Thomas Hickey: Any info on how he played in the few games he played?
I am a devout follower of the WHL, and I have ALWAYS liked Thomas Hickey's game, from the time he was a 15-year old leader of the Thunderbirds.
But, of course, he was injured for the predominant part of last season. As such, I have no info on how his season was last year, apart from the injury. So I guess, Kings fans, I am looking for the answer to three questions.
1) How did Hickey look last year at Kings main camp?
2) Does anyone know how he played at the end of last season for the Monarchs after he came back?
3) Does anyone expect the guy to make the team out of camp next year, or would that be more along the lines of a "surprise" outcome?
Somewhere, probably on lakings.com or on Hammond's blog, there is an interview with Hextall where he really praised Hickey's playoff performance for the Monarchs.
Hickey looked ok in propsects camp. I don't think he's ready for the NHL yet. In all honesty I think the Kings should trade him or Teubert because we have a nice collection of Defensive prospects that we can't afford to keep.
Thomas Hickey, to date, has played every single game since he was drafted minus nearly ever game since he was drafted. Therefore, using that math, who the hell knows...
Somewhere, probably on lakings.com or on Hammond's blog, there is an interview with Hextall where he really praised Hickey's playoff performance for the Monarchs.
Co-sign with Hextall he looked great in the playoffs. He did really play at all during the season due to the injuries and didn't look to go great at the start of the season but he was playing hurt... So that i likely had a lot to do with it.
Hickey still has TONS of upside. As long as he stays healthy.
Definitely too soon. D-men don't reach thier prime until they are in thier late twenties. And as a two-time WJC champion and CHL all-star, I think he played well enough in junior not to be called a bust.
But I understand that people will not want to be patient and will want to call him bust after getting picked "surprisingly" high.
Too soon to call him a bust, but he's behind the 8-ball. He's going to have to dominate the AHL and get some time in LA to avoid that tag sinking in. When you're drafted 4th overall, you are expected to contribute at the NHL level - and quickly. If Hickey doesn't make the Kings roster and has only a so-so year in the minors, he's in real trouble.
Your assumption is on the same level as the absurd assumptions that he is a bust.
To project Hickey as anything as unknown is the height of mental masturbation.
Not at all.
There is NO way Hickey will ever be a bust!!! Absolutely none!!! He's a very good skater with excellent puckhandling skills. There's no way he'll be a bust, PERIOD!!!
There is NO way Hickey will ever be a bust!!! Absolutely none!!! He's a very good skater with excellent puckhandling skills. There's no way he'll be a bust, PERIOD!!!
But there is a chance that he can be an All-Star.
4 consecutive conclusions do not analysis make and you haven't seen him play a single game in the NHL...you know what, I don't know what I am arguing this with you. We'll never agree on this. Let's leave it at I hope you're right. Nice compromise.
Providing he can lose the china doll syndrome I see that he has developed at every level he has played at and (here is the sticky word) believe that he will continue to do so at the NHL level.
His skating as already as good or better than allot of NHL defencemen but again, he has yet to prove anything at the NHL level so it is just too hard to say where he will end up on the talent scale.
Still, if he can beat the owie's then with his talent I wouldn't be surprised if he were to develop into a top pairing kind of two way NHL dman in time.
Hickey still has TONS of upside. As long as he stays healthy.
Quote:
Originally Posted by John Druce
Definitely too soon [to call him a bust]. D-men don't reach thier prime until they are in thier late twenties.
I don't think this is about Hickey hitting his prime before being called a bust -- and I think it is too early to begin tossing around that label. Staying healthy seems to be his biggest problem right now. He has sustained some big injuries in his transition to the pro game. It's these injuries, not his level of play, that throws his status into the questionable column.
He needs to either get stronger or learn how to protect himself better in order to cut down on the injuries. When he's healthy and playing it's pretty obvious why the Kings picked him up.
Hickey is going to wind up being a tougher Brian Rafalski type defenseman with epic leadership qualities.
Thomas Hickey was the best junior defenseman I've ever seen. In his time here in Seattle, he was an absolute hockey prodigy. I still remember his first games as a fifteen year old. It's going to take Hickey awhile to hit his stride in the NHL due to his body needing to mature and add muscle. However he will be one of the best offensive defensemen/leaders in the game when he hits his stride. I'd imagine he'll anchor the second pairing behind Doughty when he hits his stride.
Hickey is going to wind up being a tougher Brian Rafalski type defenseman with epic leadership qualities.
Thomas Hickey was the best junior defenseman I've ever seen. In his time here in Seattle, he was an absolute hockey prodigy. I still remember his first games as a fifteen year old. It's going to take Hickey awhile to hit his stride in the NHL due to his body needing to mature and add muscle. However he will be one of the best offensive defensemen/leaders in the game when he hits his stride. I'd imagine he'll anchor the second pairing behind Doughty when he hits his stride.
I could see this happening but he just needs to play a full year injury free. He seems to have run into bad luck with some injuries.
