Sometimes a young player needs a wake-up call, and few things set off an alarm quite like a healthy scratch.
Perhaps that’s the message the New York Rangers (and particularly head coach Alain Vigneault) are trying to send to Kevin Hayes, as he’s headed toward being a healthy scratch on Wednesday.
It sounds like this has been brewing for a while, too.
Vigneault believes that things have come to a “tipping point” with Hayes, that he hasn’t worked hard enough so far in 2015-16, according to the Bergen Record’s Andrew Gross.
AV says it’s come to a “tipping point” with Kevin Hayes. Says young forward has not worked hard enough this season.
— Andrew Gross (@AGrossNewsday) December 29, 2015
There’s almost a sense of exasperation.
AV says Kevin Hayes has been given a “long leash” this season. No more. Meanwhile Hayes says he remains confident in his game.
— Andrew Gross (@AGrossNewsday) December 29, 2015
After a solid start to his season (15 points in 25 games), Hayes really has gone cold with just two points in 12 December contests.
He’s far from the only problem for the Rangers - just ask Henrik Lundqvist - yet it could be crucial to get a spark from a talented, young forward like Hayes.
Sometimes a little break doesn’t hurt matters, either.