Hickey was selected by the Los Angeles Kings with the No. 4 pick of the 2007 NHL Draft. He was named a Second Team All-Star in the Western Hockey League for the 2006-07 season after scoring 50 points in 68 games for Seattle.

Hickey returned to Seattle for two more seasons after being drafted, and his offensive game continued to improve. He was a WHL First-Team All-Star in 2007-08 after he scored 11 goals and 45 points and was plus-20. He was team captain in 2008-09, his final season in junior, and again earned WHL First-Team All-Star honors by scoring 16 goals and 51 points and was plus-37.

Hickey made his professional debut with Manchester of the American Hockey League at the conclusion of the 2008-09 junior season and scored one goal and seven points in seven games.

But injuries stalled Hickey's career; he had a shoulder injury in November 2009 that required surgery and kept him out for more than four months. He also missed Manchester's first 12 playoff games because of an ankle injury.

After two more seasons in Manchester, Hickey was placed on waivers by the Kings and claimed by the Islanders on Jan. 15. 2013. He made his NHL debut Jan. 27, 2013 and scored his first goal in overtime against the Montreal Canadiens on Feb. 21.

Hickey helped the Islanders reach the Stanley Cup Playoffs in three of his first four seasons and scored his first NHL playoff goal against the Florida Panthers in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference First Round on April 17, 2016.

He signed a four-year contract with the Islanders on July 1, 2018.

On the international stage, Hickey won the IIHF World Junior Championship with Canada in 2008 and 2009.

NOTES & TRANSACTIONS

• WHL West Second All-Star Team (2007)
• WHL West First All-Star Team (2008, 2009)
• Claimed on waivers by NY Islanders from Los Angeles, January 15, 2013.