SAN JOSE – San Jose Sharks rookie defenseman Sam Dickinson no longer has to think about returning to major junior hockey — at least not for the time being.
Dickinson wil play in his 10th NHL game of the season on Sunday when the Sharks face the Detroit Red Wings to close out a four-game homestand. By being in the lineup for a 10th game, the Sharks are burning the first year of his entry-level contract. Dickinson had played in nine of the Sharks’ first 12 games.
Dickinson’s three-year deal was slide-eligible another year, as the Sharks had the option of loaning Dickinson back to his major junior team, the London Knights. The Sharks still can send Dickinson back to London, but his entry-level deal will now expire after the 2027-28 season, when he is set to become a restricted free agent.
If Dickinson, who was drafted 11th overall by the Sharks last year and is considered the team’s top defensive prospect, is on the Sharks roster for 40 games this season, he will move a year closer to unrestricted free agency.
With Dickinson’s deal, which carries a $942,500 salary cap hit, the Sharks are now at the NHL limit of 50 contracts.
Per the NHL’s Collective Bargaining Agreement with the Players’ Association, the Sharks could play Dickinson in nine games without burning the first year of his ELC. Still just 19, the Canadian-born Dickinson is a year too young to be assigned to the San Jose Barracuda of the AHL.
Dickinson was scratched for Saturday’s game against the Colorado Avalanche, which the Sharks won 3-2 in overtime on a goal by forward Philipp Kurashev.
Dickinson said Friday that getting into the lineup for one of this weekend’s games, “would mean everything.”
“This has been my dream for so long. Every kid who plays hockey’s dream is to play in the NHL, and just to get a taste of it now is pretty surreal,” he said. “The opportunity to stay here for the year is potentially right around the corner, and it’s everything that I’ve worked for and definitely something that I’m pretty excited for, the potential of it to happen.”
While Dickinson did not have a point in nine games before Sunday, the Sharks ultimately felt that his development would be best served by remaining in the NHL, at least for the time being. Later this year, the Sharks could also release the 6-foot-3 blueliner to compete for Canada in the IIHF World Junior Championship, which begins in late December and is being held in Minnesota.
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“Do we think we’re seeing enough growth there? Do we see potential growth quickly in this league, or does it make sense for him to go back?” Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky said Friday. “Right now, we believe being right here is a good spot for him.”
Sharks center Michael Misa, 18. could also be a part of Canada’s entry for the World Juniors. Misa, drafted second overall by the Sharks in June, played in his seventh NHL game Saturday.
The Sharks (4-6-2) have another challenging week ahead. They travel to face the Seattle Kraken (5-2-4) on Wednesday, then return home to face the Winnipeg Jets on Friday and the Florida Panthers on Saturday. The Jets won the Presidents’ Trophy last season as the NHL’s top regular-season team, and the Panthers repeated as Stanley Cup champions in June.
