Kevin Hayes was Winnipeg's prize catch during the NHL's Feb. 25 trade deadline, but it wasn't so long ago that he was a talented but unfocused junior at Boston College, merely scratching the surface of his potential.
Today, the 26-year-old centre from Dorchester, Mass., admits it took a catastrophic injury to sharpen his mind and body into becoming a successful pro.
In a game against UMass-Lowell on Feb. 26, 2013, Hayes suffered a bruised quadriceps in his left leg that quickly developed into an emergency situation.
Hayes was rushed to hospital and surgery was performed to relieve the pressure in the leg.