REPORT: Former Top-5 pick forced to sign PTO with New Jersey Devils

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Ryan
September 13, 2022 (9:25 PM)

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As of today, the National Hockey League free agency has officially been open for two months, and with training camps just a few weeks away, NHL teams are beginning to invite veteran players to camp without a contract, to give them a chance to prove they can still play.

This is exactly what is happening with former 4th overall pick Thomas Hickey, who was invited to the New Jersey Devils camp on a PTO.

We have signed defenseman Thomas Hickey to a PTO.

Hickey will report to training camp on September 21.

📰: https://t.co/Jo4FKjv5dh pic.twitter.com/I70iaAjrIM� New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) September 13, 2022

Hickey was a very highly rated prospect when he was drafted 4th overall by the LA Kings back in 2007. While playing in the WHL as a defenceman, Hickey was always near a point-per-game and also provided great defensive play and loved to throw the body around.

5/3/16 TB @ NYI Thomas Hickey destroys Drouin pic.twitter.com/PoEOPmhlxe— Isles (@IslesGoals) September 13, 2022

Hickey also captained Team Canada to a Gold medal at the 2008-09 World Juniors.

It took awhile for Hickey to finally make it to the NHL, but he found a home with the Islanders for quite a few years where he played some great hockey. These past few seasons have been tough on him though as he has battled injury after injury which has kept him out of the NHL lineup.