Sam Dickinson Prospect Profile / Future Chicago Blackhawk?

As the CHL Top Prospects game comes to a close and the testing numbers come back, it's important to note some superlatives from one potential Chicago Blackhawk in particular. Sam Dickinson, LD of the London Knights in the OHL, stood out in the testing drills over this week.

Ranking second overall in aggregate amongst his peers, it was especially noteworthy to see that Dickinson was 1st in both the 30m skating forward / reverse drill while carrying the puck. At 6'3 204lbs the left shot (though has shown the ability to play both sides) defender demonstrating this kind of agility and speed is only further cementing his status as a potential top 5 pick in the upcoming draft.

In his second full season in London, the Toronto native is showing a well rounded game in which the 17 year old is trusted in all situations. With 13 goals in 43 games (42 points in total) Dickinson ranks 4th amongst defenders in the OHL in goals despite his reputation as a defensive defenseman. Of note: fellow draft eligible Zayne Parekh ranks 1st with an incredible 22 goals.

In the video (edit by Howitzer Hockey) below Sam Dickinson is interviewed about his game as well as a breakdown on some of his highlights over the past 2 years. Dickinson, while always having a size advantage, shows great positioning when adjusting to gap coverage, offensive rushes, and forechecking to halt an opponent's short-lived advantage.

Being on a well coached and talented roster like London (Patrick Kane also played with the Knights before being drafted by the Blackhawks) Dickinson regulary plays with and excels on a team that already has 9 drafted skaters. A team leading +34 (a flawed metric, but worth noting), Dickinson is typically charged with stopping another team's best forward group. This is how he has stood out in his career and it is now a skill trait that he is building upon to further pad his draft year resume.

Defense is definitly Dickinson's calling card, while also alluding to his offensive numbers this season improving, it's important to note that while one of the bigger defenders in the draft class that he is also a very adept skater.

Would Kyle Davidson view him as a fit with the Blackhawks?