The 2024 NHL Entry Draft will be here before we know it, so it’s time to start looking at who the Blue Jackets could pick with the fourth overall pick on Friday, June 28.
When I first put together a list of prospects to profile, I had Sam Dickinson much higher. At that point, London Knights GM Mark Hunter was seen as a leading candidate for the Blue Jackets’ GM opening, and it would be natural for Hunter to pick a top prospect from his old job. That feels less likely now with Don Waddell making the pick, and options like Artyom Levshunov or Anton Silayev with higher upside still being on the board at #4.
There are still some London connections in Columbus, however. Assistant GM Basil McCrae had an ownership interest in the Knights, and Development Director Rick Nash played there. The Blue Jackets signed Dickinson’s teammate Max McCue to an ELC late in the season, so obviously the scouts were watching a lot of Knights games.
As for Dickinson, while he doesn’t necessarily have elite upside at this point, he appears to be a defenseman that doesn’t have many weaknesses. He has the size you want, but can also skate well. His offense took a huge leap from his first to his second season in the OHL (9/14/23 in 62 games to 18/52/70 in 68 games). He just turned 18 last week, so that production from a 17 year old is more impressive, and there is still plenty of time for him to develop more. Also worth noting is 13 points in 18 playoff games as London won the OHL and reached the championship game of the Memorial Cup.
Position: Defenseman
Team: London Knights (OHL)
Date of Birth: June 7, 2006
Birthplace: Toronto, Ontario
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 194 lbs
Shoots: Left
Rankings
Ranked #5 by CONSOLIDATED RANKING
Ranked #10 by ELITEPROSPECTS.COM
Ranked #7 by TSN/BOB McKENZIE
Ranked #8 by TSN/CRAIG BUTTON
Ranked #10 by THN/FERRARI
Ranked #8 by THN/KENNEDY
Ranked #3 by MCKEEN’S HOCKEY
Ranked #6 by FLOHOCKEY/CHRIS PETERS
Ranked #6 by FCHOCKEY
Ranked #4 by DAILY FACEOFF
Ranked #7 by NHL CENTRAL SCOUTING (NA Skaters)
Ranked #4 by ISS HOCKEY
Ranked #8 by SPORTSNET/COSENTINO
Ranked #6 by SPORTSNET/BUKALA
Ranked #4 by RECRUIT SCOUTING
Ranked #7 by DOBBERPROSPECTS
Ranked #7 by DRAFT PROSPECTS HOCKEY
Ranked #8 by SMAHT SCOUTING
2023-24 Stats
London Knights (OHL)
Games: 68
Goals: 18
Assists: 52
Points: 70
PIM: 30
+/-: +56
Scouting Reports
He’s a strong 6-foot-3/4 defenseman whose skating is a major strength (forward, backward, four-way mobility, the full package for a defender his size). He plays to who he is and what makes his game so successful. He defends at a very, very high level for his age both man-to-man, down low and positionally in his own zone. He has skill and poise with the puck in the offensive zone (which began to reveal itself more at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup last summer and has stamped itself for the Knights this season) and has started to make better and more consistent reads under pressure in his own zone. – Scott Wheeler, The Athletic
See also: this profile about Dickinson by Wheeler and Sarah Jean Maher
He’s excellent with his gap control, keeping the puck carrier to the outside and using his size and speed to neutralize them getting to the middle of the ice and even boxing them out in front of the net. When he’s on the attack, he reads the situation well, knowing when to back off and prioritize defense when he needs to. Even if there’s a breakup or a turnover, he has quick awareness and reaction time to get back and get into position. – Peter Baracchini, The Hockey Writers