Jimmy Hayes Headed to Chicago
When defenseman Steve Montador cleared waivers on Tuesday, the Blackhawks shipped him to Rockford. The move opened up a roster spot, which was filled by forward Jimmy Hayes.
This season, Hayes has enjoyed a strong second half for the IceHogs and currently is tied for tenth in the AHL with 22 goals; one of the other five players at that mark is Rockford forward Jeremy Morin. Eight of his 22 goals came on the powerplay, and his 39 total points ranked fourth on the IceHogs.
Hayes, 23, spent 31 games in the NHL last year, registering nine points (five goals, four assists). Listed at 6-5 and 210 pounds, Hayes will bring some much-needed size to the Hawks’ lineup as they begin their road trip in Columbus on Thursday night.
I think this is great news…Hayes provided a big spark for the team when he arrived last year…he has had a great season in Rockford, and of late has been playing very well at Centre…
As to Hayes motivation to play well…hmm, go back to the minors or stay in the show with the league’s #1 team…I can well imagine we will get his best when he plays, which I hope is Thursday.
This has been mentioned on another post with some good debate, but I hope Hayes goes to the 2nd Line. He has played in the NHL before and while probably much slower than Kane and slower than Bolland, I think he could create space. I would like him “hit” his responsibilities and stand in front of the net. Be strong with the puck to let Kane and Bolland fly around him. Also let him try draws as soon as Bolland stinks it up again.
This isn’t an indictment of the other players up right now, I just feel the chemistry has been too good on lines 1 and 3 to mess around. I like Kruger a lot and could see him getting more ice time at 2C or 2L because he deserves it, but that isn’t what we need from him right now. He has earned that opportunity, but it should come next year. We need his 6-8 minutes of 5-on-5 time centering the 4th line so we can roll 4 confident lines again.
Good post Peter…that’s why I suggested Smith/Hayes on the 2nd line, because the other 3 lines, as is, are our strength…if Hayes can fit in on the 2nd line, it will be a huge bonus for us.
UPDATE: Hayes started Wednesday practice skating at LW2 w/ Bolland & Kane.
Also, Olesz on waivers (as is Ben Eager).
I like Hayes on the 2nd line, w Bolland and Kane. Hayes was a pleasant surprised last year when he was called up and as long as he can play some defense he should do fine on that line. It’s nice to see a few of youngsters skating w the top 2 lines. Kruger movcs back down to the 4th w Frolik and (instert name here). I wish that guy would be Morin but Bollig is okay for the time being.
Southside…the next time Hawk fans get a look at Morin, they are going to like what they see…he has developed into a nice power forward who scores…
Tab, what happens with Montador and Olescz going on waivers…neither will get claimed, so are the Hawks obligated to play them somewhere, or can they simply release them outright…and what will be the CAP consequences for both players???
Thanks.
No more Eager.
Ship him out.
Sr. Brad- While I would never claim to be an expert, I always thought that if a player was assigned to the AHL and cleared waivers, they would not count against the cap (even though they are still paid for that contract). I don’t know what the regulation is on being able to release them out right.
I thought one way players sent to the minors count under the new CBA. Maybe I’m wrong.
They still count against the cap under the new CBA, but the Hawks have room. Sending them down opens roster spots in the NHL, which is what’s significant about Montador going down.
Hayes was good last year but he didn’t bring a mean streak to his game… if he does watch out!!! I love Shaw but he is too small to be effective as a net presence weapon on the PP… but Hayes would be perfect as long as he brings some aggression to the task. If he brings it the PP would have a chance to soar!!!!
Hayes having any success will be strongly tied to how well he can stay on his skates and not get knocked on his butt (which has been an issue with him). Also, with his lack of speed, it will be imperative for Bolland to win offensive zone draws. Related to that, regardless of how “mean” he is, the guy still has to be able to catch people to hit them and I have little faith his skating is up to snuff. Hopefully he proves me wrong.
Brad I hope you are right about Morin, I’ll admit I have always been down on Morin since he was aquired in a trade. It could just be the fact that his trade was the one that ripped SC winning team apart and Morin had failed to impress me the limited times I had seen him. Plus he always had the knock of being a bad skater, from various scouting outlets. It would be great if the Hawks could break him in on the fourth line along with the other two “kids” Hayes and Saad. Go Hawks!
