Photo Credit: Dave Sandford/Getty Images
Greetings, fellow Flyers fans! It’s that time again! Time to do another Monday Motivator!! This time, I’ll be featuring fellow All-Star Kevin Hayes. As a fan of him, and his NHL lineage let alone who he is becoming for our club I would like to remind you to treat the players with the utmost respect and dignity they deserve, and are entitled to their own opinions and believe in their current beliefs and ideologies. That being said, let’s get to the Nitty Gritty.
Kevin Hayes came to the Flyers in the twenty nineteen and twenty twenty season, where he put up a respectable forty one points in sixty nine games played. He plays a big game and likes to play with his heart first. That’s what separates Kevin from the other big guys in the NHL. He doesn’t play a dominant physical game, unlike his cousins, the Tkachuk’s. In fact, his game is almost the polar opposite of what they do. What I mean is Kevin uses his sheer size and reach to make disruptions in the play, and he pairs that with good vision and good leadership.
As for this season, Kevin is playing at a respectable fifty games played, and has scored for a total of fifteen times. Hollywood has also collected a few apples or assists to his game something that he has done a lot this season with thirty of those for a total of forty five points. Tying his current career high in points he posted for the New York Rangers back in the twenty fourteen-fifteen season respectively.
Kevin made it to the All-Star game over the course of the weekend. And we couldn’t be any happier for him here at Flyers Nitty Gritty. No better place for Kevin to get out, clear his head.
Hayes has gone through a lot in the past; injuries have set him back a few years, let alone in his personal life. An advocate for Hockey Fights Cancer, Hayes always steps in there as both his parents are survivors. He also lost his brother “Broadway” former NHLer Jimmy Hayes recently, which for him I’m sure and anyone else out there who has lost a brother or someone close. So for Jimmy, this one is for you. *points to the sky*
The pain must be unbearable. For Kevin, that must have been tough as anything as he is always trying to be a consummate and outgoing locker room presence. Something the Flyers need as they’re such young team themselves and need someone like Kevin to help them get going and possibly help get rid of the pre-game jitters.
Kevin also has his nephew Beau to keep him inspired and grounded. Something Kevin takes pride in, and that’s being the best uncle ever to little Beau. And boy does little Beau love his hockey he can apparently name off more hockey players than Kevin, so I guess that’s something, right? His favorite player, too, is Brad Marchand.
As for the All-Star break goes, Kevin was a part of the Accuracy Shooting in the skills competition on Friday and he placed fifth, and shot a commendable three out of four on nine shots attempted at a respectable twenty two seconds!
He was on the ice again on Saturday, this time for the actual All-Star game. It was three on three format so Kevin played defense. With his then college linemate and good friend, Johnny Gaudreau to play alongside with him. He got smoked by his cousin’s the Tkachuk’s, and their Atlantic division counterparts but it was Matthew who took the car home, that usually goes to the All-Star MVP.
All in all, it was a good getaway for our All-Star and his family, something they will all cherish and remember for a good, long time. Especially little Beau. Who met a few new NHL superstars this weekend!
So hey now, Kevin you’re an All-Star. Get your game on. And get paid! The Islanders come to town Monday and from here on out it’ll be an awesome ride to the eighty second game of the season. From all of us at Flyers Nitty Gritty. Stay Gritty and LET’S GO FLYERS!!
