Kevin Hayes’ journey to becoming the most important player on the New York Rangers
Beyond his rookie year…
In his disappointing sophomore campaign, where then-head coach Alain Vingeault hindered his confidence, he followed up with a career-high 49 point-third season and then a breakthrough goal-scoring-fourth season.
Which leads us to here:
The “future” of the New York Rangers era, where Kevin Hayes as a fifth year NHL player is considered a “vet” among rookies – the complete opposite roster formula of what Hayes was introduced to 4 years ago.
The Now
Lately, so much hoopla has dominated the New York fans and media about Hayes and his future with the team since his two-year contract ended after last season.
All summer long all I heard was how he would be traded because of the “rebuild for the future.”
Hayes signed a one-year extension to avoid salary arbitration and also so the Rangers could have more time to figure out their plans with him.
Since that, the player I predicted in September of 2014 has come to life. Kevin Hayes is the best New York Ranger.
Period.
Right now, he is doing everything.
He’s an asset to the power play, a top penalty killer, he’s winning faceoffs, he’s causing turnovers, he’s creating scoring opportunities, he’s producing points, he’s making his linemates better and more.
He’s the best 200-foot player on this team and he can challenge anyone in the league right now.
At the time of this writing, he stands at third on the team in points with 17 in 25 games played.
The Rangers don’t have the surprising success they have had this year without Kevin Hayes (or Henrik Lundqvist). Yet, people still jabber the idea of a trade and to that, I give an emphatic “no.”
Quite frankly, it disgusts me that fans and media could be so ignorant to entertain trading him.
Trade him for what?
For more prospects?
All so you can develop them into what he already is now?
For young roster talent?
He’s 26 years old. Please enlighten me how he can’t fit into the plans for the future…
For a first-round pick you say?
The team trading a first rounder for him would be a current contender, so it would be something between 25th-31st overall. Not worth it.
Where else do you find a center of his size that can create opportunities from absolutely nothing?
They aren’t easy to come by. He is just starting to access his fearsome potential and you people want him traded?
It makes no sense.
Some would argue it would be worth it for a scoring top-six winger or a top-four defenseman.
So, trade your most effective player away who wields rare abilities and is age 26 for a type of player they could probably just acquire in the next year anyway.
Does not sound logical.
You build around guys like this, not deal them away because you have two teenagers in the lineup you want to be top six forwards as centers.
Filip Chytil is more than fine on the wing and Lias Andersson still has some more work to do.
It is not Hayes’ fault the organization splurged on centers and now they need to make room for them.
If he wasn’t contributing the way that he is right now, then making room for the young guys at center is a different story.
The team will even itself out as it already has in regards to this situation.
You don’t keep Hayes to “win now,” you keep Hayes to win tomorrow, while sustaining your talent presently.