thats been the hickey argument
- kindlyrick

The argument that he is an acceptable 5 or 6 defenseman. Just because you take it as people arguing that he's a top-4 guy and run with it doesn't mean that's what any of us are saying.

The argument that he is an acceptable 5 or 6 defenseman. Just because you take it as people arguing that he's a top-4 guy and run with it doesn't mean that's what any of us are saying.
- eichiefs9

THE ORIGINAL post had viz and hickey as the second pair....THATS what i commented on.

sidenote: he's not an acceptable 5/6 dmen......7th at best

The argument that he is an acceptable 5 or 6 defenseman. Just because you take it as people arguing that he's a top-4 guy and run with it doesn't mean that's what any of us are saying.
- eichiefs9

Stop using logic.

THE ORIGINAL post had viz and hickey as the second pair....THATS what i commented on.

sidenote: he's not an acceptable 5/6 dmen......7th at best
- kindlyrick

So let me get this straight. In one line your chastising me for saying that he's a serviceable bottom pairing defender when your "ORIGINAL" post was because someone put him on the second pairing. And then in the next line you go right back to saying what I was arguing against, that he's a sub-bottom pairing defender.

You may as well just delete that post, it's a total wash out.

Has anyone literally said that every defenseman needs to be 6'4''? No, of course not. It's an exaggeration for the purpose of making a point and comedic value.

But frankly I don't see the argument that, for example, Hickey get's repeatedly beat on physically as a completely sound one either. Has it happened? I'm sure it has, it's part of the game. Everyone does sometimes. But I it's certainly not like Hickey goes ducking for cover and turtling every time he goes into the corner.

The fact is that there is clear, tangible evidence that when Hickey is on the ice the Islanders are generating more offense directed at the opposing teams net than the opposing team is directing towards our net. It's inarguable.
- eichiefs9

Gotcha. I'm not sure how much it can be argued the the Isles get manhandled in their own zone an awful lot either though. You can blame the system, personnel or a bit of both, but I think toughness in particular would be welcome on the back end given how the D is currently constituted.

I'll put it this way, if we're in the market for a defenseman, there are decent players that I don't think would necessarily help the team's greatest weakness: taking care of its own zone. I don't think, say, Spurgeon or Krug, would be ideal fits, even though I think both are good at what they do (and I'm a big fan of Krug). If we had Boston's D, then there'd be room for D like that.

THE ORIGINAL post had viz and hickey as the second pair....THATS what i commented on.
- kindlyrick

I love it. So because one person said Hickey MAY be on the 2nd pairing the rest of us think Thomas Hickey is the second coming of Bobby Orr.

Brilliant!

Stop using logic.
- potvin05

Here's my logic....stop taking in guys who cant make other teams, and pawn them off as "serviceable" Serviceable doesn't win playoff rounds

I love it. So because one person said Hickey MAY be on the 2nd pairing the rest of us think Thomas Hickey is the second coming of Bobby Orr.

Brilliant!
- potvin05

This^^^^

I love it. So because one person said Hickey MAY be on the 2nd pairing the rest of us think Thomas Hickey is the second coming of Bobby Orr.

Brilliant!
- potvin05

NO DUDE.......like everything else on here its like a bad game of "telephone" I responded to that post, and then people respond to me defending hickey with his corsi

Here's my logic....stop taking in guys who cant make other teams, and pawn them off as "serviceable" Serviceable doesn't win playoff rounds
- kindlyrick

Your right Stralman was horrible for the Rangers in the playoffs. Probably why they got swept in the first round.

I love it. So because one person said Hickey MAY be on the 2nd pairing the rest of us think Thomas Hickey is the second coming of Bobby Orr.

Brilliant!
- potvin05

NO DUDE.......like everything else on here its like a bad game of "telephone" I responded to that post, and then people respond to me defending hickey with his corsi

Here's my logic....stop taking in guys who cant make other teams, and pawn them off as "serviceable" Serviceable doesn't win playoff rounds
- kindlyrick

You need 20 All-stars to win a playoff series?

I don't get why you like to argue so much. We all know what Hickey is. All of us.

Your right Stralman was horrible for the Rangers in the playoffs. Probably why they got swept in the first round.
- eichiefs9

Do you mean the stralman who played two seasons with the leafs, two with columbus, and three seasons with the rangers, versus hickey who played on NO OTHER NHL TEAM, as a 4th overall pick? Sickkk argument

You need 20 All-stars to win a playoff series?

I don't get why you like to argue so much. We all know what Hickey is. All of us.
- potvin05

Don't even bother

You need 20 All-stars to win a playoff series?

