Detroit Red Wings: Top 10 prospects entering 2018

TORONTO, ON - MARCH 24: Detroit Red Wings right wing Evgeny Svechnikov (77) skates during the warm up before a game between the Detroit Red Wings and the Toronto Maple Leafs on March 24, 2018 at Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario Canada. The Toronto Maple Leafs won 4-3. (Photo by Nick Turchiaro/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Dave Reginek/NHLI via Getty Images) /

8. Joe Hicketts, D [22] (UDFA)

Stats (Grand Rapids Griffins, AHL): 67 gp, 3 g, 9 a, 12 p, 2 PPG (5 A), 1 GWG, 101 SOG, .18 pts/g (5 pgp, 0 g, 2 a, 2 p, 5 SOG, .40 pts/g); 5 gp, 0 g, 3 a, 3 p. Detroit Red Wings, NHL

At 5’8″, making the NHL as a more defensive-based defenseman will be an extraordinarily hard thing. But for Joe Hicketts, who has proved above and beyond what he can do as a defenseman, with the ability to transition up ice, make stops in his own end, and play well at the professional level, even without offensive statistics, it may not be such a hard thing.

Joe Hicketts is an excellent defensive presence, though doesn’t have the numbers needed to be a good offensive defenseman.

Hicketts was quite good on the power play, to be fair to him, but struggled mightily in the even-strength minutes he was given. Still, he was rewarded with games in the NHL with the Detroit Red Wings for his efforts, where he did much better than he did in the AHL. That means he’s bound for a bigger role with the Red Wings next season, which shouldn’t be hard. He’s likely not a long-term top-four defenseman in the Detroit system, but as a bottom-pairing player, it seems like he’s already there.

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