Kevin Hayes has not hit the college rookie wall. Let’s clear that up straight away. To suggest that’s happened to Hayes – after just two subpar performances – would be a combination of lazy journalism and a kneejerk reaction. It’s just two games.
Hayes has struggled in the opening round thus far, not producing offensively and making bad decisions at both ends of the ice but Hayes is a rookie who is learning that the playoffs are a different season compared to the marathon that is the regular season.
Hayes was arguably the Rangers’ best forward over the last six weeks of the regular season and his elevated play helped accommodate Rick Nash’s cold stretch as well as the injuries the Rangers endured. What the big center is finding out now is that the intensity of the playoffs is unlike anything he has ever experienced. Right now, Hayes is going through another learning curve, just like he did last October.
The Rangers do need more from Hayes to help negate the advantage the Pens have at center. Hayes will need to help the Rangers establish more offensive zone time but he’s proven he can do that – Hayes’ patience on the puck and his line’s ability to cycle the puck down low have been hallmarks of his line’s end of season form.
Hayes’ tough start to the playoffs has also been magnified because of several subpar performances around him. Yes, Hayes needs to be better but his struggles are even more evident when the Rangers aren’t getting enough from Chris Kreider, Marty St Louis, and Carl Hagelin up front while the powerplay continues to be the Rangers Achilles heel. If Kreider or St Louis begin to produce, the pressure and scrutiny on Hayes will lessen.
The Rangers have benefitted all season from their depth. When one line, or individual, has gone through a tough stretch there has almost always been another line step up. Often, it was the Hayes trio stepping in for one of the top two lines. Sometimes it was Dominic Moore’s line chipping in with some unexpected offense late in the season. Whoever it was, there was always someone else ready to produce.
Generally speaking, to this point, the Rangers haven’t played well enough collectively. Perhaps only Derick Brassard and Mats Zuccarello have played consistently in the two games so far, but it is still only two games. When your opponent can send out Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin every other shift you’re not going to have your own way all the time. Last season, the Rangers showed they had an impressive ability to handle adversity in the playoffs and they’ll get the same opportunity in this series starting tonight.
Once the Rangers get back to doing what they do best, once they get the Penguins defense turned around and under pressure the Rangers will get more production from several key players. If the Rangers are going to eliminate the Penguins, Kevin Hayes will still get opportunities to contribute and prove to everyone that there’s no college rookie wall concerns for the Rangers rookie center.
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