A fantastic story in the 2022-2023 season, Kevin Hayes is the lone representative for the Philadelphia Flyers at the 2023 NHL All-Star Weekend.
Hayes admits he was shocked when Chuck Fletcher told him he would represent the Flyers on the Metropolitan Division team for the 2023 NHL All-Star Game. His late brother, Jimmy, wanted him to be an all-star, and it happened. This weekend, Hayes is enjoying his time in Sunrise, FL, with Beau, Jimmy’s son, and his cousins, the Tkachuk brothers.
“It’s a cool situation for me because, not to get emotional, it’s probably the only thing my brother, since he stopped playing hockey wanted me to accomplish. I never honestly thought it would happen. It did, and it’s cool.”
Kevin Hayes; 1/5/2023
Taking it all in, Hayes participated in the Honda Accuracy Shooting skill competition and the All-Star Game while spending time with family and friends. Here’s a peek into Hayes’ 2023 NHL All-Star Weekend:
2023 Honda Accuracy Shooting
One of ten participants in the skills contest, Hayes was the sixth fastest in the competition and the sixth most accurate. He didn’t make the top four cut to the next round.
“I’m just happy I didn’t come in last in that competition. It gets a little nerve-wracking when you miss the first one, but overall I did pretty well.”
Kevin Hayes; 2/3/2023
Hayes went 4/9 in 22.37 seconds. He placed better than Leon Draisaitl, Jack Hughes, Vladimir Tarasenko, and Aleksander Barkov. Competition aside, it was all about fun. Draisaitl started to shoot backhand at targets once he couldn’t beat Nikita Kucherov.
In the first round, Connor McDavid did go 4/4 in 9.49 seconds. He did it in the second round, but Nazem Kadri hit the targets quicker. Brock Nelson won the competition, head-to-head with Kadri in the finals.
Metropolitan Division 3v3
In threes, the Metropolitan Division took on the Atlantic Division to crown the top division in the NHL Eastern Conference.
Johnny Gaudreau scored a hat trick, while Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin made up the other three. The Atlantic Division knocked out the Metropolitan Division; 10-6.
Hayes served as a defenseman in his trio with Gaudreau and Artemi Panarin. Considering the scoring hierarchy between those three, putting Hayes back as the defenseman of the trio makes sense.
“He’s [Hayes] more reliable defensively than me or Panarin. He did a great job back there and he kept pushing our play up the ice.”
Johnny Gaudreau; 2/4/2023
John Tortorella didn’t hear that quote. He didn’t watch the NHL All-Star Weekend. Expect Hayes to continue his role at LW in Philadelphia.
Up Next
Today, the Flyers are back in Voorhees, NJ, at the Flyers Training Center at 2pm. At 21-21-9, they’re coming off the 2023 NHL All-Star Break, hosting the New York Islanders tomorrow at 7pm.
(Photo by Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire)
