Sam Dickinson – London Knights – Player Profile

HT	WT	DOB	POS	SHOOTS	OHL DRAFT	NHLCS	COUNTRY
6’2”	199	June 7, 06	LD	L	4th 2022	7th – N/A	CANADA

SEASON	LEAGUE	TEAM	GP	G	A	PTS
2021-2022	GTHL U16	Toronto Marlboros	46	5	34	39
2022-2023	OHL	London Knights	62	9	14	23
2022-2023	WHC U17	Canada Black	7	1	1	2
2023-2024	OHL	London Knights	50	14	36	50
PROJECTED			68	19	49	68

Coming into this season, and maybe even earlier, many had London Knights Defenceman Sam Dickinson as the top prospect from the OHL eligible for the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, maybe even a top 10 pick. Not much has happened to change that perception. If anything, he’s solidified it.

Dickinson is a well-rounded two-way defenceman. While his offensive upside isn’t as high as that kid playing in Saginaw, he is no slouch either.

The combination of size, reach and mobility make him a force defensively. He can keep opponents at bay but his best trait in the d-zone is his ability to transition and start the break out. His mobility and puck skills allows him to elude pressure with his feet, but he can also make a great first pass. He is cool under pressure and rarely panics, surveys the situation and makes the correct decision to head the other way. He’s physical, defends the cycle with relative ease and he blocks shots. In the defensive zone, there may not be any better in the entire draft class than Dickinson.

The question surrounding Dickinson is what is his offensive upside? He can quarter back the powerplay and has an excellent shot from the point or the half wall. He has been so good for the Knights that it allowed them to move fellow defenseman Oliver Bonk to the bumper position on the powerplay. But he doesn’t just excel with the man advantage. He keeps plays alive at the blue line five on five as well. He has great vision and passing skills from the point as well so he’s not just a threat with his shot.

Some believe he is sacrificing offense for defense. I don’t know that I buy into that. He’s a point per game defenceman in his draft year and that’s good enough for me. Maybe he’s got enough IQ to know when it’s time to retreat and defend as opposed to trying to force something offensively?