Sam Dickinson understands the stakes in the early stages of his rookie season with the San Jose Sharks.

The 19-year-old defenseman has two paths: play with the Sharks or spend a fourth season with London of the Ontario Hockey League. Because of his age, he's ineligible to play in the American Hockey League.

"I'm pretty confident myself," Dickinson said during the NHL Players' Association Rookie Showcase in September. "I think I've always been a very confident person. I don't think it'd be any value if I went in there not expecting to play in the NHL or anything like that.”

His confidence isn't wavering despite an uneven start to his season. That includes a rough game against the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday, when he was a minus-3 and was whistled for two minor penalties in 11:52 of i

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