The large Boston College bound winger plays a good net presence game and has the skills to convert in close. Hayes uses his long reach well in battles and to protect the puck. He has a good shot which he gets off quickly but his biggest asset is his size. Hayes remains a very raw product who needs time to develop to his full potential. His skating is in need of fine tuning and his foot speed needs improvement. Hockey sense is a concern since his struggles this season on the US National Development program squad were a stark contrast to last season’s success. Consistency is a major area needing improvement as Hayes’ effort level must remain high for him to be effective. (May 2008)