I was getting the feeling during tonight’s game that the Pens play better without Hayes, but I wasn’t sure if that was just my perception or quantifiable. So I threw together a spreadsheet.
If you compare the Pens’ record with Hayes and without this season, they’re averaging almost twice as many points in the standings without him. Hypothetically the Pens would be 1 or 2 in the Metro, possibly 1 or 2 in the East (conjecture because of other obvious variables like the Skinner/Jarry trade).
I’m sure people more analytics-minded than me will find issues with my methodology, but as far as the standings are concerned, Hayes being in the lineup has been a detriment to their record.
13 comments
https://preview.redd.it/nprtdsuzftcg1.png?width=640&format=png&auto=webp&s=46ef1e19f7af5beddcc8a1bbb6706aceb417cbf7
This is really hard for me to read with my tired eyes
This sub a total hard-on for Hayes for how much they talk about him
The amount of line shuffling to accomodate Hayes in the lineup bothered a lot more than his play on the ice.
Now do top six players with and without and you might see similarities to this. Issue isn’t Hayes.
He’s Jeff Carter 2.0
$3.57 mil per year, can’t trade him, can’t not pay him either.
Theres a reason they acquired a 2nd rnd pick to take him
I like him as a person and a player but the chemistry hasn’t developed.
I think the issue is that they only resort to including him when someone they really need is hurt, rather than that he’s somehow disruptive.
It’s crazy that Rust gets injured yet again and now the team can’t score?? I’d bump Chinakov up and give him a shot with Crosby and then bring back the monster Malkin line
Can someone who understands the game of hockey better than I do please point to something in Hayes game that Dubas and Muse potentially see and agree, yeah we should completely shuffle the lineup and play that guy?
Unreal glue guy and okay penalty killer, but he’s not a top 9 player anymore. No way.