I don't get why you like to argue so much. We all know what Hickey is. All of us.
- potvin05

No you all dont......hes not a 5th or 6th guy......hes a minor leaguer

NO DUDE.......like everything else on here its like a bad game of "telephone" I responded to that post, and then people respond to me defending hickey with his corsi
- kindlyrick

I'll defend Hickey without any stats.
He's a borderline NHL defenseman who can be decent when paired with a better player. He's better than Strait but that's really saying nothing.

I got my panties in a bunch when you made your typical straw man statement that we'll support anyone in an Islanders uniform. That's just not true and you posted that about 7 minutes ago. No game of telephone you can blame for that.

Do you mean the stralman who played two seasons with the leafs, two with columbus, and three seasons with the rangers, versus hickey who played on NO OTHER NHL TEAM, as a 4th overall pick? Sickkk argument
- kindlyrick

Do I mean the Anton Stralman that teams had such little interest in three years ago that he had to take a TRYOUT with the NJ Devils just to hope he could end up on his third team in five seasons?

Yes, yes I do mean him. God this is easy.

I'll defend Hickey without any stats.
He's a borderline NHL defenseman who can be decent when paired with a better player. He's better than Strait but that's really saying nothing.

I got my panties in a bunch when you made your typical straw man statement that we'll support anyone in an Islanders uniform. That's just it true and you posted that about 7 minutes ago. No game of telephone you can blame for that.
- potvin05

and i get fired up when i read hickey as a second pair dmen...

Do I mean the Anton Stralman that teams had such little interest in three years ago that he had to take a TRYOUT with the NJ Devils just to hope he could end up on his third team in five seasons?

Yes, yes I do mean him. God this is easy.
- eichiefs9

Yeah, Jesus, the Maple Leaf fans hated him.

Do I mean the Anton Stralman that teams had such little interest in three years ago that he had to take a TRYOUT with the NJ Devils just to hope he could end up on his third team in five seasons?

Yes, yes I do mean him. God this is easy.
- eichiefs9

7 years as an NHLer......vs Hickey a 4th overall who the cup winning kings said no thanks a few years ago. Still a sickkkk argument by you...

Stralman as a free agent signed 5 yrs 22 shmill......

when hickey is a free agent he will sign nowhere.....yet "he's a gd 5th/6th" THIS is part of the problem

7 years as an NHLer......vs Hickey a 4th overall who the cup winning kings said no thanks a few years ago. Still a sickkkk argument by you...

Stralman as a free agent signed 5 yrs 22 shmill......

when hickey is a free agent he will sign nowhere.....yet "he's a gd 5th/6th" THIS is part of the problem
- kindlyrick

What do you expect from a 5th/6th defenseman exactly?

right.....thats why the isles picked 5th overall.....hickey and strait.....real winners
- kindlyrick

blaming Brian strait for the islanders picking 5th overall is silly 2-fold, 1 the guy was injured for half the season (thinking about it, maybe it was his fault they picked 5th now that i think about it) and 2 there are 22 other guys on the roster. to pin the season on a bottom pairing guy is ridiculous.

Last time I talk about this Hickey fiasco.

Do I expect Hickey to be on this team in the next 2-3 years? No. We have a ton of pretty good prospects on the way. Is Hickey a top 4 d-man? No. Was Hickey serviceable last year as a 5-6th D-man? Yes. Do I think he will catch on with another team if the isles let him walk in a year or so? Yes. Will he be a regular? Probably not.

The End

THE ORIGINAL post had viz and hickey as the second pair....THATS what i commented on.

sidenote: he's not an acceptable 5/6 dmen......7th at best
- kindlyrick

actually the REAL original comment was a response to someone saying that if there are no trades, reinhart should be on the team...and yes, as i originally said, i dont see many other options, if there are no trades being made, i wouldnt be too surprised to see hickey with viz as the 2nd pair

blaming Brian strait for the islanders picking 5th overall is silly 2-fold, 1 the guy was injured for half the season (thinking about it, maybe it was his fault they picked 5th now that i think about it) and 2 there are 22 other guys on the roster. to pin the season on a bottom pairing guy is ridiculous.
- LetsGoIsles

The bigger issue, without question, is asking that "bottom pairing guy" to cover Sidney Crosby in a playoff series because the team doesn't have a true top four (well, and because Cappy never seems to fully grasp the whole "matchup" thing). Not much different than when we had Richard Park on our first line, or Nate Thompson playing in roles he was in no way suited for. Isles need more talent on D...particularly players who are solid in their own zone. After that's done, I don't think you'll see many complaints about players like Hickey and Strait if they're truly number 6 or 7 guys.