Photo Credit: AP/Chris Szagola
There is some confusion to Kevin Hayes’s abdominal surgery that occurred this morning on September 21, 2021. Per Flyers Head Coach Alain Vigneault, Kevin Hayes was skating yesterday and felt something abnormal in his groin area. A short time later he had an MRI, and he had abdominal surgery early this morning.
This is his second abdominal procedure this year, this is not the same injury that eventually got repaired this past June. There has been some confusion about this, and I wanted to make certain every Flyers fan knew of this situation properly.
Unfortunately, the Flyers have a history with sports hernia surgeries, Claude Giroux and Shayne Gostisbehere (Ghost) both had the same procedure done before the start of the 2016-17 season. Giroux posted 58 points (14 goals, 44 assists), and Ghost posted 39 points (7 goals, 32 assists). In addition, Brian Elliott also had the same procedure done a few years ago, and the Flyers wound up using eight different netminders in 2018-19, not to mention Nolan Patrick also had two sports hernia procedures completed, as well.
What did all players mentioned have in common after having this sports hernia surgery? Well, each player started off slow, and some did not play particularly well the following season. Hayes said it was a “Minor surgery” at exit interviews, to which it may have been. However, in a shortened offseason due to Covid Flyers fans should not expect Hayes to excel right out of the gate.
The Flyers should be worried about production for the upcoming 2021-22 season, thus obtaining Derick Brassard sort of became a saving grace.
Hayes made careless mistakes with the puck, as he was seen doing these behind the back passes to no Flyer around, thus the puck went the other way for a 2-on-1 odd man rush more often than not last season. In addition, the big plays or highlight reels involving Hayes didn’t happen as often last year for Hayes. He just didn’t have that powerful stride like he did in 2019-20.
Check out our Flyers Nitty Gritty Store
This article is not a roasting of Hayes, but he is a leader in the locker room and a voice for this young Flyers team that had an average age of 27-years-old in 2021. Expectations should be low of Hayes to produce right out of the gate of an all important 2021-22 season.
Flyers Injuries to start camp:
Kevin Hayes out 6-8 weeks/abdominal surgery
Samuel Morin out 6-8 weeks with right knee surgery to remove loose bodies
Wade Allison high right ankle sprain out indefinitely
Zayde Wisdom out until sometime in December
Cooper Zech upper body injury out 6-8 weeks
