SAN JOSE – With each recreation he performs, Sharks rookie defenseman Sam Dickinson appears to be answering the query as as to if he belongs within the NHL.
However right here’s one other query that appears to be percolating: If Dickinson stays with the Sharks all 12 months, does anybody go?
Going into Tuesday’s street recreation towards the New York Islanders (4 p.m., NBC Sports activities California), the Sharks have eight defensemen on the energetic roster after recalling Luca Cagnoni from the Barracuda and placing Shakir Mukhamadullin on injured reserve. Injured defensemen John Klingberg and Timothy Liljegren traveled with the staff, however Liljegren (higher physique) is ineligible to come back off IR till Wednesday and Klingberg (decrease physique) was reportedly unable to complete Monday’s apply in New York.
The Sharks can’t preserve each defenseman if all of them get wholesome once more on the identical time. Choices embody returning Cagnoni to the AHL or inserting Vincent Iirio on waivers, though the Sharks really feel he can grow to be an NHL participant.
Or the Sharks, as has been speculated, might commerce a defenseman — possible one on an expiring contract — to resolve the logjam. Defensemen set to change into unrestricted free brokers subsequent summer season are Mario Ferraro, Nick Leddy, Vincent Desharnais, Klingberg and Liljegren, with Ferraro and Leddy, like Dickinson, being left photographs. Leddy has a 16-team no-trade record and Klingberg has a full no-movement clause by way of Jan. 30, earlier than it turns into a 14-team no-trade record.
The Sharks might additionally return Dickinson to the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League, however that’s starting to look much less possible, particularly after he noticed his ice time and duty enhance every of the final three video games.
Saturday towards the Pittsburgh Penguins, Dickinson took an everyday shift within the third interval because the Sharks frantically tried to tie the sport. He was even on the market at instances towards Penguins superstars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin as he completed with a career-best 16:48 in ice time what grew to become a 3-0 Sharks loss.
“Never thought that day would come,” Dickinson, 19, stated of defending the 2 future Corridor of Famers. “Obviously some of the best players of all time, so just kind of get out there, get in good position, and hope they don’t dance me.”
Dickinson has performed 4 video games for the Sharks to date and may play as much as 5 extra earlier than the staff must resolve whether or not to maintain him within the NHL or return him to junior hockey. The 18-year-old Michael Misa, who has performed two video games, can be in that class. If the Sharks play each or both in 10 video games or extra, the primary 12 months of their entry-level contracts would start.
However contemplating what Dickinson has already achieved in London, profitable the Memorial Cup and the Canadian Hockey League’s Defenseman of the Yr award final spring, and his upward trajectory this season, it could be a shock to see him depart San Jose.
Requested about Dickinson and Misa on Saturday, Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky stated, “I’d say (it was) two of their best games. Did some good things. Obviously some things to improve on, but they look more comfortable.”
“I don’t know necessarily if the game slows down,” Dickinson stated. “Personally, it looks like I’m getting just a little sooner and extra ready with all the things that occurs right here. I believe that’s type of been a giant factor.
“The big ones are just speeding up my thought process, understanding how fast I need to make decisions, make reads, that kind of thing.”
Within the second interval on Saturday, Dickinson confirmed one motive why he was the eleventh general decide in final 12 months’s draft.
As Sharks ahead Barclay Goodrow gained management of the puck within the defensive zone, Dickinson, sensing a chance to create an odd-man rush, sped up the ice. With Dickinson maybe not open to obtain the go, Goodrow’s shot was saved by Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry.
Nonetheless, the Sharks wish to see extra of that aggressiveness from Dickinson, who completed with 5 shot makes an attempt.
“I think my shot from the point is a strength of mine, and can create a lot of offense for our team,” Dickinson stated. “When the chances were there, just let ‘er rip, and typically, good things happen.”
“He has that skill set and that tool set. He’s got to use it,” Warsofsky stated. “So that was good to see.”
TOP PICK SHOWDOWN?
The Sharks will get their first have a look at No. 1 general decide Matthew Schaefer once they face the Islanders Tuesday. If Misa fits up for the Sharks, it’ll be an early have a look at the highest two picks from the June draft.
Misa has performed in two of the Sharks’ 5 video games to date this season, making his debut final week in a blowout loss to the Hurricanes, averaging about 14 minutes of ice time between that recreation and his second look, Saturday’s loss to the Penguins.
Misa once more centered the Sharks’ third line in apply Monday between Collin Graf and Adam Gaudette, and labored with the second power-play unit, in keeping with NHL.com’s Max Miller. That might point out he’s more likely to costume for his third profession NHL recreation and a top-pick showdown with Schaefer’s Isles.
The 18-year-old has centered the Sharks’ third line and has but to determine within the scoring for San Jose because the Sharks convey him alongside.
In the meantime, Schaefer has had an instantaneous impression on the ice, opening his NHL profession with a five-game level streak from the Islanders’ prime defensive pairing. If he information one other level Tuesday, he’ll tie Marek Zidlicky (2003-04 Predators) for the longest streak to open a defenseman’s NHL profession.
The rookies grew up about 25 miles from one another in Ontario, Canada. Misa’s hometown of Oakville is about midway between Toronto and Hamilton, the place Schaefer grew up. — Michael Nowels
