Kevin Hayes’ journey to becoming the most important player on the New York Rangers
The emphasis on the importance of Kevin Hayes to the New York Rangers right now can not be stressed enough.
The Beginning….
Kevin Hayes‘ journey with the New York Rangers starts way back.
Picture this: It was September 2014.
The hangover from the New York Rangers’ five-game Stanley Cup Final loss to the Los Angeles Kings three months prior was still lingering, but as for the season ahead, the sky was the limit.
A lineup laced with reputable veterans were about to come out of the gates swinging to attempt vengeance for their dramatic cup run defeat.
This team had reached its peak of the era and the “future” hadn’t even been a facet in anyone’s mind yet.
It featured a core with the likes of Derick Brassard, Rick Nash, Derek Stepan, Carl Hagelin, Ryan McDonagh, Martin St. Louis and of course, The king himself, Henrik Lundqvist, in the prime of his career, back stopping the whole operation.
The Rangers were arguably the most experienced team in the league at this point, and it was inevitable that this assembly of closely knit Blueshirts would accomplish a lot.
I remember sitting down in my college dorm room to turn on the first preseason game of the year.
As Sam Rosen’s voice swarmed the room and I gazed at the royal blue circling the ice, the wounds still felt sore as this was the first outing since June.
Despite the disappointment, I thought optimistically (par for the course as a Ranger fan) and reminded myself that this team was going to be special (spoiler: they would fall short again).
It’s personnel had hardly changed from the epic run the season before.
Other than tacking on veterans Dan Boyle and Lee Stempniak in place of Brad Richards, Brian Boyle and Benoit Pouliot, we knew everything to expect with this lineup. Well, almost.
As the game commenced, I remember I couldn’t help but notice an unfamiliar number on the ice who had a style quite unlike anyone else.
The number 59, worn on the back of a 6’5” rookie center who looked as if he could stick handle in a phone booth.
It was the new college signee, Kevin Hayes, fresh out of Boston College where he was nominated for the MVP Hobey Baker Award.
I remember feeling more enamored watching him than any of the regulars I had watched for years.
Hayes had been drafted 24th overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in 2010, but chose to pursue free agency when it came time to sign after his senior year.
The Boston product elected to come to New York and join the ranks among a competitive lineup of experienced vets.
His play style was so distinct.
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He had a natural ability to slow the game down and create space on the ice to make such finesse plays.
He could skate circles around the offensive zone weaving in and out of opponents.
When preseason ended, the 59 became a 13 as Hayes would serve as the third line center for the season.
Hayes would have such an impact as a rookie on the 2014-15 highly touted Rangers.
His signature play style formed quickly, as his big body frame, skilled hands and long reach enabled him to make exceptional plays.
His genius went mostly overlooked while the spotlight shined on the many then-faces of the franchise, but I still felt he was such an important piece and only time would prove it.
In a season where no one was thinking about tomorrow, I thought to myself, this guy could be the franchise player of the future.
He ended his rookie season with 45 points – not quite Calder caliber numbers – but certainly promising.
More years of Rangers shortcomings would come and go, while Hayes’ game continued to develop to what I envisioned it would be.