Mighty good to fight

Speed and skill are all the rage in the NHL these days, and talented little players who might have been ignored by scouts in the past are much coveted.

But physical play, toughness and intimidation — even fighting — aren’t entirely dead yet in NHL rinks.

There is still a place in the sport for big, tough guys willing to throw around their weight.

Which brings us to Bruins prospect Justin Hickman, an imposing and articulate gentleman who will be popular with Bruins fans. This is a kid who’s never going to crack a big league lineup through finesse — but with big hits and hard fists.

“With my size, I want to use that to my advantage,” said the 6-foot-3, 215-pound winger, who played his second game of the preseason last night against the Red Wings. “I know I’m never going to be the fastest player or get the most points, so you have to contribute in other ways that other people can’t.

“In my case that’s play a physical game, a hardnosed game, get to the net and create some room for the skill guys.” And fight? “Fights have always been something I bring to the game,” said Hickman, a WHL alum who grew up admiring Bruins winger Milan Lucic for his rough-andtumble ways.

“It might be standing up for my teammates or for myself,” he said. “Changing momentum in a game is something that I can do and other guys might not go there. It’s definitely a strength I have in my back pocket.

“If a game is going a certain way maybe I can change momentum or stick up for a teammate.”

The 22-year-old Hickman, who had a modest fives goals with three assists and 65 penalty minutes in 66 games his first pro season last year in Providence (AHL), knows that there are few jobs these days for pure fighters. Even the tough guys have to be able to play regular fourthline shifts, and he plans to work hard this season to improve his defensive play and production — while still going to the dirty areas and being hard on the puck.