UNIONDALE, NEW YORK - MARCH 18: Thomas Hickey #34 of the New York Islanders skates in warm-ups prior to the game against the Philadelphia Flyers at the Nassau Coliseum on March 18, 2021 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Thomas Hickey made his return to the NHL for the New York Islanders on Saturday after a more than 700-day absence. The defenseman chipped in with two helpers in 16:34 of total ice-time as the Isles dispatched the Flyers 6-1.
There’s clearly still some rust on the 32-year-old’s skates, but he showed that he could still be an effective player at the NHL level.