Date Published: 12-15-2022
Photo Credit: NBC.com
Kevin Hayes is a big bodied Center, as he stands at 6’5,” and weighs 220 pounds. He has provided much-needed size down the middle for the Flyers, and Hayes is also versatile. Hayes can play the Wing and the Penalty Kill. He has played as a left winger, right winger, and center this season. In addition, John Tortorella has thrown him on lines 1-3 at different times, and he just excels wherever he is placed within the lineup. Hayes is a legit scoring threat this season, a season in which he has helped the Flyers immensely. Better yet, Hayes seems to be doing everything right offensively as he leads the team with 29 points in 30 games played (9g,20a).
His most important attribute for this young orange and black club are his play driving skills. Hayes is not in the dog house like some have thought with the way he has been utilized this season. Tortorella just needs to find balance and chemistry with his lines, so he places Hayes where there might be a weakness:
“Everybody thinks Kevin’s in the doghouse. Kevin isn’t in the doghouse. Kevin needs to learn to play the right way, and I think he’s trying to do that. He gets an opportunity tonight and scores a goal for us.” – John Tortorella
“He’s been so strong on the puck offensively. He’s a good offensive player,” Tortorella continued in the post game presser. “We all know that. I think he has really stepped up on holding onto pucks offensively, and he’s trying away from the puck. I think he’s in a better spot playing wing where he just doesn’t get as many opportunities as far as low coverage where there’s some struggles in his game. So, we’re trying – a team that’s starving for offense – I’m trying to take the pressure off of him defensively, and not being worried about all those types of situations low and let him work on the other part of his game. I think it’s really helped him and he’s also trying away from the puck. He’s asking the questions. Each night it’s different for me.”
Finally Hayes is healthy, finally, after healing from three abdominal procedures last year, to include a third procedure to drain fluid from his abductor region. Hayes somehow managed to play in 45 games last season, while tallying nine goals and 21 assists. He looked more like his self over the course of the past 20 games or so, and he had that long stride that he used to have when he was completely healthy a few years ago. Moreover, the sudden passing of his late brother Jimmy Hayes surely did not help matters last season as he recovered from his injury, especially with that weighing on his mind.
Hayes is rocking and rolling for this young Flyers club, finally. With the way he is performing, there is a reason for some proposing trades involving Hayes. One report indicated the Flyers could buyout Hayes, which doesn’t make sense. Most teams cover a 2C/3C that can produce, and we’ll Hayes is producing, so a buyout doesn’t make sense. Yes the Flyers would eat money with a trade involving Hayes, most likely, but a buyout with Hayes’s production doesn’t make sense.
Only time will tell, but at least at the moment Hayes has provided the Flyers with some much needed scoring.
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