The NHL has changed the way the All-Stars will be chosen this year with the first 32 having already been selected – one from each team – and then the final 12 slots will be determined by an online fan vote. As is the case every year there was going to be snubs, and the Philadelphia Flyers will be represented by Kevin Hayes this year – at the very least.
The centreman is on pace to having a career year as he currently stands with 10 goals and 35 points in 38 games. That would have him finish the season with 53 assists and 75 points in 81 games with his previous highs being 36 and 55, respectively. He was rolling to start the season with a 5-game point streak and then having 9 goals and 28 points in just 27 games. He hit a snag, got benched in the third period, followed that up with a healthy scratch, and then had just 2 points in 9 games before getting back on track with a goal and 4 assists in 2 games against the Anaheim Ducks and Arizona Coyotes.
Alongside Travis Konecny, Hayes has been the heartbeat of the Flyers’ offence all season long, especially when the Flyers were injured from top to bottom and weren’t being helped by any secondary options. It’s only been over the last few weeks where players like Morgan Frost, Joel Farabee, and Tony DeAngelo have chipped in with Hayes faltering a little but as he’s getting his footing back, his whole season has been recognized as All-Star worthy.
In saying that and considering the fact that it’s very difficult to make the All-Star team with only 11 selections from 8 teams with each team having to have one representative, the Flyers’ selection should’ve been Travis Konecny. At one point you could’ve considered Carter Hart but unfortunately for those who are selecting, they probably won’t look past his record. However, Konecny leads the team in goals with 20 and points with 40 in just 34 games.
The soon-to-be 26-year-old is well on his way to smashing his previous career-highs as he is only 4 goals away from tying the 24-mark that he has hit 3 separate times and 21 points away from matching his 61 from 2019-20. In other words, Konecny has been everything the Flyers have needed, wanted, and expected to have when they drafted him in the first round of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.
John Tortorella might’ve unlocked the code to cracking the goal-scoring forward as he looks unstoppable on some nights. Against the Coyotes he was able to do as he pleased on the ice with incredible passes through the legs of defenders, finishing off plays with his speed and his shot, and just running circles around the defence from start to finish. His motor, feistiness, offensive prowess, and aggressiveness has returned full circle from 2019-20 and he doesn’t look like he’s going to stop either.
Heading into Sunday’s tilt against the Toronto Maple Leafs, he will be hoping to extend his 7-game point streak in which he has collected multiple points in all but 1 of those games, as has scored 8 goals and added 6 assists while averaging well over 20 minutes a game. Konecny has been special this season as he has been the guy for well over a month but the story writes itself.
Points and recent play aside, it is truly an honour for Kevin to have been selected this season as he mentioned after their game on Thursday that it was the one thing that his late brother Jimmy wanted him to achieve and accomplish once he left the league. The veteran forward will be bringing his nephew, Beau, along with him to Florida and take part in festivities. It’s a big achievement for player and family as he fulfilled his wishes and will be representing the Flyers in his first career All-Star appearance in what is bound to be a career-year as well.
“It could’ve been a couple guys in this room. It’s nice to be nominated as an All-Star. It’s a cool situation for me because, not to get emotional, but it’s the only thing my brother since he stopped playing hockey, wanted me to accomplish. I never honestly thought it would happen, but it did. It’s cool. I know my family is very excited and his son, Beau, will be with me the whole time. It will be an extra special experience.”
Fans still have a lot of pull as they are deciding the final 12 selections, which ends on the 17th of January with the results being revealed on the 19th. So if you still want to see Travis Konecny or Carter Hart in the All-Star game there’s still a chance.
Hayes will be joining Andrei Svechnikov of the Carolina Hurricanes, Johnny Gaudreau of the Columbus Blue Jackets, Jack Hughes of the New Jersey Devils, Brock Nelson of the New York Islanders, Igor Shesterkin of the New York Rangers, Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins, and Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals as the first 8 representatives of the Metropolitan Division.
