EXCLUSIVE: On His Birthday, Teammates Explain Why Thomas Hickey Meant The World To The Islanders

Here's what Thomas Hickey meant to the Islanders.

EAST MEADOW, NY -- Since hanging up the skates, former New York Islanders defenseman Thomas Hickey (2012-2022) has been an invaluable addition to the MSG Network team as well as NHL Network. 

His hockey mind and his innate ability to break things down in a way that the common fan can understand has been incredibly important, especially for the young fans out there and some of us reporters. 

Given that Hickey is celebrating his 35th birthday today, The Hockey News went around the Islanders' locker room to get their thoughts on what Hickey meant to the team over his nine years on Long Island and what it's like to see him remain in the game of hockey as an analyst. 

"He was a big part of the locker room," Mathew Barzal said. "Everyone loves Hicksy. That's really what it comes down to. He's just a really likable guy and smart and funny. One of the boys."

Barzal always knew Hickey had a knack for talking, so seeing him on TV makes sense. 

"I love it. I think even when I played with him, you could tell he's very articulate," Barzal said. "He's our fantasy football manager. And he sends out pretty detailed recaps after every couple of weeks. So you could tell that he had a future in speaking or talking and that kind of stuff, so I'm happy for him."

Although Hickey doesn't come in the room after games and isn't always on the road, Barzal appreciates any chance he has to run into him.

"I smile every time I see him," Barzal said. "It's almost like a pleasant surprise every time I see him.

"He walked into the hotel in Toronto when I was there. I was just looking at him like I saw him walking, and I just wanted to say, 'What's up?'"

Barzal spent six seasons as Hickey's teammate. 

Islanders captain Anders Lee started his career at the same time Hickey joined the Islanders.

"Hicks has always been so knowledgeable with the game, and he's a very smart guy that's very articulate, and he can lay the game out in terms that make a lot of sense and can show a lot of great insight into what we're doing," Lee said. "So, I think, when I've seen him on there, it's really impressive how well he's done. 

"I'm not surprised by it because he's always been that way, a well-spoken guy who just has such a deep understanding of everything. But for him to seamlessly -- it looks seamlessly -- it seems very natural. And so I'm pumped for him. He's doing a great job on there."

Lee loved every moment he had with Hickey as a teammate. 

"Hicker was great. As I said, he's one of the best guys and one of the best teammates I've had,' Lee said. "Very fortunate to have played with him as long as I did and have that friendship with him. So it's great that he's still on the island and around I can sorta do as much as we do and get together when we can."

Matt Martin had a few seasons under his belt before Hickey's arrival and thought that Hickey was a player who just did what he had to do on a nightly basis. 

"He's maybe one of those guys that really went under the radar," Martin said. "He meant a lot. He's a really good friend, and I played with him for a long time. Just a really solid player for us as well. Guys still stay in touch with him. He doesn't come around the room all that often. But when he does, everyone's pretty excited."

At some point, all careers end, and Martin never thought Hickey would go the T.V. route. 

"I think he's done a tremendous job. I didn't know that was something he was gonna be interested in when I was playing with him," Martin said. "He was obviously a good friend and a good player. And then, unfortunately, like all of us, his career ended, and then he turned into a star in his own right in the media field.

So, I know he works hard at it and loves it, and all the credit to him. We've seen him at times on the road doing preperation. He always prepared very professionally as a player, and you can see he takes his job very seriously in the media as well."

Now let's turn our attention to a few defensemen who had Hickey as a mentor. 

"I think everyone knows him better now with him being on T.V., but he's such a genuine guy, a good man," Ryan Pulock said. "He helped me a lot when I first came in the league. We were defense partners for a little bit when I first was trying to break into the NHL, and I think he helped me a lot in those years, just being a good voice, being a veteran presence, and I think off the ice, too, he's just a good human."

Pulock just returned Monday night after a 24-game absence, forcing him to watch some games remotely. That meant watching Hickey break down players and talk about Pulock's teammates.

"Being out for a while, I was watching a few games on T.V., and I think the job he does is incredible," Pulock said. "I think the way he can explain different aspects of the game and different strategies of the game to the fan that maybe doesn't know the game as well at such a level that people don't understand with such a smart answer is impressive. 

"And I think he just knows the game so well. He speaks so well. And, I think as he continues to hone his craft, I think he will be one of the better analysts in the league down the road."

Scott Mayfield got his NHL chance a year after Hickey arrived, and they became really close friends.

"Hicks was a close buddy of mine and a lot of guys in this room, and he's a great teammate, a good guy off the ice and a great guy on the ice," Mayfield said. "It's special to see him quite a bit.

"It's maybe weird to see him in the locker room, but when you see him outside, whether it's a golf outing, whether it's the summertime or golf and stuff like that, he's still Thomas Hickey to me, and it's good to have him as a friend. 

Mayfield thinks Hickey joining the Islanders when he did was critical for the organization. 

"He was huge," Mayfield said. "When he came in here, we were down in the dumps a little bit as an organization, and he came in. You think of him, Boychuk, and Leddy and how they all kind of turned it around a little bit.

"As a younger guy when I came in -- him just getting here --  it was fun watching him play, and we've been getting to play and getting to play with him."

The Maven Stan Fischler added, "Whenever I did the room, I knew that Hickey would be available, insightful, and just a sweet guy to schmooze with."

Hickey will have the night off as the Islanders game against the Tampa Bay Lightning is an ESPN exclusive, so hopefully, he's doing something fun -- maybe rewatching his overtime winner against the Florida Panthers or something.