The Detroit Red Wings announced the signing of undrafted free agent defenseman Joe Hicketts on Wednesday. The deal is a standard three-year entry-level contract.
Spending the last two seasons with the Victoria Royals of the Western Hockey League, Hicketts scored six goals and 18 assists each year. He was limited to just 36 games in the 2013-14 season due to injury.
The 18-year-old had attended Detroit’s development camp in July and represented the Red Wings in last week’s Prospects Tournament in Traverse City as a try-out.
Hicketts will be returned to Victoria for this season, meaning his contract won’t yet kick in.