How well is Hickey playing?

[LA_Viking]

I don't have Center Ice and never get to see any Isles games, unless they're playing the Kings. So How well is Hickey playing? We had high hopes for this kid in LA, especially after Deano spent a #4 on him.

It's good to see he's finally getting some ice time.

 

[PK Cronin]

Most fans don't like him because of his size.

I personally don't mind his play at all.

 

[19NYSports91]

I don't think he's a top 4 dman, but he has been solid so far.

 

[patrick]

"Quadruple A" caliber player, would probably be dominant in AHL. In the NHL capable of being a decent 7 or 8th defenseman but too physically weak to be effective in his own zone. Ok speed and capable of a decent rush but rarely creates any offense. Did have a good chance last night but could not elevate the puck high enough to beat Luongo. Mediocre to low hockey IQ. I believed this guy could be a player until just recently but have finally removed the blinders. He's not a good player.

 

[Felix Unger]

I think he's been good. But now that Visnovsky is hurt, think he's going to get himself killed playing with Carkner with nowhere to go with the puck.

 

[MDIsles]

Hickey is a 7th Dman. Smallish, not physical, hockey IQ is on the low end. But better than Carkner and maybe Strait. I cringe when Hickey, Carkner, or Strait are out the ice. Hey that's 50% of the Isles D Corp, yikes!

 

[Skip To My Lou]

He's been awesome as of late. Him and Hamonic have been our best dmen thus far. People give him a hard time because of his size or because of the fact we picked him up off waivers and hasn't gone through our system. It's sad really, but oh well.

He's been a steal.

 

[PROMputt]

Hickey is a 7th Dman. Smallish, not physical, hockey IQ is on the low end. But better than Carkner and maybe Strait. I cringe when Hickey, Carkner, or Strait are out the ice. Hey that's 50% of the Isles D Corp, yikes!

Everyone that hates small defensemen are going to say he is playing bad and getting pushed around. Anyone that knows hockey will say he has been good but not great. Definitely will have an NHL career and I believe he will show more offensive ability once he feels 100% comfortable on the defensive end of the ice. He is a lot stronger on his skates this year.

 

[patrick]

He's been awesome as of late. Him and Hamonic have been our best dmen thus far. People give him a hard time because of his size or because of the fact we picked him up off waivers and hasn't gone through our system. It's sad really, but oh well.

He's been a steal.

His size is a factor, the waiver thing is not. No one is complaining about Grabner, no one complained about Osgood or Nabby because they were waiver pickups. He's been flashy the last couple of games but with nothing to show for it. He's a terrible penalty killer and is credited with a whopping 5 hits this season.

 

[Words Of Wisdom]

He's been probably the second or third best DMAN for us this season. That's not saying much though...

 

[RMimagery]

He has good vision and offensive instincts. Sound defensively. Absorbing what Lubo does and that's a great mentor.

+11 in 48 NHL games. +/- not a great stat to compare players around the league but is telling when comparing against teammates.

Not a top 4 guy but will be useful, should be here long term.

 

[YearlyLottery]

"Quadruple A" caliber player, would probably be dominant in AHL. In the NHL capable of being a decent 7 or 8th defenseman but too physically weak to be effective in his own zone. Ok speed and capable of a decent rush but rarely creates any offense. Did have a good chance last night but could not elevate the puck high enough to beat Luongo. Mediocre to low hockey IQ. I believed this guy could be a player until just recently but have finally removed the blinders. He's not a good player.

1. That was an AMAZING save by Luongo.


2. One thing the majority of posters will say (Hickey fan or not) is he has an EXTREMELY high hockey IQ. Size is another issue....


Hickey is a #4 defenseman on this NYI team IMO. He would be used best with a big dman that is actually able to be relied on defensively.

On a Stanely Cup Contender he is a #6/7 dman (depending on how physical games can get). He just does not have size which is a real shame.


What Hickey really needs to work on his shot to make it harder and get to the net. Being paired with a guy like Hamonic could do wonders for this guy, but Hamonic is better paired with Amac/Donavon.

People forget how young Hickey really is. Hickey is 24 years old while a much more liked Donavon is 23. Hopefully when Pulock and Reinhart come along Hickey will be moved down to a #5 spot and could be VERY useful there.

 

[xECK29x]

Size, smize, he has been a very smart and solid D man for us, I love the kid.

 

[patrick]

1. That was an AMAZING save by Luongo.


2. One thing the majority of posters will say (Hickey fan or not) is he has an EXTREMELY high hockey IQ. Size is another issue....


Hickey is a #4 defenseman on this NYI team IMO. He would be used best with a big dman that is actually able to be relied on defensively.

On a Stanely Cup Contender he is a #6 dman. He just does not have size which is a real shame.


What Hickey really needs to work on his shot to make it harder and get to the net. Being paired with a guy like Hamonic could do wonders for this guy, but Hamonic is better paired with Amac/Donavon.

