Winnipeg Jets: How Kevin Hayes puts them over the top
By Jasmine Yen
Trade deadline day was a big one for the Winnipeg Jets as they traded for Kevin Hayes. How will this affect the team going forward?
Just before the NHL trade deadline, the Winnipeg Jets traded for Kevin Hayes from the New York Rangers in exchange for Brendan Lemieux, a first-round pick in 2019, and a conditional fourth-round pick in the 2022 draft. That conditional pick depends on the Jets winning the Stanley Cup.
From the Jets’ standpoint, this is a solid move. They have a ton of promising young players coming up from the Manitoba Moose and this team has done a great job of drafting young talent.
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Besides, the Jets have one of the youngest teams in the NHL and most of the players are already locked up long term. In exchange, they get a dependable depth player that can only positively impact this team. Here is how Hayes will impact the Jets:
1. Center depth
Obviously, being a centerman, Hayes bolsters the Jets’ center depth. Bryan Little has played as the second centerman the entire season. With the acquisition of Hayes, they can now move him back to the wings, which is a move the Jets have wanted to make for a while.
The Jets normally have one of the best top lines in the league. With the addition of Hayes, they now have two very dangerous lines that will be a nightmare to match up against in the playoffs.
2. Fits the mold
In the playoffs, the game transforms. The ice shrinks down, defense heightens, and the game gets much more physical. All of these attributes fit into the Jets’ style of play very well and Hayes fits right in.
The Jets are a heavy, cycle team and that’s Hayes’ bread and butter. He’s a big guy, strong on the puck and has some speed to enter the offensive zone. Having him on the team gives the offense more depth and will make them a nightmare for the opposing team to defend against.
3. Versatility
With the acquisition of Hayes, Paul Maurice now has a bunch of line combinations to pick from. Hayes can center a line of Nikolaj Ehlers – Hayes – Patrik Laine which could potentially jumpstart the slumping Laine. Putting Laine on the second line will give him an easier matchup time while also giving the Jets more offensive depth.
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Hayes is a versatile player that can play at center, on the wings, and up and down the Jets’ lineup. He can play on the penalty kill and the powerplay as well and will be a welcome addition at even strength, an area the Jets have been having problems with.
4. Special teams booster
The Winnipeg Jets’ powerplay has been one of the worst in the league since January and their penalty kill is 20th in the league with a 79.9% success rate. Since Kevin Hayes can play on both the PP and the PK, his presence will be a welcome sight for the Jets. This season, he has recorded 11 points on the powerplay and last season, he averaged over 2 minutes a night on the penalty kill.
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The Winnipeg Jets have been slumping for the last few months and the Western Conference is getting stronger by the day. The San Jose Sharks, Nashville Predators, Calgary Flames, and St. Louis Blues are all coming in hot and the Jets need some sort of spark to keep up. The addition of Kevin Hayes could be just the piece the Jets need to get the team back on track.