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New York Rangers: Five things the Rangers need to go their way

By Nicholas Zararis

VANCOUVER, BC - DECEMBER 9: Head coach Alain Vigneault of the New York Rangers looks on from the bench from the bench during their NHL game against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena December 9, 2015 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images)
VANCOUVER, BC - DECEMBER 9: Head coach Alain Vigneault of the New York Rangers looks on from the bench from the bench during their NHL game against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena December 9, 2015 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 16: Kevin Hayes
NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 16: Kevin Hayes /

Kevin Hayes makes the jump-

Kevin Hayes presents a quandary for the Rangers, he has all the raw tools tools to be a number one center. But the Boston College alumni is as streaky a center as they come. For a stretch last season he centered the Rangers best line with J.T Miller and Michael Grabner. He also had just three points in 12 playoff games last year.

With Derek Stepan no longer ahead of him on the depth chart, it is time for Hayes to make that jump to the next step. The Dorchester native will have to get stronger in the defensive zone, with simply no one else around he’s going to have to get comfortable starting in the Rangers zone.

Hayes lost 22 pounds going into the 2016 season after a poor finish to his sophomore season. Hayes wrote a Players Tribune piece explaining that he felt embarrassed for being healthy scratched in a playoff game. He should be embarrassed for his playoff effort last year.

For his career Hayes has averaged around14 minutes a game with the Rangers. Due to Stepan’s departure, Hayes will need to play more minutes in more situations. For his fourth NHL season, Hayes will have a prominent role on special teams.

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