Sharks sign 2024 first-round pick Sam Dickinson to entry-level deal

The San Jose Sharks announced Wednesday that the club signed defenseman Sam Dickinson to a three-year, entry-level deal.

The 18-year-old defender was taken No. 11 overall by the Sharks in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. Through two seasons with the Ontario Hockey League’s London Knights, the 6-foot-3 defender had scored 27 goals and 66 assists for 93 points in 130 regular-season games. Last season, he took the league by storm, scoring 18 goals and 52 assists for 70 points.

“Sam is a big, mobile defenseman who brings a strong two-way game and excellent hockey IQ,” Sharks General Manager Mike Grier said in a press release. “We’re excited to watch him continue his development as part of our organization.”

Dickinson helped the Knights win the 2024 OHL Championship and was a key contributor to the club making it to the Canadian Hockey League’s Memorial Cup Final.

The Toronto native represented Canada at the 2023 Hlinka-Gretzky Cup, finishing with three assists in five games and helping the team win a Gold Medal.

The Sharks finished the 2023-24 regular season with a record of 19-54-9 and 47 points, last in the entire National Hockey League. Their minus-150 goal differential was the worst in the league by 39 goals, and both their home record (11-25-5) and road record (8-29-4) were last in the NHL.

Forward Mikael Granlund led the club in scoring with 60 points (12 goals and 48 assists), 15 ahead of second-place William Eklund, who finished with 45 points through 16 goals and 29 assists. Defenseman Mario Ferraro provided the most offense from the blue line, finishing with 21 points (three goals and 18 assists), but finished with a dismal minus-38 rating, the second-worst on the club. Only Eklund’s minus-45 was worse.