SAN JOSE – With every game he plays, Sharks rookie defenseman Sam Dickinson seems to be answering the question as to whether he belongs in the NHL.
But here’s another question that seems to be percolating: If Dickinson stays with the Sharks all year, does anyone go?
Going into Tuesday’s road game against the New York Islanders (4 p.m., NBC Sports California), the Sharks have eight defensemen on the active roster after recalling Luca Cagnoni from the Barracuda and putting Shakir Mukhamadullin on injured reserve. Injured defensemen John Klingberg and Timothy Liljegren traveled with the team, but Liljegren (upper body) is ineligible to come off IR until Wednesday and Klingberg (lower body) was reportedly unable to finish Monday’s practice in New York.
The Sharks can’t keep every defenseman if they all get healthy again at the same time. Options include returning Cagnoni to the AHL or placing Vincent Iorio on waivers, although the Sharks feel he can develop into an NHL player.
Or the Sharks, as has been speculated, could trade a defenseman — likely one on an expiring contract — to solve the logjam. Defensemen set to become unrestricted free agents next summer are Mario Ferraro, Nick Leddy, Vincent Desharnais, Klingberg and Liljegren, with Ferraro and Leddy, like Dickinson, being left shots. Leddy has a 16-team no-trade list and Klingberg has a full no-movement clause through Jan. 30, before it becomes a 14-team no-trade list.
The Sharks could also return Dickinson to the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League, but that is beginning to look less likely, especially after he saw his ice time and responsibility increase each of the last three games.
Saturday against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Dickinson took a regular shift in the third period as the Sharks frantically tried to tie the game. He was even out there at times against Penguins superstars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin as he finished with a career-best 16:48 in ice time what became a 3-0 Sharks loss.
“Never thought that day would come,” Dickinson, 19, said of defending the two future Hall 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 played four games for the Sharks so far and can play up to five more before the team needs to decide whether to keep him in the NHL or return him to junior hockey. The 18-year-old Michael Misa, who has played two games, is also in that category. If the Sharks play both or either in 10 games or more, the first year of their entry-level contracts would begin.
But considering what Dickinson has already accomplished in London, winning the Memorial Cup and the Canadian Hockey League’s Defenseman of the Year award last spring, and his upward trajectory this season, it would be a surprise to see him leave San Jose.
Asked about Dickinson and Misa on Saturday, Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky said, “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 said. “Personally, it feels like I’m getting a little faster and more prepared with everything that happens here. I think that’s kind of been a big thing.
“The big ones are just speeding up my thought process, understanding how fast I need to make decisions, make reads, that kind of thing.”
In the second period on Saturday, Dickinson showed one reason why he was the 11th overall pick in last year’s draft.
As Sharks forward Barclay Goodrow gained control of the puck in the defensive zone, Dickinson, sensing an opportunity to create an odd-man rush, sped up the ice. With Dickinson perhaps not open to receive the pass, Goodrow’s shot was saved by Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry.
Still, the Sharks want to see more of that aggressiveness from Dickinson, who finished with five shot attempts.
“I think my shot from the point is a strength of mine, and can create a lot of offense for our team,” Dickinson said. “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 said. “So that was good to see.”
TOP PICK SHOWDOWN?
The Sharks will get their first look at No. 1 overall pick Matthew Schaefer when they face the Islanders Tuesday. If Misa suits up for the Sharks, it’ll be an early look at the top two picks from the June draft.
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Misa has played in two of the Sharks’ five games so far this season, making his debut last week in a blowout loss to the Hurricanes, averaging about 14 minutes of ice time between that game and his second appearance, Saturday’s loss to the Penguins.
Misa again centered the Sharks’ third line in practice Monday between Collin Graf and Adam Gaudette, and worked with the second power-play unit, according to NHL.com’s Max Miller. That could indicate he’s likely to dress for his third career NHL game and a top-pick showdown with Schaefer’s Isles.
The 18-year-old has centered the Sharks’ third line and has yet to figure in the scoring for San Jose as the Sharks bring him along.
Meanwhile, Schaefer has had an instant impact on the ice, opening his NHL career with a five-game point streak from the Islanders’ top defensive pairing. If he records another point Tuesday, he’ll tie Marek Zidlicky (2003-04 Predators) for the longest streak to open a defenseman’s NHL career.
The rookies grew up about 25 miles from each other in Ontario, Canada. Misa’s hometown of Oakville is about halfway between Toronto and Hamilton, where Schaefer grew up. — Michael Nowels