Hartnett: Don't Expect A Sophomore Slump From Rangers Forward Kevin Hayes
By Sean Hartnett
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One year ago, the Rangers won the Kevin Hayes sweepstakes after the former first-round pick declined to sign with the Chicago Blackhawks. Hayes agreed to a two-year, entry-level contract worth $900,000 per year, with the potential to earn an extra $2.85 million annually in performances bonuses.
Fresh out of Boston College, Hayes beat out veteran competition during last summer's training camp to make the Rangers' opening-night roster. He proceeded to play with the poise of a 10-year veteran. Hayes was an atypical rookie, never looking out of place and rarely taking a wrong stride.
One month into his NHL career, teammates began raving about Hayes' patience and vision.
"His poise with the puck is really good for his first year," Derick Brassard said last October. "I think he's got a good future ahead of him. The great thing about him is that he's not 18 or 19. He's coming out of college and played against older guys there. He sees the ice really well. I think his hockey sense is one of his main assets. He's really poised and has shown a lot of confidence. I would say that he's impressed a lot of people. It's really big for our organization to get a guy like that, a former first-round pick."
Teammates and onlookers alike marveled at Hayes' excellent hands and creativity. His 45 points ranked fifth among NHL rookies, only trailing Mark Stone, Johnny Gaudreau, Filip Forsberg and Mike Hoffman. Hayes effectively combined his powerful 6-foot-5, 225-pound frame, silky hands and sharp turns to cause all kinds of havoc in the offensive zone. He proved he could outmuscle and outthink opponents.
"It's kind of a big comparison, but he kind of plays like Joe Thornton," Brassard said. "Same size, he plays the same way — long reach, really tall guy, strong on the puck, sees the ice well."
Highlight-reel goals became the norm. In mid-February, Hayes went coast to coast at the Pepsi Center, gliding past the Avs like a hot knife through butter to beat Semyon Varlamov. He stunned the Nassau Coliseum in mid-March by performing an "ankle-breaking" move on Thomas Hickey before shoveling the puck past Jaroslav Halak. Later that month, he pulled off a one-handed "Forsberg move" on helpless Caps goaltender Braden Holtby.
"He can stickhandle inside a phone booth," alternate captain Marc Staal said in February. "It's pretty impressive at this level to hang onto the puck and control it the way he does."
But his offensive skill and encouraging rookie production only paint part of the picture of Hayes' rapidly ascending career. The 23-year-old plays big and demonstrates smarts in all areas of the ice. Head coach Alain Vigneault began entrusting Hayes with greater penalty-kill responsibilities as the season went on. At season's end, Hayes finished seventh among Rangers forwards with a total of 35:20 minutes of shorthanded ice time.
Now that Martin St. Louis is retired, Hayes and J.T. Miller are leading candidates to earn a top-six role on Derek Stepan's right wing. While Hayes is capable of playing both center and the wing, his consistency could give him the inside track.
Hayes' growing talents and analytical nature give reason to believe he is likely to avoid the dreaded sophomore slump. Every few weeks, Hayes would pull aside associate coach Scott Arniel and the pair would sit down together to review game film. Whether it's advice from coaches or teammates, Hayes soaks it all in and uses it for his benefit.
"Kevin takes criticism when it's there," captain Ryan McDonagh said in March. "He takes advice from guys when he needs it. He tries to use it all and analyze it to improve his game."
Sophomore slump? Not likely. Standout sophomore season? There's a good chance.
Follow Sean on Twitter @HartnettHockey.
