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Undrafted Forward Emerging as a Pittsburgh Penguins Roster Contender
Photo credit: Hockey Unplugged edit
Undrafted Penguins forward Avery Hayes is making a strong case to make the team's opening night roster, and he is very confident and believes in himself.
Among a night full of memorable moments, there was one that stood out from the others.
In the Penguins' 4-1 preseason victory against the Columbus Blue Jackets at PPG Paints Arena, a contest which also served as a farewell for franchise icon Marc-Andre Fleury, Sidney Crosby scored the first goal of the night with a tally that featured speed, accuracy, and ingenuity.
Crosby sped around defenseman Jake Christiansen prior to snapping a wrist shot through goalie Elvis Merzlikins. The finish was clean, but the preamble was even nicer. Kris Letang initiated it with a cross-ice feed from the neutral zone.
Prospect Avery Hayes then drew in around Christiansen and left a silky backhand pass for Crosby, finishing the highlight-reel goal. For Hayes, skating alongside Crosby was the culmination of a gradual ascent.
"(Coaches) just tell everyone to be yourself, be the best version of yourself," said Hayes, a right-handed shot. "And you're here for a reason. So, you just have to play your own game and things will end up as they should."
"He's such a good guy," Hayes said of Crosby. "He makes it so easy to just play off him. At the end of the day, he's just another hockey player. I mean, he's arguably the best ever to do it. But just another hockey player and you just have to treat it like that. It was really cool. He made it easy for me."
"He's such a good guy," Hayes said of Crosby. "He makes it so easy to just play off him. At the end of the day, he's just another hockey player. I mean, he's arguably the best ever to do it. But just another hockey player and you just have to treat it like that. It was really cool. He made it easy for me."
An undrafted free agent from junior hockey with the Peterborough Petes, he was bogged down by injury as a rookie pro, which was spent with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Wheeling.
Avery Hayes had a Breakout Season in the AHL Last Year and Could be Ready for NHL Action
Last season, he emerged with 23 goals and 42 points in 60 AHL games and was signed to an NHL entry-level contract in March.
Now 23, Hayes offers more than just scoring prowess. A 5-foot-10, 180-pounder who competes with an edge, he racked up 58 penalty minutes a season ago.
That mix of grit and talent has gotten the attention of the coaching staff and given him an opportunity to show he's worthy of the next step up.
Saturday night was, no doubt, about the tribute to Fleury, yet Hayes' involvement in a Crosby signature goal served as a reminder that the future of the Penguins is also fun to watch.
| POLL | ||
OCTOBRE 1 | 62 ANSWERS Undrafted Forward Emerging as a Pittsburgh Penguins Roster Contender Will Avery Hayes make the Penguins' opening night roster? | ||
| Yes | 32 | 51.6 % |
| No | 30 | 48.4 % |
| List of polls | ||