People forget how young Hickey really is. Hickey is 24 years old while a much more liked Donavon is 23. Hopefully when Pulock and Reinhart come along Hickey will be moved down to a #5 spot and could be VERY useful there.

It was a great save. I didn't mean to slight Hickey there but it did read that way.

I disagree with you on his hockey IQ, one thing I like about him is his tenacity. He works hard and never coasts. Not worth fighting over whether or not he's a #6 or #7(8) defenseman on a good team. Also not his fault that he is being asked to play a top four role he is not suited to play. I don't think he's hopeless but I do think he's overrated on this board.

 

[It Was 4 to 1*]

size doesn't matter if he can keep the puck out of the net

 

[PK Cronin]

1. That was an AMAZING save by Luongo.


2. One thing the majority of posters will say (Hickey fan or not) is he has an EXTREMELY high hockey IQ. Size is another issue....


Hickey is a #4 defenseman on this NYI team IMO. He would be used best with a big dman that is actually able to be relied on defensively.

On a Stanely Cup Contender he is a #6/7 dman (depending on how physical games can get). He just does not have size which is a real shame.


What Hickey really needs to work on his shot to make it harder and get to the net. Being paired with a guy like Hamonic could do wonders for this guy, but Hamonic is better paired with Amac/Donavon.

People forget how young Hickey really is. Hickey is 24 years old while a much more liked Donavon is 23. Hopefully when Pulock and Reinhart come along Hickey will be moved down to a #5 spot and could be VERY useful there.

Agreed on all accounts.

 

[LeapOnOver]

He's pleasantly surprised me this season and I think he can work his way to a top 4 defenseman some day. I think he's finally starting to mature and gain that poise and confidence all defenseman need. He's been a little bit of a brighter spot in what's been a blundering defensive corp.

 

[InformTheMasses]

Oh my gawd.... this thread is good for some laughs.

 

[A Pointed Stick]

First off he is not playing the game I saw him play before he was drafted. The guy has high hockey sense and offensive skills, and it is obvious to anyone who watched him pre-draft and now that he has been trying very hard to focus on being better defensively. They have not cut him loose offensively, and when you consider how he has been paired it is pretty obvious why - can't have two guys pinching at the same time, and with Carkner he simply can't risk being aggressive because Carkner is useless as a defender. I suspect an anchor skating on bricks could beat Carkner to a loose puck, and probably take a better angle to get to it as well.

He is small and his game has always suffered for it, but that is part of the reason why he and his coaches went out of their way to correct his reads/positioning over the past few years.

He is a decent prospect you accept with his warts and would be quite a bit better if he played the role he is built for. But, that can't happen because we completely lack enough competent defensive defensemen to do that, and also because we have a head coach who would be hard pressed to beat a head of lettuce at math let alone figure out how to make sense of lines and pairs.

 

[BigWorm]

Oh my gawd.... this thread is good for some laughs.

It is all about Fans getting used to mediocrity and accepting it. Trying to find the good in every players game instead of being objective.

Hell, if you read the Isles page enough you would think Amac is an all-star.

 

[Sheva7]

Im not sure what games some of these ppl have been watching but IMO Hickey has been great.
With Visnovsky out, Hickey is easily our 2nd best dman.

Quick, mobile, and very very smart.

Hick and Visnovsky play such a similar style, if they didn't have numbers and names on their back I wouldn't be able to tell them apart half the time. I find it baffling how some ppl love Vis and think Hick is garbage - They're like friggin twins out there.

 

[rikker]

i think he's progressing. at first, i wasn't impressed, but he has surprised.

not likely to be an impact player, but i can see him having a career in the NHL.

he won't starve, but he won't make any record books either.

 

[BigWorm]

Im not sure what games some of these ppl have been watching but IMO Hickey has been great.
With Visnovsky out, Hickey is easily our 2nd best dman.

Quick, mobile, and very very smart.

Hick and Visnovsky play such a similar style, if they didn't have numbers and names on their back I wouldn't be able to tell them apart half the time. I find it baffling how some ppl love Vis and think Hick is garbage - They're like friggin twins out there.

Thanks for the insightful comparison between Hickey and Visnovsky. You really bolstered your case for how great Hickey has been.

 

[19NYSports91]

He's been awesome as of late. Him and Hamonic have been our best dmen thus far. People give him a hard time because of his size or because of the fact we picked him up off waivers and hasn't gone through our system. It's sad really, but oh well.

He's been a steal.

Hamonic and Visnovsky have been our best dmen for the past year.

 

[19NYSports91]

Im not sure what games some of these ppl have been watching but IMO Hickey has been great.
With Visnovsky out, Hickey is easily our 2nd best dman.

Quick, mobile, and very very smart.

Hick and Visnovsky play such a similar style, if they didn't have numbers and names on their back I wouldn't be able to tell them apart half the time. I find it baffling how some ppl love Vis and think Hick is garbage - They're like friggin twins out there.

Not sure if serious.....