Blackhawks’ Future Friday: Jimmy Hayes

Mar 18, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Chicago Blackhawks right wing Jimmy Hayes (39) celebrates after scoring a goal during the first period against the Colorado Avalanche at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

• Jimmy Hayes

2012-13 AHL Stats

Games: 67

Goals: 25

Assists: 20

Points: 45

PIM: 23

Drafted: Second Round, 60th overall, by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft

Acquired: From TOR in exchange for the  43rd overall selection in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft on June 26, 2010.

Prospect Profile:

Hayes is a big, powerful, fast forward. He uses speed to penetrate into the offensive zone, and with sweet hands around the net, he makes himself very dangerous. Sound familiar, Blackhawks fans?

Hayes uses his 6’6″, 221 pound frame to his advantage, and regularly parks himself in the opposition’s crease. Hayes can create a lot of trouble for opposing defenders, as he is impossible to budge, and is always dangerous when it comes to rebounds or deflections.

Defensively, Hayes skates hard coming back, and is very effective at taking an opponent away from the play by getting in passing and shooting lanes. He is physical, although not as much as one would think with his size. However, he rarely leaves himself out of the play with a big hit, and can use the sick very well too.

Road To The NHL: 

Born in Boston, Hayes started his hockey career in 2005-06  when he played his second season with Noble and Greenough School in Massachusetts. In the same year, he played in two tournaments with the U.S. National Team at the U-17 level, one of which being the prestigious Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament. The next season, he played for the U.S. NTDP U-18 team, winning a silver medal at the 2007 World U-18 Championship. He had six goals and fourteen points in 14 games with the squad.

Hayes would spend 2007-08 in the NTDP system once again, this time scoring seven points in 18 games with the club, and scoring 10 points in 19 contests with the NAHL team. Hayes also played with theLincoln Stars of the USHL for 21 games, where he scored four goals with 15 points. He had nine playoff points with the Stars, playing in eight playoff games with the team.

2008 would mark his first year at Boston College, in the Hockey East league. With the Eagles, Hayes would develop in his first season, scoring 13 points in 35 games. His sophomore season would turn out to be his breakout year, as he had 35 points and 42 games, as Boston College won the NCAA Championship. In his junior year, Hayes would again impress, this time with 21 goals and 33 points in 39 games. He made his pro debut with the IceHogs at the end of the season, but could not register a point in 7 games.

In 2011-12, Hayes would split the season between the Hogs and the ‘Hawks, playing 33 games in Rockford and managing 23 points, and had 9 points in 31 NHL games. He also played in two of the Blackhawks’ first-round playoff games, chalking up 15 penalty minutes.

2012-13 would see him become an integral part of the IceHogs roster, with 45 points in 67 games. He also played 10 games with the Blackhawks, scoring 1 goal and adding 3 helpers, with no penalties.

Promotion Probability: 5/10

With Viktor Stalberg off to Nashville, Hayes could take his place. There is a good chance Stan Bowman and Joel Quenneville give him an extended look at training camp, and he has a good chance to start the season with the ‘Hawks. His body could be a distraction on the powerplay, something that lacked last season, and adding grit to contrast the Blackhawks’ speed and skill will be a good thing, as Hayes has both aspects in his game. It is unlikely that he will spend the full season in Chicago, but he has the opportunity to do so and will have to make the most of it.

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