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D Joe Hicketts - Victoria Royals, WHL (2014 undrafted; 2014 signed, DET)

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Vor said:
Calling it now: Hicketts best canadian dman. Come at me.

VorEdit: should say at the wjc lol.
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Ive been saying this for a week or so too. Ive seen him play a ton of times over the years. He is a born leader and the coaches will love him. Alot of Canada hasnt seen him play and already feel as though he needs to prove himself way more than anyone else cause he beat out some extremely good players to make this team.

Will be top 4 dman throughout the tourny and most likely a top 2 d pairing. PP, PK, even strength.... he will play whatever is needed.. and excell... seems like every Canada goal while watching the highlights he was involved in last night. Looks like he put up a couple assists too
 
Okay. Woah. Let's not go overboard here. I've been a Victoria Royals and Hicketts fan since the beginning, and I'm so happy to see him make the team and get attention. But he's not a top 2 D on Team Canada. He's not even a top 4 D. Almost all the other D are "born leaders" and can play in all situations as well. That's why they've made Team Canada too.
 
Master Radishes said:
Okay. Woah. Let's not go overboard here. I've been a Victoria Royals and Hicketts fan since the beginning, and I'm so happy to see him make the team and get attention. But he's not a top 2 D on Team Canada. He's not even a top 4 D. Almost all the other D are "born leaders" and can play in all situations as well. That's why they've made Team Canada too.
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After last night, some fans consider him and Morrisey as their best dmen already. And they say not to play them together so it evens out a couple pairings... Still early tho, the tourny hasnt even started. But that was some fans thoughts after exhibition game
 
Bump.

Was at the game tonight vs Kelowna and he was far and away the most effective player there.

A very high IQ player in both ends of the ice. His best asset imo was his play under pressure. Countless times he made calm, safe, effective plays when an opposing player was pursuing or hounding him. Puck moving was very good, and he drives possession very well. His body positioning when battling other players is a strength of his, especially for a smaller guy. He has a pretty good shot on him and his vision is superb. Obviously a strong, fluid skater as well.

The Wings did well by jumping on the opportunity for this guy and I think he has a bright future.
 
He has all the skills and smarts, but at his size does he have enough speed and agility to make those plays at the NHL level? Can he win the board battles and protect the front of the net against players who have 6" and 20-40lbs on him?
 
N
The Mentalist said:
He's been taking some flack for his play. I thought he deserved Player of the game today. Good for him.
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When you never leave the ice, you should get noticed.

Played 4:15 of the 5 minute OT including a 3 minute shift. Must be nice to have your Jr coach coaching Team Canada.

Only a dumb coach plays someone for a 3 minute shift at this level.
 
Can someone tell me what his skating is like? And if he's gained any weight? He's not going far if he doesn't bulk up.
 
GoBoltz56 said:
Weight was never his problem..height is his problem. He is pretty stocky.
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I was unaware. :sarcasm: But 175 isn't going to do him many favors at a favorable 5'8".

FLYguy3911 said:
Didn't teams tell him to lose weight?
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Team told him to lose fat. He had an injury and ended up weight 200lbs but with 22% body fat. That's not the same thing as bulking up but having with 8-12% body fat. (Not that I think 200 is a good goal weight for him.)

As an aside, does anyone on this prospect board actually watch the prospects? Seems like all the responses I get are the same things you can dig up with a simple google search.
 
Reddwit said:
I was unaware. :sarcasm: But 175 isn't going to do him many favors at a favorable 5'8".



Team told him to lose fat. He had an injury and ended up weight 200lbs but with 22% body fat. That's not the same thing as bulking up but having with 8-12% body fat. (Not that I think 200 is a good goal weight for him.)

As an aside, does anyone on this prospect board actually watch the prospects? Seems like all the responses I get are the same things you can dig up with a simple google search.
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I think his skating is fine. Not elite or overly dynamic. Not a top speed demon, but is agile and he utilizes his edge work to avoid checks quite well I'd say. He's indeed a smart enough player to make adjustments like that to his game. The question is if he'll be able to do that at the next level in pro hockey.

