Islanders Claim Thomas Hickey off Waivers from Kings

[flyersrule]

The New York Islanders announced today that Thomas Hickey has been claimed off waivers from the Los Angeles Kings.

Hickey, 23, has appeared in 33 American Hockey League games this season with the Manchester Monarchs, scoring 12 points (three goals, nine assists) with a plus-4 rating. In 212 career AHL games with the Monarchs, the Calgary, AB, native has 75 points (14 goals, 61 assists) with a plus-24 rating. Hickey was selected to his first AHL All-Star Game in 2012.

Los Angeles selected Hickey in the first round (4th overall) of the 2007 NHL Draft. The 5’11, 190-pound defenseman played a four-year junior career with the Seattle Thunderbirds of the Western Hockey League. He totaled 177 points (39 goals, 138 assists) in 262 career WHL games and was named to the WHL West First All-Star Team in 2008 and 2009.

On the international stage, Hickey played for Team Canada at the 2008 and 2009 World Junior Championships, winning gold both years and serving as team captain in 2009. He also represented Canada-Pacific at the 2006 World Hockey Challenge.

[NickDoh]

Good for Hickey/Islanders. They need D, and he's probably NHL ready for a team like that. Hope he gets the playing time.

As for Clune, surprised he's stayed in the Kings system as long as he did, was never a spot for him on the Kings. Hope NSH plays him some since they lost Tootoo. He can be entertaining.

[habsfan1122]

great news for thomas hickey, now he will be able to proove himself in the nhl

[skacore]

Wtf? Isn't this a bit strange, is Hickey a huge bust or something? He went 4th overall not too long ago..his AHL numbers look decent, what's the deal?

[chilly666]

too many ahead of him in los angeles, plain and simple.

[skacore]

Originally Posted by chilly666

too many ahead of him in los angeles, plain and simple.

Yeah but to waive him? How often does a 4th overall get waived at the age of 23

[chilly666]

had too...entry-level deal was up and in order to play in ahl after friday, he needed to clear waivers.

[brymaster1]

Kid has a lot of upside, but is injury prone and has been very inconsistent up to this point in his career. Nice pick up by the Islanders.

[IhateLindros]

Great, this means I don't have to see Griffin Reinhart in an Islanders uniform this year.

[king of culver]

when he went no 4 overall the pundints all said it was a real reach...and so it was

[skacore]

Originally Posted by brymaster1

Kid has a lot of upside, but is injury prone and has been very inconsistent up to this point in his career. Nice pick up by the Islanders.

Looking at his stats he seems pretty steady, 4 full WHL seasons, 09-10 I guess injury but then 2 full AHL seasons and + half season this year.

This still seems strange to me.. to lose such a highly touted talent for absolutely nothing

[brymaster1]

Originally Posted by skacore

Looking at his stats he seems pretty steady, 4 full WHL seasons, 09-10 I guess injury but then 2 full AHL seasons and + half season this year.

This still seems strange to me.. to lose such a highly touted talent for absolutely nothing

In his first two year in the AHL he played like 24 games or something like that. He wasnt going to make the big club this year, and like chilly said he had to go through waiver to play in the AHL. I'm sure every team knew that and just were not willing to give up anything to get him. Tough spot for Dean, but there wasnt a whole lot he could do.

[bupz91]

He will be good actually getting a shot with NYI

[I_am_Belak_2]

Originally Posted by skacore

Looking at his stats he seems pretty steady, 4 full WHL seasons, 09-10 I guess injury but then 2 full AHL seasons and + half season this year.

This still seems strange to me.. to lose such a highly touted talent for absolutely nothing

Chilly explained that he had to go through waivers to be sent back down. They weren't going to keep him up as a 7th/8th d-man and get no minutes. It's part of the risk of waivers. Now watch the Islanders put him back on waivers in order to send him down and he gets re-claimed by LA.

[HordiBrusk29]

Originally Posted by skacore

Wtf? Isn't this a bit strange, is Hickey a huge bust or something? He went 4th overall not too long ago..his AHL numbers look decent, what's the deal?

I think that's safe to say. He was very overrated in the WHL, IMO. I didn't think he would be a "sure bet" NHL'er by any stretch. That said, he will have every opportunity to prove himself with the Islanders.