Sam Dickinson’s choice to pick No. 11 surprises Sharks GM Mike Grie – NBC Sports Bay Area and California

The Sharks knew all along who they would select first, but general manager Mike Grier was surprised to find defenseman Sam Dickinson available when San Jose went with the 11th pick in the 2024 NHL Draft.

After jumping from the 14th pick (the pick the Sharks acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Erik Karlsson trade) to the 11th pick the day before the draft, San Jose had their sights set on a handful of prospects in that range with this aggressive move. They never expected Dickinson to fall into their lap.

During an exclusive interview with NBC Sports California’s Brodie Brazil, Grier explained the logic behind the Sharks’ targeted pre-draft trade, and why San Jose is so excited to land a prospect of Dickinson’s caliber.

“We had a group of players in mind that we didn’t think would be available at (pick No. 14) and that we thought were impact players,” Grier told Brazil. “I never thought Sam (Dickinson) would be there when we moved up the ladder. As the lap kept unfolding we got super happy, you want the clock to tick faster and faster.

“You saw it coming and the opportunity to add a defender like that is very special.”