Hickey was released from his professional tryout agreement on Monday by New Jersey.
Hickey spent most of the 2021-22 season in the AHL with Bridgeport and Ontario. He also skated in two games with the Islanders.
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Devils' Thomas Hickey: Secures tryout agreement
Rotowire
Hickey signed a professional tryout agreement with New Jersey on Tuesday.
Hickey played in just two NHL games for the Islanders last season, instead spending the bulk of the year in the minors. With AHL Bridgeport and Ontario, the blueliner logged a combined 44 games in which he garnered six goals and 12 assists. Despite just appearing in just seven games over the last two years, Hickey does have over 450 games of NHL experience which could help him secure a permanent deal from the Devils before the 2022-23 campaign kicks off.
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Islanders' Thomas Hickey: Sent to Ontario
Rotowire
Hickey was reassigned to AHL Ontario on Saturday.
Hickey has appeared in just two NHL games this season. He's tallied 12 points in 29 games with AHL Bridgeport and will likely spend most of the season in the minors.
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Islanders' Thomas Hickey: Sent back down
Rotowire
Hickey was reassigned to AHL Bridgeport on Wednesday, per CapFriendly.
Hickey got into two games with the Islanders, going minus-3 with three blocked shots and two hits. With the team coming out of a schedule pause healthier on the blue line, Hickey's services are no longer needed. The 32-year-old will return to Bridgeport to serve as organizational defensive depth.
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Islanders' Thomas Hickey: Brought up from minors
Rotowire
Hickey was elevated from AHL Bridgeport on Tuesday, Andrew Gross of Newsday reports.
Hickey will provide some additional defensive depth after Zdeno Chara was added to the league's COVID-19 protocols. While Paul LaDue should have the inside track to play against the Rangers on Wednesday, Hickey could also be in the mix to play, though he is unlikely to offer much in the way of fantasy value.
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Islanders' Thomas Hickey: Dropped to AHL affiliate
Rotowire
Hickey was assigned to AHL Bridgeport on Wednesday.
Hickey initially remained with the Islanders after clearing waivers Sunday, but he'll now head to the minors for the foreseeable future. The 32-year-old blueliner appeared in just five games with the Isles last season, picking up two helpers over that span.
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Islanders' Thomas Hickey: Clears waivers
Rotowire
Hickey has cleared waivers but remains with the team, Andrew Gross of Newsday reports.
Hickey has spent most of the past two seasons with Bridgeport of the AHL as the Islanders have needed to get his contract off their salary cap. This is likely where he will end up again this season, as he is no better than seventh or eighth on the depth chart for the team.
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Islanders' Thomas Hickey: Placed on waivers Saturday
Rotowire
Hickey was designated for waivers by the Islanders on Saturday, Sportsnet's Chris Johnston reports.
Hickey has been a mainstay on the Islanders' blue line, having made 454 appearances for the club, but only saw action in five games last year. While his NHL experience could draw interest from other clubs around the league, though his $2.5 million cap hit could rule out several organizations. If Hickey does in fact clear, he'll be designated for AHL Bridgeport where he figures to start the season.
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Islanders' Thomas Hickey: Falling down depth chart
Rotowire
Hickey isn't likely to begin the season with the Islanders, Arthur Staple of The Athletic reports.
The best chance for Hickey to make the team out of camp was as either the seventh or eighth defenseman, but he's fallen behind Sebastian Aho and Erik Gustafsson for that role. Hickey will likely be sent to the AHL once again to open the season and might need more than one injury in order to be recalled.
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Islanders' Thomas Hickey: One year left on deal
Rotowire
Hickey has one more year left on his contract with the Islanders.
Hickey signed a four-year, $10 million contract with the Isles in July of 2018 but has only played 45 games since that time. Hickey had a personal issue that cost him some time was also buried in the AHL for salary cap reasons. Unless the Isles suffer an injury or can find a taker for his contract between now and next season, Hickey is likely ticketed to play in the AHL for the 2021-22 campaign.
