Joe Hicketts, perhaps the most glaring omission in the 2014 NHL draft, took the more circuitous free-agent route to his first pro contract.
But he got it, just the same.
The Victoria Royals blue-liner signed a three-year NHL entry-level contract Wednesday with the Red Wings after impressing Detroit management in both the rookie and main camps.
“Signing with any NHL team is great, but signing with an Original Six team with such a history is truly an honour,” said the five-foot-eight Hicketts, who was the smallest player in both the Red Wings’ rookie and main camps.
An injury limited Hicketts to 36 regular-season games for Victoria last season and almost certainly compromised his prospects for the 2014 NHL draft.
“There are not a lot of [rookie] free-agent signings. It’s humbling. It shows all the hard work over the summer has paid off,” said Hicketts.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
“I’m happy with the offer,” said Hicketts, entering his third season with the Royals after being selected by the Western Hockey League club in the first round of the 2011 bantam draft.
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The Red Wings returned Hicketts to Victoria this week and he makes his Royals debut for the 2014-15 season Friday and Saturday at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre against his hometown Kamloops Blazers.
“[Red Wings] have 55 players in main camp split into two teams,” noted Hicketts, about Detroit’s thinking that he will get more game ice time back in junior than in the NHL exhibition season.
Did the mobile, puck-moving rearguard receive any imparting words of advice?
“[Detroit head coach] Mike Babcock told me to learn to be an everyday player,” said the 18-year-old Hicketts.
“The pace of the pro game is at such high speed. Learning that will come with maturity and age.”
Hicketts is the third current Royals player under NHL contract. Winnipeg-signed forward Axel Blomqvist has just been returned by the Jets and will skate for the Royals against Kamloops this weekend. Royals defenceman Keegan Kanzig, signed by Calgary, is still with the Flames.
