It’s not easy being the team that contenders strip mine for spare parts. The New York Rangers sent Kevin Hayes to Winnipeg for a first round pick and a prospect. This one stung.
The journey of a Dorchester native that loves Tom Brady to the World’s Most Famous Arena in the Big Apple is one of intrigue. Kevin Hayes is an unapologetic New Englander that rooted for the Red Sox, Bruins, Patriots and Celtics growing up. The irony of the center choosing the New York Rangers as his first professional team isn’t lost.
Originally, the Chicago Blackhawks drafted Hayes with the 24th overall pick in the 2010 NHL entry draft. The New England native was a local legend even as a pee-wee player. There were times where Hayes would play on two or three different teams during a season and have to travel all across the greater Boston area to play in multiple games on the same day according to Hayes.
Once, Hayes’ father called ahead to a rink where his son was supposed to play later in the day and told the Zamboni driver that he and Kevin were 40 minutes away so he needed to stall. Naturally, the Zamboni driver drove out onto the ice for the fresh coat before the start of the game and it mysteriously broke down.
Hayes and his father walked in 50 minutes after the game was supposed to start and magically the Zamboni started moving again.
As a person so ingrained in Boston, it was obvious that Hayes would end up at one of the four schools within the city. He chose Boston College where he played with future teammate Chris Kreider and all-star forward Johnny Gaudreau for four years.
As a teammate with Gaudreau, the pair split votes from each other in the Hobey Baker award and neither ended up winning. However, Hayes did win two national titles with the Eagles under legendary coach Jerry York.
Spurring the Hawks
The forward stayed in college all four years of his eligibility and it’s why his draft rights expired. When a team selects a player, the organization holds their rights for two years after which they become a free agent. Hayes, being drafted in 2010, didn’t come out of school until after the 2014 season.
This led to an open courtship process in which the forward was able to meet with various suitors and see which best met his needs. After several meetings, Hayes elected to sign a three-year entry-level contract with the Rangers on August 20th of 2014.
As a rookie, Hayes joined a team that lost the Stanley Cup Final to the Los Angeles Kings in five games. Part of the Rangers’ struggles in that series was a lack of depth down the middle and a lack of size to go up against the Kings’ big bodies.
In one fell swoop, the Rangers added a player that addressed its most glaring hole and it didn’t cost any assets. This was a major coup for a team that didn’t have a first or second-round pick in the 2014 draft and it didn’t cost the team anything other than cap space. This was a match made in heaven and it propelled Hayes towards a strong rookie campaign.
The soft top jeep
When Hayes arrived in New York as a rookie, he was driving a soft top jeep wrangler according to then-teammate Keith Yandle. This was a strong enviornment for a young player to enter, a dressing room littered with quality veterans and a proven NHL head coach.
As a rookie, Hayes played a majority of his time with Carl Hagelin and Martin St. Louis in which he recorded 45 points and led the entire NHL in primary assists. Of course, during that year’s postseason run, Hayes recorded a pair of crucial goals to help push the Rangers along in the cup chase.
This goal gave the Rangers a 3-1 lead in the first round against the Pittsburgh Penguins and set the tone. Pittsburgh was an overmatched team that year and Hayes ensured the series wouldn’t require any more than five games.
Against the Washington Capitals, the entire series was an uphill climb for the Rangers. New York trailed the series three games to one, and rallied back to force a game seven. Yet, midway through the second, the Capitals were lulling New York to sleep and it was Hayes that answered the bell to tie the game.
The slump and jump
However, Hayes’ strong rookie season was followed up by a disappointing sophomore season for both the player and the team. New York took a step back as a team, losing in the first round to the Penguins who would go on to win the Stanley Cup. But, interestingly, Hayes’ role with the team was changed and it took time for him to learn.
Transitioning Hayes from a sheltered offensively oriented third line center, he was shifted to a more defensive role and his numbers took a hit. Throw in the fact he no longer had the benefit of playing alongside either of St. Louis or Hagelin and it was a guaranteed drop-off.
Yet, over the course of his remaining three years with the Rangers, Hayes exponentially improved and made the jump. In a more difficult role with lower quality linemates, he found his skill set and became a dependable piece. There was so much confidence in Hayes that team felt confident enough to trade away Derek Stepan.
Shoehorning Hayes into Stepan’s old role was a calculated risk that paid off. Over the course of the last two seasons, Hayes produced to expectations. It wasn’t a stretch to say that Hayes was the best player on the team over the last 24 months not named Henrik Lundqvist.
It’ll be difficult to lose a key building block like Hayes. He was such a unique player because of his combination of skill and size. The Dorchester native is an above average skater that uses his 6’5 frame to create space and orchestrate offense. Up in Winnipeg, he’s going to have the luxury of playing alongside Patrick Laine.
It’s tough for those who thought Hayes was a long-term piece and someone that could stick around. Unfortunately, the front office viewed things differently and it means a more long term rebuild.