Jimmy Hayes Making An Impact In First Action With Blackhawks

Published: 6^th Jan 12 2:31 pm

Randy Holt
Randy Holt

RANT It!

Rob Grabowski-US PRESSWIRE

As tired as we may be of hearing about Dustin Byfuglien, the Blackhawks haven’t really had a guy that could fill a presence like that in the lineup.

The Hawks have really lacked that type of size since he was traded in the summer of 2010, and even with the sandpaper added to the lineup this summer, there still isn’t that type of player that the team can just plant in front of the goalie and go to work on the offensive end.

We had hoped Bryan Bickell would assume that role. He hasn’t. His hits show up on the stat sheet, but his physical game is inconsistent, as is the rest of his play. He’s constantly out of position and is basically invisible out on the ice.

The Hawks’ coaching staff must have hoped that the few healthy scratches Bickell has received this season would help him step up his game. They haven’t. He’s a minus-7 for the year and has just eight points in 34 games. Each night it looks more and more like he might not even finish the season in Chicago.

Enter Jimmy Hayes.

Prior to last week, Hayes was probably a name you had heard quite often but hadn’t really seen in action. But by now, you probably know just who Hayes is and what he is capable of doing on the ice.

The Hawks called up Hayes prior to last weekend’s showdown with the Detroit Red Wings from the Rockford Icehogs. With Rockford, Hayes had 18 points in 28 games and was a plus-1, but it doesn’t look like he is going to be heading back anytime soon.

It’s just three games, keep that in mind, but Hayes is already doing his best to be what Bryan Bickell should be. He’s used his 6’6″, 220 pound frame effectively and has stood out in all three games in limited ice time.

On Monday against Edmonton, Hayes scored his first career NHL goal before adding his second on Thursday against the Flyers. In the latter loss, the fourth line, featuring Hayes, Jamal Mayers, and Michael Frolik, was one of the more consistent units of the night. Hayes has also seen some time on the Hawks’ second power play unit.

After just three games, it’s hard to get too excited over the performance of a guy like Jimmy Hayes. But if he can continue this stretch and turn in some consistent play, he might very well earn a permanent home in Chicago, and provide the Blackhawks with that big body that they’ve been looking for.