He gets a lot flack for some reason (people have only based their opinions off the WJC it seems). I think he's got a solid future and Detroit will absolutely have the patience with him, so the wait may be worth the while.
 
Really curious about Hicketts..honestly probably the most unheralded prospect. Now that the WHL season is over, Hicketts has been over PPG and doing well. Acclaimed by some as Canada's best junior defender going into the WJC...how come we don't hear more about him?
What's the plan for him come next year? Long term how does he project? Is he actually the real deal?
 
Hes a pretty good defenseman. I wouldnt say he's unheralded. He made Canada's WJC squad. Was Defenseman of the Year in the WHL. He'll be in the AHL next season. He may never stick in the NHL due to his stature and lack of true defensive prowess.
 
I still think he has an uphill climb to be a top 4 defender in the NHL. Could see him being a Jared Spurgeon type (who is actually underrated) if all things go very well for him developmentally.

He's super smart and competes but he's just so small.

Also worth noting that he's not in the lineup tonight for Victoria in their 2nd game of the playoffs. No word on why as he played in game 1 and appeared fine after the game, from all accounts.
 
SmartPuck said:
I still think he has an uphill climb to be a top 4 defender in the NHL. Could see him being a Jared Spurgeon type (who is actually underrated) if all things go very well for him developmentally.

He's super smart and competes but he's just so small.

Also worth noting that he's not in the lineup tonight for Victoria in their 2nd game of the playoffs. No word on why as he played in game 1 and appeared fine after the game, from all accounts.
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Spokane (Elynuik in particular) was going hard after Hicketts all game. Elynuik gave him a pretty nasty hack at the end of the game and he was limping heading back to the dressing room after the 3 stars presentation. Elynuik is listed at 6'5", seemed pretty bush league of their coaching staff.

Victoria is up 2-0, thankfully.
 
How was he ablento sign in 2014 even though he was undrafted?

Shouldn't he have to re-enter the draft? Kid just played in 2 WJC after signing as a baby UFA at age 18.
 
Mikos87 said:
How was he ablento sign in 2014 even though he was undrafted?

Shouldn't he have to re-enter the draft? Kid just played in 2 WJC after signing as a baby UFA at age 18.
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Teams have a short window to sign players that go undrafted. If you don't get signed, you go back in the draft next year. It doesn't happen all that often though. If teams don't see you worthy of even a 7th round selection, chances are they aren't ready to offer you a contract.
 
Mikos87 said:
How was he ablento sign in 2014 even though he was undrafted?

Shouldn't he have to re-enter the draft? Kid just played in 2 WJC after signing as a baby UFA at age 18.
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Article 8.9(b)(ii)
8.9 Eligibility for Play in the League. No Player shall be eligible for play in the League unless he:
(b) had been eligible for claim in the last Entry Draft, but was unclaimed, and:
(ii) had played hockey in North America the prior season and was under age 20 at the time of the last Entry Draft, and signed an SPC which was signed and registered with the League between the conclusion of the Entry Draft and commencement of the Major Juniors season (except that if such Player had signed an NHL try-out form, which was signed and registered with the League during the aforesaid time period, then the deadline for signing and registering with the League an SPC with such try-out Club shall be the commencement of the NHL Season).

Article 10.1(d)
10.1 Unrestricted Free Agents.
(d) Draft-Related Unrestricted Free Agents.
(i) Any Player not eligible for claim in any future Entry Draft pursuant to this Agreement and not on a Club's Reserve List shall be an Unrestricted Free Agent. Further, any Player eligible for claim in the Entry Draft, but who was unclaimed, shall be an Unrestricted Free Agent subject to the provisions of Section 8.9(b).
(ii) Each Player referred to in subsection (d)(i) above shall, during the period of his Free Agency in accordance with Section 8.9(b), if applicable, be completely free to negotiate and sign an SPC with any Club, and any Club shall be completely free to negotiate and sign an SPC with such Player, without penalty or restriction subject to the provisions of Article 9 of this Agreement, if applicable, and without being subject to any Right of First Refusal, Draft Choice Compensation or any other compensation or equalization obligation of any kind.
 
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