Just wild-eyed speculation, but maybe JHayes is being showcased for an upcoming trade. So, they put him on Kane’s line and hope he pumps a few into the net and other GMs see the size and right handed shot and the goal scoring and presto … the Hawks acquire the final piece to the Stanley Cup winning puzzle.
Hey, a guy can dream, can’t I?
SouthSide… I am w/ you on Morin— great shooter — can’t skate…
Hayes is top heavy- but he does have very good hands for a big guy…
kinda like Bickell- doesn’t really look good in front of net– but good around it!
I do agree 3rd line should stay as is… but still like Hayes on 1st cuz 19-81 can make up for defensive mistakes- and Saad is faster/better D- so might fit better w/ Kane…
But we can see what Hayes looks like on 2nd- I don’t think he is slow- just not as agile as some-
If we were going to bring up a 2nd liner it should have been Ben Smith. Jimmy Hayes is too slow to skate on 2nd line with Bolland and Kane. With as much as most of you nit pick Bolland’s faceoff % I would think Hayes’ speed would be a no brainer to nit pick.Would be better putting Hayes on the 4th line and Carcillo on the 2nd andyeah I expect to get killed for saying it.
I understand why Q is doing it tho, to get Krugs and Frolik back together on 4th line so they can play 1st unit Pen Kill.
Wall – “…3rd line should stay as is… but still like Hayes on 1st cuz 19-81 can make up for defensive mistakes- and Saad is faster/better D- so might fit better w/ Kane” – I believe that as much as possible ALL four lines should stay as is – at least as they were thru most of “the streak”. 20-19-81 are a “1st” line and playing well…why disrupt that, and the same for 29-65-25 and 16-67-either Bollig or Carcillo? I haven’t seen any Rockford game, but maybe Hayes fits with Kane and Bolland? If not, the Hawks still have three lines that were playing well (enough to roll 1-thru-4).
ER, “maybe JHayes is being showcased for an upcoming trade” – interesting thought. “…the Hawks acquire the final piece to the Stanley Cup winning puzzle” – maybe they have all of the pieces? At the start of the 2010 playoffs, did you really believe they had “all of the pieces” to win? Honestly, I did not. In fact, I thought they were done in the first round…
GO HAWKS!!
I agree with those who say Hayes may be a little to slow for the second line. Part of the success any small quick forward like Kane is he needs players who draw their attention. I am not sure that Hayes fills that spot in place of Sharp. As some suggest putting Hayes on the top line makes more sense. Hossa is a power forward and makes his own space and Toews always draws attention. Besides, Both Hoss and Toews are more responsible in the back end than Kane. Third line, no, why mess with the best 3d line in hockey. A fourth line of Hayes, Kruger, Frolik can have some punch and be effective in the back end.
As for showcasing and trade bait, who knows. Much stranger things have happened.
The comments about Hayes being slower than Kane are accurate, but Kane is probably one of the fastest skaters on the Hawks. Here is the strength to Hayes’ offensive game and how I hope the Blackhawks use him, get him to the front of the net…He will not help on breakaways or skating fast to create an odd man rush. He will help in being “big” in front of the net or the forward cycle in the offensive zone.
I think one of the reasons the 3rd line is so successful is because of their puck possession (can we all agree there?). They keep the puck away from the line they are playing against, which is usually the other team’s top 1 or 2 lines. Bickell, Shaw, and Stalberg constantly cycle the puck among themselves while limiting the touches of the back 2 D-Men (to prevent odd man rushes or getting the puck further away from the opponent’s net and closer to ours…). If we want to compare Bickell to Hayes (which I think is a good comparison), how impressed have we all been with Bickell this year and his ability in front of and behind the net. Hayes can do the same thing. If the Hawks utilize Hayes like this and the 2nd line does this “mini” cycle, they can be successful. Hayes can use his size, Bolland can be annoyingly effective, and Kane will still be able to find some open space, it won’t be as much as if he had the whole offensive zone, but the trade off is he is closer to the net. I’m excited…I think this can work. At the very least, we can get our other lines back to consistency. Let’s get em boys.
Hayes- skating agility- was not good vs. Bluejackets…
Stalberg continues to keep plays/possessions alive in O zone w/crazy speed… Hawks HAVE to resign him-IMO
Tab- Anyone, opinions on Steve Ott- Center w/ great Faceoff %- Hits-
Could he skate w/ 2nd line? Or is he much better as 3rd line/checking???