Date Published: 1-5-2022
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 has tallied nine goals, and 23 assists for a total of 32 points in 37 games played.
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
For his efforts, Kevin Hayes was named as a representative for the Flyers All-Star game. It’s hard for me to fathom how he beat out Travis Konecny for this honor, and it’s even more peculiar since Hayes hasn’t bought in to John Tortorella’s system at times.
Over a month ago Hayes was benched, and he totally didn’t understand why he was benched. Hayes vocally stated this, as opposed to taking the benching on the chin. All in all, this will be Hayes’s first All-Star game appearance in the NHL.
TK was robbed