you’ll find at this level. You need it if you’re going to dominate all three zones like he does.

No matter what happens in Saginaw, Dickinson has established himself as one of the best in the class. Whether that means he goes in the top five, later in the top 10, or even further down, it’s undeniable the steps he has taken this year to establish himself as a legitimate star defenseman in the OHL. You don’t get guys like him coming through often – someone so good at so many facets of the game.

But if your team takes him, enjoy your future top-pairing defenseman.

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