There was a conversation between two good friends after Game 4 in Pittsburgh when Thomas Hickey knew his chance was coming to get into the Islanders’ lineup and make his postseason debut this year.
Fellow defenseman Johnny Boychuk might not have known the severity of his left foot/leg injury just yet, suffered in the second period of that game when he blocked a shot and couldn’t return, but he knew that he was going to be out for a while, and he knew that his buddy Hickey was going to get his shot.
So when team president Lou Lamoriello announced on Friday that Boychuk would miss three-to-four weeks, it was Hickey who was more than likely to be the beneficiary whenever their second-round series begins. They face the winner of the Capitals-Hurricanes contest with their best-of-seven currently tied 2-2, while the Islanders relax and practice.
“He’s excited for me,” Hickey told The Post on Friday. “It takes a lot of people to achieve the ultimate goal, hopefully we can play long enough where we see him back in a uniform this year. We wish him the speediest recovery. He’s a guy whose presence will be with us even though he’s on the shelf.”
Hickey knows first-hand about injuries, as he missed close to three months after suffering a concussion on a hit into the boards back on Dec. 17 in Denver. When he was finally ready to return in March, the Islanders’ defensive pairs were pretty well set and he played seven of the final 15 games.
But he has been working very hard after practices and all during the team’s first-round sweep of the Penguins with the other scratches — Luca Sbisa, Dennis Seidenberg, Ross Johnston and Michael Dal Colle.
“I certainly feel prepared and ready,” Hickey said of playing in the most exciting time of the season. “As far as the on-ice product, I think it’s simpler now than it’s ever been. Just get that puck going north and play for one another. I think that’s pretty simple to hop back into. Not saying it’s going to be easy, but I believe in myself and I know where my game is, I just can’t wait to be part of the in-game product.”
This is a testament to the roster depth that Lamoriello has established on the back end, with young players Devon Toews, Adam Pelech, Ryan Pulock and Scott Mayfield all playing prominent roles. But especially in the playoffs, injuries are commonplace and Lamoriello is prepared to deal with it.
“It’s not unexpected. These things happen,” Lamoriello said. “You can’t let it get in the way, and that’s why you have players that are working as hard as they do, who are not in the lineup, to be ready. Because they know that these types of situations will inevitably come about. Obviously it did for us. But we have veteran players to fill those roles.”
First-year coach Barry Trotz is also familiar with Hickey, having played him in every game of the first three months before the concussion. There is a comfort there that a lot of teams might not have when reaching into the depths of their organization at a time like this.
“He’s an intelligent player,” Trotz said. “He defends well, he’s got high courage, [good] first pass. He’s highly competitive. He’s got a lot of the attributes that you want. We’re very blessed to have a player of his caliber coming into the lineup. You’re not reaching for someone wondering if he can play. He can play.”
Eventually, the second round is going to start and Hickey is going to get in there. And that is what he has worked for, and the Islanders are hoping they don’t miss a beat.
“I go to bed and wake up saying that every day — stay prepared,” Hickey said. “To accomplish the things we want to accomplish, there are going to be bumps and bruises and nicks along the away. That’s just the reality. If there’s not, you’re probably not getting to the ultimate goal. It’s all part of it.”