The Los Angeles Kings made a pair of roster moves ahead of their upcoming matchup with the Seattle Kraken, recalling veteran defenseman Joe Hicketts from AHL Ontario on an emergency basis, while returning rookie center Kenny Connors to the Reign.
The timing of Hicketts’ call-up points directly to the injury sustained by Michael Anderson, who left early in Sunday’s game against the Hurricanes with an upper-body issue. With Anderson likely unavailable for Tuesday’s tilt, and Jacob Moverare already serving as the extra healthy defenseman, the emergency designation suggests another blueliner might be dealing with something under the radar. NHL rules only allow emergency recalls when a team risks being short a full lineup, so this isn't just a precaution - it’s insurance.
For Hicketts, this marks a potential return to the NHL stage after a long and winding road through the minors. The 29-year-old was never drafted, but signed with Detroit back in 2014 and managed to carve out a few NHL appearances with the Red Wings between 2017 and 2020. Since then, he’s become a fixture in the AHL - logging 552 career games, which ranks 17th among active players in the league.
Hicketts has spent the last three seasons with Ontario after signing a two-way deal with the Kings in 2023. He’s since re-upped twice, and last year he was named team captain - a nod to both his leadership and consistency.
While his offensive numbers have dipped this season - just 14 points in 41 games with a -9 rating - he’s still near the top of the scoring list among Reign defensemen. That says as much about Ontario’s blue line struggles as it does about Hicketts’ play, but make no mistake: he’s still a capable puck-mover who brings experience and stability.
This recall might be short-lived - a stopgap until the Kings get healthy - but it’s a noteworthy moment for Hicketts, who hasn’t skated in an NHL game since November 2019. If he gets into the lineup this week, it would be his first big-league action in over six years. For a player who’s battled and persevered through a decade in the minors, that’s no small feat.
As for Connors, the 22-year-old heads back to Ontario after his first NHL stint ended without him seeing the ice. He was brought up on January 26 following an injury to Alex Turcotte, who has since been placed on injured reserve to make room for Anže Kopitar’s return. With the Kings carrying 13 healthy forwards outside of Connors, his chances of cracking the lineup were slim - and after four games as a healthy scratch, the team opted to send him back for more reps in the AHL.
Connors has been solid in his first pro season, posting nine goals and 24 points in 41 games with Ontario. The 2022 fourth-round pick is still very much on the Kings’ radar, and this brief NHL call-up - even without game action - is part of his development arc.
Bottom line: the Kings are patching holes on the back end, and Joe Hicketts is the next man up. Whether he gets into the lineup or not, it’s a reminder that persistence in pro hockey can pay off - even if it takes 500-plus AHL games to get there.