• HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • Site Index
  • NHL Salary Caps
  • Hockey 101: A Beginner’s Guide
  • Join Our Team
  • Free Newsletter
  • Store
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
Home
Philadelphia Flyers

Flyers: Getting to Know Kevin Hayes

By Nathan Moser October 29th, 2019

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Many Philadelphia Flyers fans know the name ‘Kevin Hayes’ from his days with the team’s Metropolitan Division rival, the New York Rangers. The forward had played almost his entire career with the organization, becoming a key figure in their successes while he donned the Blueshirts sweater. However, some might not know all of the hockey background of the 27-year-old forward who was traded to the Flyers and signed a seven-year contract extension back in June.

Kevin Hayes Philadelphia Flyers
Kevin Hayes, Philadelphia Flyers (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

Hayes grew up in Dorchester, Massachusetts, along with his brother and NHL winger, Jimmy, who spent his career with a few teams, from the Florida Panthers to their hometown Boston Bruins. Kevin was drafted two years after his brother, in the 2010 NHL Draft, by the Chicago Blackhawks, another team his brother suited up for. Despite being selected, he never played a game for the Blackhawks organization. Instead, he spent four years in college, and used that as a way to become a free agent and choose wherever he wanted to go.

Making the Professional Leap

Becoming one of the top college free agents in the summer of 2014, Hayes signed with the Rangers after being pursued by a few other NHL teams. Over the years within the organization he became a staple of their offense that included other names such as Mats Zuccarello, Mika Zibanejad, Chris Kreider, and Jesper Fast, among others. He played a significant role in helping the Rangers make consistent playoff appearances, from his rookie season in 2014-15 until 2016-17. During that playoff span with the Blueshirts, he posted the following numbers:

  • 2015: 2 goals and 5 assists in 19 games
  • 2016: 0 points in 3 games
  • 2017: 3 assists in 12 games

Eventually, the Rangers organization decided that they needed to head in a different direction, wanting to retool for a season and bounce back with a new core of talent. General manager Jeff Gorton wasn’t afraid to pull the trigger on moves, and sent then-Rangers captain Ryan McDonagh to the Tampa Bay Lightning along with J.T. Miller. A couple other players that saw their way out were Zuccarello, Kevin Shattenkirk, and Jimmy Vesey. Hayes’ contract was up at the end of the 2018-19 season and the team decided it was time to move on from him as part of their new direction. They traded him to the Winnipeg Jets at the 2019 deadline.

New York Rangers' Kevin Hayes
Former New York Rangers’ Kevin Hayes (THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Seth Wenig)

He finished his Rangers career with 361 games played in the regular season, scoring 87 goals and accumulating 129 assists. He added additional depth for a team hoping they could provide their fans with a solid rebound following a Western Conference Final loss to the then-expansion Vegas Golden Knights. After a short-lived run, though, which included a first-round exit that saw Hayes put up two goals and an assist, the Jets decided to move on, and traded him to the Flyers, where he eventually agreed to terms on a long-term contract extension with the club.

Taking New Leadership Role

Hayes now steps in to become a veteran leader to help get the Flyers back into the postseason. He can be someone who can help explain and spread the system and message of head coach Alain Vigneault, having been with him for most of his coaching tenure with the Rangers. Vigneault thought highly enough of Hayes to name him an alternate captain before he even stepped foot onto the ice to make his regular-season debut with the team. He can also make an impact with the younger players.

There are rookie forwards, such as 2018 first-round draft pick Joel Farabee, who will need someone to look up to who can help them adjust to the NHL game and the hardships that they will come across down the stretch of a long, 82-game season. The Flyers have a young blue line for the most part as well, with the average age being just 26. While he might not be able to train those players on the defensive position itself, he can still be a locker room presence through his words, as well as how he presents himself.

Joel Farabee Flyers
Joel Farabee, Philadelphia Flyers, 2018 NHL Draft, Dallas, TX, June 22, 2018 (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

He can show some of the younger defensemen such as Robert Hagg and Travis Sanheim how to carry themselves and help them grow both on and off the ice, having them become better people and maybe eventually NHL veterans themselves. Frustrations are bound to set in as well for some of the players down the line, and Hayes is someone who can help keep those guys focused on the main objective, and can keep them on course for improvement throughout the 2019-20 season.

Only time will tell whether the game and mindset Hayes brings to the organization will help pay off for the team and the rest of the players. He has the backing of his head coach in Vigneault, and as long as he gets the same backing in leadership from his peers in the locker room, the transition for the Flyers into becoming that playoff threat may not be that far out of reach.

  • Tags
  • Kevin Hayes
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Get theScore App Now!
Recent Posts
Jan 17th 6:35 PM
Columbus Blue Jackets

Blue Jackets Hope Early Start Leads to Bounce Back

Jan 17th 5:50 PM
New York Islanders

Islanders Loss Can’t Be Pinned on Sorokin Entirely

Jan 17th 5:15 PM
Detroit Red Wings

Red Wings: Zadina’s Start Sparks the Imagination

Jan 17th 5:05 PM
Archives

Jacques Plante: The Man in the Fiberglass Mask

Jan 17th 4:25 PM
Toronto Maple Leafs

Maple Leafs Make Tough Decision in Waiving Spezza and Dell

Jan 17th 4:05 PM
Toronto Maple Leafs

Joe Thornton’s First Maple Leafs’ Goal: Just a Little Trickery Out There

Jan 17th 3:55 PM
St Louis Blues

Blues’ Winter 2021 Prospect Pyramid

Jan 17th 3:40 PM
Column

Senators News & Rumours: White, Batherson, Stützle & More

Jan 17th 3:30 PM
Boston Bruins

First-Year Islanders Shocked Big, Bad Bruins 48 Years Ago

Jan 17th 2:55 PM
Detroit Red Wings

NHL Rumors: Maple Leafs, Oilers, Canadiens, Flyers, Red Wings, More

Editor’s Picks
World Junior Championship All-Time Leading Scorers

World Junior Championship All-Time Leading Scorers

2021 Guide To the World Junior Championship

2021 Guide To the World Junior Championship

Masthead

Newsletters

RSS Feeds

Privacy Statement

Contact Us

About THW…

Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Updated daily with news and features from over 130 writers worldwide. Over 2 million monthly readers now come to THW for their hockey fix.

© The Hockey Writers 2020. All rights reserved.
logo
  • HOME
  • Hockey Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • North Division
    • Calgary Flames
    • Edmonton Oilers
    • Montreal Canadiens
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Vancouver Canucks
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • East Division
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • New Jersey Devils
    • New York Islanders
    • New York Rangers
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Washington Capitals
  • Central Division
    • Carolina Hurricanes
    • Chicago Blackhawks
    • Columbus Blue Jackets
    • Dallas Stars
    • Detroit Red Wings
    • Florida Panthers
    • Nashville Predators
    • Tampa Bay Lightning
  • West Division
    • Anaheim Ducks
    • Arizona Coyotes
    • Colorado Avalanche
    • Los Angeles Kings
    • Minnesota Wild
    • San Jose Sharks
    • Seattle Kraken
    • St Louis Blues
    • Vegas Golden Knights
  • World Juniors
  • CHL
    • Ontario Hockey League
    • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
    • Western Hockey League
  • THW Podcast Network
  • Store
  • FREE Newsletter
  • Search THW
  • More…
    • Join Our Team
    • The THW Archives
    • Prospects
    • The Goalie Page
    • NHL Salary Cap Information