LAS VEGAS – The San Jose Sharks selected what they hope will be another franchise cornerstone player with their second pick of Friday’s first round of the NHL Draft, taking defenseman Sam Dickenson 11th overall at the Sphere just off the Las Vegas strip.
The Sharks took center Macklin Celebrini with the No. 1 overall pick to begin Friday’s festivities, which, given the dazzling venue, were unlike any other in league history.
Dickenson, 18, is listed at 6-foot-3 and 203 pounds. This past season with the Ontario Hockey League champion London Knights, he had 70 points in 68 games.
“Pure joy and excitement. It’s kind of a dream come true, really,” Dickenson said of being drafted. “To be drafted in the NHL is something I’ve worked for my entire life, and to kind of see that the dream become a reality is something that still almost doesn’t really feel real.
Dickenson is an elite skater who can also take care of his own end while playing a physical brand from the blue line.
“I think they’re just getting a defenseman who does it all,” Dickenson said when describing his own game. “Offense, defense, transition, two-way guy who can take over any role for you and play that to a tee.”
On Thursday, the Sharks acquired the 11th overall selection from the Buffalo Sabres for the 14th and 42nd overall picks.
It is unclear whether Dickenson would have been drafted between 11th and 13th overall had the Sharks kept the No. 14 pick, which came from the Pittsburgh Penguins in last year’s Erik Karlsson trade. Most experienced draft prognosticators had Dickenson as one of the top-10 players available this year.
Three other defensemen were selected right before Dickenson was drafted, with Carter Yakemchuk going to Ottawa at No. 7, Zayne Parekh going to Calgary at No. 9, and Anton Silayev going to New Jersey 10th overall.
The Sharks would have scouted Dickenson multiple times as they monitored his London teammate, Kasper Halttunen, who was drafted by the Sharks in the second round last year.
“I met with (the Sharks) a couple of times through the year and then at the combine again, and they were always great interviews,” Dickenson said. “Being in London with Kasper Halttunen, I think there were even more eyes on me there with him being there. So I couldn’t be more excited.”
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