Does newly re-signed Joe Hicketts have a future with Detroit Red Wings?

Last week the Detroit Red Wings re-signed restricted free agent Joe Hicketts to a two-year deal. The young defender has quickly become one of the fan favorites in Detroit but does he have a future with the Wings or is he better suited for Grand Rapids?

Joe Hicketts won’t wow you with his skating ability. He’s not going to stickhandle his way end to end at the NHL level and have the ability to finish. Hicketts doesn’t project as a proficient offensive juggernaut. So, why do many Detroit Red Wings fans find themselves fascinated with the young defenseman?

Well to start, that describes how bad the organization has needed help on the backend. We’ve had the misfortune of watching Jonathan Ericsson lumber around year after year. I know it sounds like I’m picking on Ericsson again, he’s not the only problem. Players like Danny DeKeyser, Nick Jensen, struggled to reach their full potential.

So about Hicketts; he has a ferocious compete level. Hicketts plays the game like a caged animal. Although he’s not the most offensively gifted player in the world, he makes up for it with maximum effort in his own end. Hicketts proved his worth being a reliable penalty-killing defenseman. He’s not at all leery about delivering a big hit even for a guy with his 5’8 frame.

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Now the Detroit Red Wings under Steve Yzerman‘s direction is clearly focusing their efforts addressing the lack of defensive prospects. The Detroit Red Wings drafted German defenseman Moritz Seider with the sixth overall pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Level Draft. It was considered a bit of a reach but again describes the state of the defensive core of the Wings organization.

Last season the Wings saw flashes of brilliance from both Dennis Cholowski and Filip Hronek. Hronek, in particular, seemingly flying up the teams’ prospect chart elevating his game as the season grew old. Hronek has the makings of being a top-pairing defender the Detroit Red Wings desperately need. Dennis Cholowski still has potential but appears to need a bit more seasoning in Grand Rapids. He needs to find a way to sure up his defensive zone coverage.

Where does that leave Joe Hicketts? Hicketts will have a spot in Detroit if the team needs a defensive, penalty-killing defenseman. He will compete with Cholowski, Gustav Lindstrom, Vili Saarijarvi, Oliwer Kaski, Madison Bowey and Jonathan Ericsson for the teams’ sixth & seventh defender spot over the summer.

Keep in mind if the Detroit Red Wings trade Mike Green or Trevor Daley who are both entering the final year of their deal sooner than later, it will free up an additional roster spot or two. Also, the team continues to wait on Niklas Kronwall‘s decision. The veteran defenseman is still mulling over if he wants to return or ride off into the sunset.

I expect Joe to be leapfrogged by Kaski, & Bowey to start the season but if someone falters, he’ll be one of the first players called up. If Hicketts does indeed have a fulltime future in Detroit, it will likely start next summer after Ericsson, Daley & Green have all departed.

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Hicketts played in 16 games last season with the Wings recording 3 assists. In 64 games with the Grand Rapids Griffins, Hicketts led all defenseman on the team with 27 points that also included 3 goals. He also compiled 67 penalty minutes with the Griffins last year. Hicketts signed a two-year deal that is worth 700K per season.

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