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Kevin Hayes’ improvement warrants an All-Star Game Appearance
Alexandra Russo
Photo courtesy of MSG Photos.
For years now, the NHL has regarded the All-Star Game highly. Kevin Hayes deserves a spot on the roster due to his excellent and consistent play with the New York Rangers so far this season.
After a seemingly lackluster performance last season, there was a lot of grief among the fan base and calls for him to perform better. When he started his career with the Rangers, he opened up with 45 points in his rookie season. To the chagrin of many, including coaches and fans alike, Hayes played the same amount of games, while only producing 36 points and three less goals (14). He was forced to listen to talks of trades and rumors of not maintaining a spot on the roster. But has he ever proven everyone wrong this season.
In just 36 games, Hayes has managed an impressive 23 points, including eleven goals and twelve assists. He is already on track to finish the season better than any he’s played before, and it’s not only limited to point production. His faceoff percentage has gone up by over ten percent, now operating at around a respectable 47%. And let’s not forget that his shooting percentage is a big reason why his game is functioning overall at a better pace, as it has increased from 10.5% to 19%. Read the rest of this entry
NHL to implement new concussion spotters for 2015-16 season
Bobby Bevilacqua
In a move to combat the head injuries and concussions that have plagued the sports world recently, the NHL will begin mandating league-designated and trained spotters for every single game this season.
Max Pacioretty lies dazed after a big hit in a game against the Florida Panthers. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
There will be two spotters at every game, one for each team. They will be sponsored and trained by the league. However, each team has the right to designate their own concussion spotter for each game. This may be preferred, because that person would have the team’s best interests in mind, and they would know the players and their tendencies well.
According to Bill Daly, the NHL deputy commissioner, most teams have indicated that they’d prefer to go with a team-sponsored spotter, but having the league-mandated spotters gives teams another possibility. If the team spotter gets sick or can’t make it, there will be backups in a sense. (LINK)
Unlike the NFL, the spotters do not have the same power as they do in football. NFL concussion spotters have the power to stop a game and remove a player if they are showing clear signs of a concussion. This is known as the Julian Edelman Rule, named after the New England Patriots wide receiver. In the Super Bowl, Edelman took a nasty hit and appeared woozy, but stayed in the game to make some key catches, despite a spotter calling down to the sideline and asking for him to be removed. Read the rest of this entry
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