Larry Henry JrThe Philadelphia Flyers are getting healthier and Kevin Hayes looks to be next in returning to action earlier than expected.
Hayes could make his return for the Orange and Black as early as next week, giving Mike Yeo more options to consider in his squad. The 29-year-old center is continuing to recover from abdominal issues that he had to undergo surgery for in the off-season and hip surgery that he had in January.
Hayes has had three procedures done on his midsection since the end of last season, forcing to miss ample time during the 2021-22 campaign. His return would be welcomed as the Flyers try to salvage anything to what has been a majorly disappointing season.
“He’s getting close,” Yeo said Thursday. “I think that there’s a good chance we could see Kevin in the lineup. I know he had a real positive MRI, a real positive doctor’s appointment that gave him some good news…I can tell that he’s got more pace and more jump to the way he looks right now compared to when he was in the lineup.”
Hayes is just one of several key players that have been missing this season, joining Ryan Ellis, Joel Farabee, and Carter Hart in the growing list to miss games overall. Although the Flyers are getting closer and closer to being mathematically eliminated from playoff contention, the return of Hayes could provide a needed spark to an offensive unit that has scored the fifth-fewest goals in the league (129).
Hayes will not feature in Saturday’s game against the Washington Capitals but will be aiming for next week’s slate against Edmonton, Minnesota and Chicago to get back into the groove of things.
“I know that [Hayes] is approaching this as carefully as he possibly can, getting all the advice from multiple, multiple people, resources,” Yeo said. “One hundred percent [Hayes] is committed to the Flyers’ organization and his long-term ability to help this organization, so he’s not going to jeopardize that just by coming back and playing a few games this year. Everything that he is doing is based on the long-term idea of what he can bring for this group.
“It hurts for him not being in the lineup, he wants to play, but having the conversations that I’ve had, he doesn’t want to jeopardize next year. But at the same time, if people are telling him that maybe he doesn’t need surgery, maybe coming back and playing is going to help him more next year, then he might follow that advice as well. He’s just got to continue to listen to the experts right now and that’s what he’s doing.”
The Flyers will look to snap a six-game losing streak on Saturday against Washington.
You can follow Larry Henry on Twitter (@lhenry019) and e-mail him at [email protected].
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