[text_output]When Jeff Gorton decided to shake the Rangers down to the core this summer and trade away his dependable pivot man in Derek Stepan, fans and media members everywhere wondered who would be able to replace everything Stepan brought to the table. Stepan could be relied on for 50 points every single season while simultaneously being tasked to shut down other teams’ top players night in and night out.

As we’ve moved along throughout the 2017-2018 campaign, Kevin Hayes has emerged as a more than suitable replacement. Hayes, who is a player known for having more offensive creativity, has really stepped up his game for the Rangers by sacrificing a lot of his point production to become a more reliable defensive center.

[/text_output][image type=”thumbnail” float=”none” src=”1387″ alt=”” href=”” title=”” info_content=”” lightbox_caption=”” id=”” class=”aligncenter” style=””][text_output]So far throughout this season Hayes has registered 16 points in 36 games, which might not blow fans’ socks off at first glance. However, when you take into account the fact that he’s registered 9 goals while only averaging 38 seconds of time on ice during the powerplay this season. On the other hand, Hayes has averaged 2:20 of average time on ice this year while the Blueshirts have been shorthanded. In prior seasons Hayes would register 1:28 and 1:30 TOI on the powerplay. As opposed to 1:26 and :01 TOI on the PK in 15-16 and 16-17.

While it’s logical that the Blueshirts dependence on Hayes would have to go up since the trade of Stepan, most fans didn’t believe that Hayes would be able to fill in so well for Stepan. Hayes’ emergence in Stepan’s absence has also helped the front office calm down on looking to overspend in a trade for center to be able to provide quality depth down the middle.

As a whole, when you look at what Hayes has done this season, he’s really elevated his game playing alongside the likes of Rick Nash and Jesper Fast. Hayes has proven the ability to shut down opposing teams’ top lines, while also kicking in quality offensive production. It’s one of the hardest tasks for a player that’s usually so offensive minded to be able to switch their game in one summer to become more defensive minded and succeed on it that coming season. Hayes has done more than enough to prove his worth to not only the coaching staff and the fanbase as one of the better New York Rangers in the 2017-2018 season.[/text_output]