New York Rangers: Should Kevin Hayes Play Wing or Center?

Rejoice everyone: New York Rangers training camp is only a month away.

So much can change during the course of a hockey season that it is almost nonsensical to project what lines and defense pairings will be, what prospects will come up and shine, and what the new acquisitions will bring to the team.

However, when it comes to Kevin Hayes, there is plenty of speculation about whether the second-year player will play center or wing.
Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

Hayes is a natural winger, but because he is so big (6’5”, 225 pounds) the Rangers converted him to center last season.

Learning the center position in the NHL is one of the hardest things to do because of the demands of the position when your team doesn’t have the puck. You are responsible for down-low, but you also have to be ready to lead the attack on the other end of the ice, at any minute.

Hayes struggled in the beginning of the year. But after the holiday break, the rookie turned it on.

Out of the 45 points Hayes had on the year, 28 came after January 1^st. He learned how to use his unique blend of size and skill at center, anchoring the Rangers third line as they dominated the regular season. He had such a great rookie season, that he is even being touted as one of the 10 best sophomores in the league for next year.

However, when Hayes was on the wing, he showed even better vision and creativity. There are a number of factors that will affect where Hayes lines up next season.

The retirement of Martin St. Louis leaves the Rangers with a hole in their top-six. When St. Louis was moved to the third line during the playoffs, J.T. Miller filled in and did an excellent job. If Miller has a good camp and preseason, the second line winger spot should be his to lose.

Hayes’ position could also depend on what happens with Oscar Lindberg and Jarret Stoll.

New York Rangers /

New York Rangers

One of the Rangers top prospects, Lindberg is a natural two-way center who can win face-offs, one of Hayes’ biggest weaknesses. Lindberg has nothing left to prove in the AHL, and will be expected to compete for the third-line center role.

If he proves he can play center at the NHL level, then it makes sense for the Rangers to move Hayes to the wing.

Stoll was signed to a cheap contract, much like Ryan Malone was last offseason. Stoll’s game has dropped off over the last couple of seasons, and, if I were a betting man, I would bet that Stoll isn’t even on the Rangers roster by January 1^st, 2016. He is an aging player who might not be able to keep up with the Rangers up-tempo system.

So, when it is all said and done, Hayes should be on the wing with Derek Stepan and Chris Kreider to start the season. The Rangers need to replace St. Louis on that line.

And given Hayes’ playmaking ability, he seems like the perfect fit.

St. Louis destroyed the second line’s advanced metrics for most of last year, so there is a good chance that those numbers will improve with Hayes on the wing. Lindberg is ready to be an NHL player, so the Rangers will most likely stick with him, even though there are bound to be some growing pains, much like there were with Hayes last season.

Next: New York Rangers' Kevin Hayes Among Top NHL Sophomores

More from Blue Line Station

Home/Editorials