Thomas Hickey

History

2006-07: He played for Seattle as a 15-year-old and has improved his offensive play each season. Thomas Hickey played most of the past season with veteran Scott Jackson (STL). He scored nine goals and 41 assists in 68 games.

2007-08: While his offensive production did not exceed his pre-draft season, Hickey took on a much larger role both as a target for the opposition and as a team leader.  Tenth in the WHL in scoring among defensemen with 45 points in 63 games, Hickey was named a First Team All-Star for the Western Conference.  As a squad, the Seattle Thunderbirds shifted their scoring emphasis more towards their forwards this season than in past years, capable of icing two equally potent scoring lines, and reducing their reliance on production from the blueline.  Consequently, Hickey concentrated on other aspects of his game and rounded into more of a pure two-way defenseman with a considerable amount of grit.

2008-09: Attempting to round out his skills as a defenseman, Hickey spent the first half of the season concentrating on the defensive side of the rink with Seattle of the WHL, resulting in a mild drop in points but a spike in +/-.  Unleashed for the second half of the season, Hickey went on a tear that turned previously low goal and point totals to start the season into career highs for each.  Assigned to Manchester at the conclusion of Seattle's season, Hickey did not skip a beat in immediately integrating himself into the team and scoring seven points in his seven games in the AHL.

2009-10: In an injury plagued professional debut, Hickey only appeared in 19 regular season games, posting 1 goal and 5 assists. In 4 playoff games with Manchester, he managed 3 assists.

2010-11: Hickey appeared in a career-high 77 games in his second season with Manchester (AHL) after playing in just 23 games (including playoffs) due to injury the year before. Hickey scored 6 goals with 18 assists and was +9 with 38 PMs, generally playing in one of the top two pairs for the Monarchs. After finishing second in the Atlantic Division, Manchester fell to eventual Calder Cup champion Binghamton in a tight, seven-game, first-round series. Hickey had an even plus/minus for the series with 2 assists.

2011-12:  One of two players to skate in all 76 games for Kings AHL affiliate Manchester, Hickey was a team best plus-16 and scored 3 goals with 23 assists and 36 penalty minutes in his third pro season. The Monarchs finished second in the Atlantic Division and lost to Norfolk three games to one in a first round playoff series. Hickey was the second-leading scorer for the Monarchs in the series with 4 assists and was plus-four with 2 penalty minutes. He was re-called as a "Black Ace" during the Kings Stanley Cup run in the playoffs but did not see any action. Hickey signed a one-year contract extension with the Kings in July, 2012.

 

Talent Analysis

Hickey's strong suit is his skating ability and he exudes confidence on and off the ice. He plays bigger than his 5'11, 185-pound frame might suggest. A well-spoken player with great on-ice vision.  Uses his skating ability to move the puck out of the zone and pressure the opposition's forwards up-ice.  Might develop into a future powerplay quarterback.

 

Future

If Hickey can prove durable enough to stand the rigors of the pro-game, he will be Manchester's powerplay quarterback and a source of offense from the back end.