Kings Sign Defenseman Joe Hicketts To a One-Year Contract

The LA Kings have signed defenseman Joe Hicketts to a one-year, two-way contract worth an average annual value (AAV) of $775,000.

Hicketts, 27, appeared in all 72 American Hockey League (AHL) games for the Iowa Wild last season, notching 48 points (6-42=48) and establishing single-season career highs in assists, points, penalty minutes (69), power-play goals (3) and shots on goal (166). He also added an assist (0-1=1) in two Calder Cup Playoff games.

Signed by the Detroit Red Wings as an undrafted free agent on Sep. 24, 2014, Hicketts has skated in 22 career NHL games - all with Detroit - collecting five assists (0-5=5). The 5-8, 176-pound blueliner began his professional playing career with the Grand Rapids Griffins of the AHL and has earned 197 points (34-163=197) with 280 PIM and a plus-8 rating in 419 career AHL games with Grand Rapids and Iowa. In 31 career Calder Cup Playoff games, Hicketts has produced 12 points (1-11=12) and helped Grand Rapids to a Calder Cup Championship in 2017, where he contributed eight points (1-7=8) in 19 postseason contests.

Prior to turning pro, Hicketts played four seasons of junior hockey in the Western Hockey League (WHL), tallying 173 points (32-141=173) with 149 PIM and a plus-69 rating in 224 career games with the Victoria Royals. He earned WHL Western Conference First All-Star Team honors in 2016 and Second All-Star Team in 2015. Hicketts also skated in 31 WHL playoff games, collecting 15 points (1-14=15).

Internationally, the Kamloops, British Columbia native represented Canada at International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) events on three occasions, including two IIHF World Junior Championships (2016 - alternate captain, 2015 - gold) and one IIHF Under-18 Men's World Championship (2014 - bronze). In 19 contests, he's posted 10 points (2-8=10).