New York Islanders Disappointing Thomas Hickey Placed On IR

In the aftermath of the New York Islanders 3-1 loss to the Boston Bruins, the New York Islanders placed defenseman Thomas Hickey on injured reserve.
If anyone was going to be leaving the Boston Bruins-New York Islanders game, you’d think it was going to be one of the Boston Bruins players. After blocking 21 of the Islanders shots someone on their roster has to have a few bruises.
But on Sunday, the New York Islanders placed Thomas Hickey on injury reserve retroactive to December 9th. The official word from the New York Islanders is just “upper body”. Which could mean anything.
#Isles Transaction: Thomas Hickey has been placed on IR (upper body, retroactive 12/9). Shane Prince has been removed from injured non-roster and sent to Bridgeport on conditioning loan.
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) December 10, 2017
He seemed fine during the Bruins game on December 9th. But if there was one play where he could have sustained an injury. It might just be this one where Hickey gets David Backes pretty well and where Backes gets an extra shove in.
Ain't nobody better step up on...
— Eyes on Isles (@eyesonislesFS) December 10, 2017
...Thomas Hickey? #isles pic.twitter.com/lPJpart4iI
An OK Season
Thomas Hickey’s been getting the short end of the stick this season. He’s got some good underlying numbers for Islanders defensemen ranking second amongst Islanders defencemen in terms of CF with 51.83%. But has a hard time making the team consistently.
When in the lineup Hickey’s been paired up with Dennis Seidenberg, who hasn’t been the same positive influence he was last season for Calvin de Haan.
Must Read: Thomas Hickey Great Fit For Trade With Edmonton
The injury might not be anything serious, but it’s put Hickey back on the sidelines for some time now. Adding to the disappointing narrative to Hickey’s seasons.
Heading into a contract year, I’m sure he would have hoped to push on from a good individual season in 2016-17 with 20 points and being a +3.2 point share for the Islanders. But through 21 games this season, Thomas Hickey sits at five points and being a +1.0 in the point share stat.
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I hoped for more from Thomas Hickey this season. I hoped he’d be that solid third pairing defenseman for the Islanders. Hopefully, he’s only out a few games and comes back and once back can start to return to that form from 2016-17.