Joe Hicketts

[burrythebiscuit*]

Haven't posted in awhile but have attended a couple griffin games front row where they shoot twice since moving back from living in Pittsburgh for two years. So hope everyone had a good summer and such but I'll get to the point. One guys that has straight up impressed me on the Griffins is Joe Hicketts. Pure heart and soul guy. Great on the power play, has a heck of a shot, and plays way more physical game then anyone on the Red Wings dman list or the Griffins. He might be a gem.

All admit I was never that high on him before seeing him play so I'm happily inpressed.

 

[BinCookin]

I hope he continues to improve.

 

[Claypool]

This article was recently published about Joe.

http://www.mlive.com/griffins/index...tts_doesnt_have_heigh.html#incart_river_index

 

[Reddwit]

He's going to be a really interesting guy to keep track of down in Grand Rapids. If he can master his timing at the AHL and then NHL level, he might be able to be an impact player, given his other traits. But timing is one of those things that separates the talent from the plugs - its not going to be an easy road for him.

 

[Wood Stick]

The fact that his skating is not great worries me. I realize he's physical but at that size you need to be a really good skater for the most part. I know you can pull out a couple guys like Krug, but Joey worries me at the NHL level.

 

[Reddwit]

The fact that his skating is not great worries me. I realize he's physical but at that size you need to be a really good skater for the most part. I know you can pull out a couple guys like Krug, but Joey worries me at the NHL level.

Maybe this is nitpicking, but I feel like his skating is better than "not great." He has a weird stride, probably because of his height and stockiness, but he's a decent skater.

But yeah, that goes back to my comment about timing. If he wants to make it in the NHL, he's going to need elite timing to limit the impact of his size. I think he might have the IQ to do it, fortunately, but its going to take time.

 

[Pavels Dog]

Hard not to root for a guy like Hicketts. You never know, the NHL is moving more towards smart and puck-skilled d-men. Smaller guys are becoming more common. Still he has a long way to go. Playing physical in the AHL is pretty different to stepping into the NHL. How can Hicketts play defense against guys like Jamie Benn, Lucic, Voracek etc? He'll need to be exceptionally smart about his positioning and stickwork.

 

[Rzombo4 prez]

Maybe this is nitpicking, but I feel like his skating is better than "not great." He has a weird stride, probably because of his height and stockiness, but he's a decent skater.

But yeah, that goes back to my comment about timing. If he wants to make it in the NHL, he's going to need elite timing to limit the impact of his size. I think he might have the IQ to do it, fortunately, but its going to take time.

The problem is that decent doesn't cut it at his size. He needs to be closer to elite. I agree though that he has been better than expected in GR and that he does have an awesome IQ for the game.

 

[Frk It]

Wasn't he pretty shaky to start the season? Good to see him get it going. Still quite skeptical of him as a prospect.

Still not sure why we don't talk about Russo more. He's the only defenseman in GR that I am interested in.

 

[Number1RedWingsFan52]

Would be nice if Joe Hicketts could be our Torey Krug, Of course we all know that will never happen.

 

[tfong]

I'm still on the Hicketts train!!

I still believe!