New York Islanders' Thomas Hickey has been sneakily dependable
November 22, 2016; Anaheim, CA, USA; New York Islanders defenseman Thomas Hickey (14) moves in to score a goal past Anaheim Ducks goalie Jonathan Bernier (1) during the shootout period at Honda Center. The Islanders win 3-2 following shootouts. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

New York Islanders’ defenseman Thomas Hickey has been one of the team’s few dependable players this season.

Believe it or not, Thomas Hickey was once the toast of the fanbase.

Now, he’s one of the team’s most dependable blueliners. Besides his consistency in the defensive zone, Hickey has a penchant for scoring clutch goals.

He exhibited that once again on Monday night, when he netted a colossal goal in overtime to give the Isles a much-needed victory. “Thomas Hickey doesn’t score often, but it seems to always be in overtime,” Dan Saraceni of Lighthouse Hockey wrote last April.

He has a point.

According to Newsday’s Arthur Staple, Hickey has scored sixteen career goals, five of which have come in the extra frame.

That’s impressive.

What’s equally impressive is Hickey’s maturation into a steady stay-at-home defenseman. The former fifth overall pick has overcome a lack of size (6’0″) and many doubters to get to this point.

Originally drafted by Los Angeles, Hickey was an under-the-radar signing by Isles general manager Garth Snow. He struggled at the start of his career, even receiving his fair share of taunts at the outset.

But like all successful players, he has silenced the critics. He’s proven why he was such a high lottery selection: excellent mobility, great puck mover, poised in his own zone.

GAME NOTES

–The Isles defeated the defending Metropolitan division champs, the Washington Capitals, three-nill on Thursday night. Jaroslav Halak secured his fortieth career shutout, while Shane Prince–“It’s amazing how the game works,” he said–netted the contest’s first goal.

–Dennis Seidenberg returned to the lineup on Thursday night, after spending nearly three weeks on the injured reserve. Speaking of returns, Jason Chimera returned to the scoresheet, netting the game’s final goal.

Justin Weiss is a staff editor at Elite Sports New York, where he covers the New York Islanders and Brooklyn Cyclones. In 2016, he received a Quill Award for Freelance Journalism. He has written for the Long Island Herald, FanSided and YardBarker.