#4: Kevin Hayes
Hayes’ performance is a lot like JT Miller’s: disappointing. He didn’t have a particularly bad playoffs, but his numbers were hardly consistent to those he put up in the regular season.
Hayes played in 76 regular season games and logged 49 points. He was, like Miller, considered to be one the Rangers’ best forwards entering the playoffs. Also like Miller, he logged just three assists in 12 games.
This is a step up from last postseason for Hayes. Last year, Hayes had zero points and was actually scratched from two of the Rangers’ five games. While this year is an improvement, it’s not the improvement the Rangers were looking for.
The Rangers can only hope that Hayes isn’t a Rick Nash type playoff performer. He has only 10 points in 34 career playoff games. He is still young, but the signs aren’t pointing in the right direction for Hayes in the playoffs.