The Dallas Stars have selected winger Jason Dickinson with the No. 29 pick in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.
Dickinson is a player with high upside with a ton of actual offensive potential and is generally described as a guy with a lot of “tools” and is the type of “high risk, high reward” player the Stars have shied away from in the past. He’s an exceptional puck handler with great skating ability and is able to quickly move the puck up the ice efficiently, along with an NHL-ready release on his shot.
There are concerns with his consistency, however, which is why he went a bit deeper in the draft than his skill set would suggest. He has great offensive instincts, however, and there is the thought that with the right development he could progress into a very skilled puck-possession top-six winger with top-notch possession skills.
| Season | Team | GP | Goals | Assists | Points | +/- | Points |
| 2012-2013 | Guelph Storm | 66 | 18 | 29 | 47 | +19 | 31 |
| 2011-2012 | Guelph Storm | 63 | 13 | 22 | 35 | -15 | 24 |
Scouting reports:
Corey Pronman, Hockey Prospectus
Although Dickinson has a lot of potential, he experienced an up-and-down season. He is an above-average, if not a plus skater, with a quick, efficient stride. He requires few steps to generate the speed he needs to get up the ice. He also has a great top gear, with impressive agility. He is a very coordinated puckhandler, who can display a high level of creativity and one-on-one ability. Combining that with his good offensive instincts, his quality release, and his physicality, it is understandable why one scout would describe him as a player who has the ability to simply take over a game. He is also an advanced defensive thinker, who takes his assignments well. However, scouts are concerned with his consistency. It is not always there in terms of his physical play, or his ability to keep the play going in the right direction. His effort is not a universal area of concern with scouts, as some believe it to be a major plus. He also needs to get stronger. Dickinson profiles as a high-risk, high-reward type of prospect for whichever team selects him.
International Scouting Services
Dickinson’s development curve is easily one of the best in this years draft class as he is much more than a one-dimensional goal scorer. Jason shows great skill on the puck and ability to skate end to end with a combination of his quick hands and excellent composure. Whether it’s off the wing or as he curls into the high slot, his shot is lethal as he can pick corners in an instance. He has added an increasingly effective physical aspect to his game whether its finishing checks on the forecheck or staying strong on the puck. Not only has he shown versatility at center and wing but has also been one of the Storms key special teams contributors throughout the season.