Post by mbest (ANA) on Feb 18, 2018 14:55:33 GMT -5
Kevin Hayes is only 30 years old but last offseason the forward, who once put up 140 points over two seasons, found himself on the unemployment line. A combination of poor scouting reports and declining play led iNHL general managers to look past him.
However, when his old New York Rangers team lost first liners Tomás Hertl and Nicolaj Ehlers to injury, General Manager Mike Best picked up the phone - most would say out of desperation – and offered Hayes a lucrative deal through the end of the season. The Rangers had lost five of six games and were in danger of missing the playoffs yet again despite averaging 88 points over the iNHL’s first seven seasons.
Hayes, who is now the only player left from the 2015-16 inaugural team, provided an instant spark netting a goal in Philadelphia his first period back. The Rangers won, 3-2. Next up another road game in Toronto where Hayes fed Owen Tippett for the team’s first power play goal in five games. Tippett, also playing hurt, would add another power play goal in the period en route to a hat trick and 5-4 Rangers victory.
With the special teams unit resurrected with four more goals over the next two games, the Rangers went on to top Winnipeg, 6-4, on the road and then clinch a playoff berth in front of the home fans, 4-2, over Hartford.
Hayes has seven points in his four games. He also has a game rating of 78 playing 15 minutes a game, a third of that time on the power play where he has two goals and two assists.
“Obviously the playoffs have been something of a holy grail quest for us,” said Best. “And it is a testament to the hard work of the players, several of whom have suffered with us for a few seasons. However, the real goal begins in a couple weeks and we shouldn’t lose sight of that.”
As to those scouts who believed Hayes’ iNHL days were over? In the last development assessment three days ago, Hayes’ skating is deemed to have become even slower and his hitting not what it used to be. Hayes has seven hits in his four games.
However, when his old New York Rangers team lost first liners Tomás Hertl and Nicolaj Ehlers to injury, General Manager Mike Best picked up the phone - most would say out of desperation – and offered Hayes a lucrative deal through the end of the season. The Rangers had lost five of six games and were in danger of missing the playoffs yet again despite averaging 88 points over the iNHL’s first seven seasons.
Hayes, who is now the only player left from the 2015-16 inaugural team, provided an instant spark netting a goal in Philadelphia his first period back. The Rangers won, 3-2. Next up another road game in Toronto where Hayes fed Owen Tippett for the team’s first power play goal in five games. Tippett, also playing hurt, would add another power play goal in the period en route to a hat trick and 5-4 Rangers victory.
With the special teams unit resurrected with four more goals over the next two games, the Rangers went on to top Winnipeg, 6-4, on the road and then clinch a playoff berth in front of the home fans, 4-2, over Hartford.
Hayes has seven points in his four games. He also has a game rating of 78 playing 15 minutes a game, a third of that time on the power play where he has two goals and two assists.
“Obviously the playoffs have been something of a holy grail quest for us,” said Best. “And it is a testament to the hard work of the players, several of whom have suffered with us for a few seasons. However, the real goal begins in a couple weeks and we shouldn’t lose sight of that.”
As to those scouts who believed Hayes’ iNHL days were over? In the last development assessment three days ago, Hayes’ skating is deemed to have become even slower and his hitting not what it used to be. Hayes has seven hits in his four games.