Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community - View Single Post - [News] Kevin Hayes signs with the Rangers

Calgary4LIfe · 04-12-2014, 06:22 PM

I always think drafted players that choose not to sign with their teams are a bit underhanded, for whatever the reason.

Still, this is a business, and they are simply treating it as such. I would find it difficult to believe that Hayes would get as good of an opportunity in Chicago as he could on a few other teams in the NHL. This translates into a heck of a lot more money on his second contract if he makes good on that opportunity.

For those that are unfamiliar with the Hayes situation in Boston, he is simply not just a product of Gaudreau and Arnold. I think they are all a product of one another - that line had really awesome synergy. Obviously, Gaudreau stirred the drink there, but at the same time you can not easily replace Arnold or Hayes on that line with just anyone, and expect that level of dominance.

Gaudreau - I am sure everyone and their dog here knows Gaudreau.

Arnold - he was the defensive-minded catalyst on that team - was very good at backchecking and causing turnovers. Was a shot blocking phenom by the looks of it (fits right in with Calgary). Was a very good 2-way player in the NCAA (I would say the best, actually). I think he is so very underrated on this board and every other board that mentions him (or fails to do so) because his game so perfect translates into the NHL. Anyways, enough about Arnold..

Hayes - Everyone points that he was on Gaudreau and Arnold's line, and was a passenger on that line, citing he was not that 'great' until then. He was actually a very good player in the NCAA, and developing quite nicely. As others have mentioned - 6'4". Uses his body well. He was having a career year apparently BEFORE York finally relented to Gaudreau's and Arnold's pleads to make them a line. York didn't (and refused for a while) because Hayes was carrying the 2nd line, and he York didn't want to put all his eggs in one basket. What is Hayes on that line? He was a guy that made a lot of room for Gaudreau. Defensively responsible (though not at Arnold's level) but a very good finisher AND a very good distributor of the puck. He was the perfect fit on that line, and those three players fed off of one another so well.

Hayes is a legitimately good prospect. I would say he is worth a late 1st right now - maybe even a mid-round 1st. I say mid-round 1st because I do think he is going to be a legitimate NHL'er - maybe not a guy that can carry a '2nd line' at that level, but a very competent, big-bodied presence that does everything fairly well, and who is a very good skater. Probably a guy who at his prime is going to top out at around 15 goals and 40pts, but a guy that is tough to play against and is a defensively responsible presence. I wouldn't want the Flames to pay that, and I don't think Chicago is going to receive a better offer than the compensatory pick really - it isn't going to be an NHL-wide auction. They trade him only if a team beats out that 2nd round compensatory pick or trades a prospect that holds value to Chicago.

I would like to feel sorry for Chicago at this point - but ever since the last time the Flames and Hawks played in the playoffs and apparently chirped Iginla, plus the chirping of Brendan Morrisson when he was hurt, plus the chirping of Thornton in Boston when he was hurt and bleeding... I really have to enjoy this, sorry! Hahaha!

Calgary, Florida and Boston are probably the 3 teams he is most wanting to join at this time - each with their own valid reasons. He is from Boston, and played the last 4 years in Boston - don't discount them.

04-12-2014, 06:22 PM	#174
Calgary4LIfe Franchise Player Join Date: Jun 2010 Exp:	I always think drafted players that choose not to sign with their teams are a bit underhanded, for whatever the reason. Still, this is a business, and they are simply treating it as such. I would find it difficult to believe that Hayes would get as good of an opportunity in Chicago as he could on a few other teams in the NHL. This translates into a heck of a lot more money on his second contract if he makes good on that opportunity. For those that are unfamiliar with the Hayes situation in Boston, he is simply not just a product of Gaudreau and Arnold. I think they are all a product of one another - that line had really awesome synergy. Obviously, Gaudreau stirred the drink there, but at the same time you can not easily replace Arnold or Hayes on that line with just anyone, and expect that level of dominance. Gaudreau - I am sure everyone and their dog here knows Gaudreau. Arnold - he was the defensive-minded catalyst on that team - was very good at backchecking and causing turnovers. Was a shot blocking phenom by the looks of it (fits right in with Calgary). Was a very good 2-way player in the NCAA (I would say the best, actually). I think he is so very underrated on this board and every other board that mentions him (or fails to do so) because his game so perfect translates into the NHL. Anyways, enough about Arnold.. Hayes - Everyone points that he was on Gaudreau and Arnold's line, and was a passenger on that line, citing he was not that 'great' until then. He was actually a very good player in the NCAA, and developing quite nicely. As others have mentioned - 6'4". Uses his body well. He was having a career year apparently BEFORE York finally relented to Gaudreau's and Arnold's pleads to make them a line. York didn't (and refused for a while) because Hayes was carrying the 2nd line, and he York didn't want to put all his eggs in one basket. What is Hayes on that line? He was a guy that made a lot of room for Gaudreau. Defensively responsible (though not at Arnold's level) but a very good finisher AND a very good distributor of the puck. He was the perfect fit on that line, and those three players fed off of one another so well. Hayes is a legitimately good prospect. I would say he is worth a late 1st right now - maybe even a mid-round 1st. I say mid-round 1st because I do think he is going to be a legitimate NHL'er - maybe not a guy that can carry a '2nd line' at that level, but a very competent, big-bodied presence that does everything fairly well, and who is a very good skater. Probably a guy who at his prime is going to top out at around 15 goals and 40pts, but a guy that is tough to play against and is a defensively responsible presence. I wouldn't want the Flames to pay that, and I don't think Chicago is going to receive a better offer than the compensatory pick really - it isn't going to be an NHL-wide auction. They trade him only if a team beats out that 2nd round compensatory pick or trades a prospect that holds value to Chicago. I would like to feel sorry for Chicago at this point - but ever since the last time the Flames and Hawks played in the playoffs and apparently chirped Iginla, plus the chirping of Brendan Morrisson when he was hurt, plus the chirping of Thornton in Boston when he was hurt and bleeding... I really have to enjoy this, sorry! Hahaha! Calgary, Florida and Boston are probably the 3 teams he is most wanting to join at this time - each with their own valid reasons. He is from Boston, and played the last 4 years in Boston - don't discount them.