Casual Vegas Golden Knights fans might not know who Brandon Hickey is. Heck, some Henderson Silver Knights fans don't even know who he is. However, it's high time that fans get on board with the defenseman.
On Tuesday, Silver Knights manager Tim Speltz announced that Hickey was re-signed to a one-year AHL contract. It'll be his fifth season in the AHL and his eighth as a hockey professional. Last season, he played 29 games with the Silver Knights as both a forward and a defenseman, scoring two goals and four points.
Let's go through Hickey's life as a professional, shall we? He was originally picked in the third round of the 2014 NHL Draft. The 29-year-old appeared in 185 AHL games, playing for the Rochester Americans, Chicago Wolves, Abbotsford Canucks, and the Silver Knights. He's scored 10 goals and 31 assists while logging 73 penalty minutes.
Hickey also appeared in 22 ECHL games with the Florida Everblades, winning the Kelly Cup in 2022-23. Here, he scored three goals and four assists. He also won the Hockey East Championship in 2015 and 2018 with the Boston University Terriers, scoring 21 goals and 54 points (147 games) in four seasons. He was even named an Honorable Mention to the Hockey East Conference All-Star Team in 2018.
What Brandon Hickey brings to the table
Let's be honest. It's a longshot for the native of Leduc, Alberta to make the Golden Knights roster. He's waiting behind a long line of NHL-ready players who are faster, stronger, and have more offensive capabilities than he does.
It's a tough role to relegate yourself to. Seeing other players like Kaedan Korczak pass you can be rough on the soul. However, that doesn't mean that Hickey doesn't bring value.
For example, he plays a clean game of hockey where he doesn't make too many mistakes. Staying out of the penalty box is something Bruce Cassidy's club knows very well. Last season, the Golden Knights had 463 penalty minutes, 31st in the NHL.
He also has value beyond mere statistics. Playing well away from the puck will prove invaluable as a defenseman, particularly when the forecheck comes into play. That should help the Silver Knights this upcoming season.
Overall, this is a nice depth signing for the AHL club. They're looking to rebound from an abysmal 2024-25 season and want to break out of the Pacific Division basement. Hickey might be what the doctor ordered, making his name known in the process.