Chicago Blackhawks Draftee Profile: Kevin Hayes

Going into the 2010 NHL entry draft the Chicago Blackhawks had two picks in the first round, 24th overall and 30th overall.

The Blackhawks ended up trading the 30th overall pick to the New York Islanders for two second round picks, but with the 24th overall pick the Chicago Blackhawks selected right wing Kevin Hayes out of Nobles and Greenough School.

Hayes was not slated to make it into the first round but was thought to be more of a mid second round pick but this work out warrior got the 'Hawks to fall in love with his combination of size, skill and potential.

He stands 6'2" and is listed at 201 lbs. which Stan Bowman believes could turn into three more inches and 30 more pounds by the time he is read for the NHL, projecting as a power forward at the professional level.

When asked who he would compare his game with on the Blackhawks, he quickly said Jonathan Toews because he thinks of himself as a two-way player and takes pride in that.

Now I'm not sure that Hayes has all the tools offensive that Toews had when he was drafted back in 2006 but he is definitely a player that plays a two way game and can help his team at both ends of the ice.

In 2009-2010 Hayes played high school hockey at Nobles and Greenough School in Dedham, MA where he would score 67 points in 28 games.

Now those numbers are impressive but you must consider Hayes is not playing at the junior level where you face a higher level of competition on a night to night basis.

Hayes will be attending Boston College this fall and will likely not seethe NHL for some years as he still needs to develop his game against a higher level of competition.

Although Hayes has not faced the high level of competition like many of the players coming out of the CHL, Hayes does have all the physical tools and work ethic to become a contributor at the NHL level.

Now I know many Blackhawks fans, including myself, were pulling for the 'Hawks to pick the likes of Emerson Etem or Quinton Howden but Bowman believes that with seasoning Hayes can be a better pro then anyone available at that point in time.

At this point in time I have to have faith in Bowman and hopefully Hayes can develop three or four years down the road into the player that they believe he can become.