Top 25 Under 25: #13 Brandon Hickey

#13: Brandon Hickey

Position: D

Age: 20

Team: Boston University (NCAA)

Drafted: 64th Overall in 2014 (Round 3)

Smooth skating Brandon Hickey breaks into our list at #13. The third round pick from the first draft under Brad Treliving’s tenure, Hickey has since played two NCAA seasons at Boston University, including a trip to the Frozen Four Final his freshman year. He also made the roster for the 2016 Team Canada World Junior team, a rare accomplishment for college players.

Hickey represents part of the next generation of high potential defenders (alongside a couple of defensemen you will read about in the days to come) in the Flames system that have a good chance at playing a significant role for this team in the future. While most of the Flames best defence prospects have high-end offensive skill, Hickey’s game is cut from a different cloth. Hickey is not going to be producing piles of points, but he is still very mobile and able to move the puck up the ice to his teammates. With Mark Giordano, T.J. Brodie and Dougie Hamilton all quite proficient on the offensive side of the game, there is space for a player like Hickey in the future to come in and play more of a complementary 2-way role.

Still only age 20, Hickey is about to enter his third NCAA season. The general consensus is that if all goes well for him, we should see him sign his entry-level contract and turn pro at the end of the season. This would likely give him the opportunity to see some games with Stockton at the end of the year, similar to Mark Jankowski at the end of this past season. Hickey is going to need some time in the AHL to adjust to the professional level, but he is a prospect with a lot of potential and one that we could see making a push for a roster spot in Calgary a couple years from now.

by samwell9