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Islanders' Thomas Hickey: Jumps to active roster
Rotowire
Hickey was promoted to the active roster Tuesday, per CapFriendly.
Hickey served as defensive depth for much of the 2020-21 campaign. He had two assists in five contests, but he's unlikely to see much playing time in the postseason.
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Islanders' Thomas Hickey: Healthy scratch for 18 straight
Rotowire
Hickey has been a healthy scratch for the past 18 games for the Islanders.
Hickey is eighth on the Islanders' depth chart and isn't likely to play again this season unless coach Barry Trotz elects to rest several members of his defense in one or both of the last two games. If the Isles aren't able to move Hickey during the offseason, he is likely to find himself in the same position next season and will need an injury or two to play with the team.
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Islanders' Thomas Hickey: Healthy scratch for eight straight
Rotowire
Hickey has once again found himself out of the lineup for eight straight games for the Islanders.
Hickey was the Islander's eighth defenseman and played five games while Noah Dobson was in COVID-19 protocol. However, the return of Dobson has seen a return to the bench for Hickey, and with the addition of Braydon Coburn, that is likely where he will stay unless the defensive corps is hit with a rash of injuries.
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Islanders' Thomas Hickey: Slides to taxi squad
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Hickey was demoted to the taxi squad Thursday, per CapFriendly.
Hickey has spent most of the year on the taxi squad, but he's collected two assists in five games as well.
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Islanders' Thomas Hickey: Two apples in first outing
Rotowire
Hickey posted a pair of assists and was plus-2 in Saturday's 6-1 win over Philadelphia.
Hickey was making his first NHL appearance since the 2018-19 Stanley Cup Playoffs, and he responded with a multi-point outing in just under 17 minutes of ice time. The 32-year-old had been stuck on the taxi squad the entire season and spent the 2019-20 campaign in the AHL.
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Islanders' Thomas Hickey: Making season debut Saturday
Rotowire
Hickey was promoted from the taxi squad and will make his season debut Saturday versus the Flyers, Arthur Staple of The Athletic reports.
Hickey hasn't played a regular-season game in nearly two years. In 2018-19, he had four assists in 40 games. Hickey replaces Sebastian Aho in the lineup Saturday.
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Islanders' Thomas Hickey: Still on taxi squad
Rotowire
Hickey has yet to play a game for the Islanders this season and remains on the taxi squad, Arthur Staple of The Athletic reports.
The Islanders are the only NHL team that has used the same six defenders for each game this season. Hickey is either seventh or eighth on the depth chart, depending on where Sebastian Aho stands. Hickey was banished to the AHL last season to keep his contract off the salary cap, and this season is just a continuation of that. Hickey may need more than one injury to play for the Islanders this season.
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Islanders' Thomas Hickey: Still with the team
Rotowire
Hickey is still on the taxi squad for the Islanders.
There was some thought that Hickey would be sent to Bridgeport of the AHL now that the season has started, but the Islanders have elected to keep him with the big club for the time being. The Isles tried to shed his salary during the offseason but couldn't find a suitor.
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Islanders' Thomas Hickey: Demoted to taxi squad
Rotowire
Hickey was sent to the Islander's taxi squad Friday, Arthur Staple of The Athletic reports.
In a best-case scenario, Hickey is the seventh or eighth defenseman for the Islanders. He hasn't played in the NHL since the 2018-19 season as the Islanders have buried him and his salary in the AHL over the past couple of campaigns. The Isles have tried to move Hickey via trade but so far there have been no takers.
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Islanders' Thomas Hickey: Could be traded
Rotowire
The Islanders have been trying to trade Hickey before the season starts, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports.
This is far from breaking news, as the Isles have been trying to move Hickey and his contract seemingly as soon as he signed it. The reason is not so much that Hickey's play has been poor, but more that they need the cap space in order to sign Mathew Barzal and the fact they have plenty of defenders with a similar skill level. If Hickey remains with the team, he could be on the taxi squad as the seventh defenseman or could head down to the AHL, where his salary wouldn't count against the cap.
