Kevin had abdominal surgery prior to the season, and his comeback would put him inside the 6-8 week time range previously reported for his rehabilitation. Kevin will have missed 12 regular season games for the Flyers, games in which they went 7-3-2.
The real story surrounding Kevin's isn't his recovery from a major surgery, but his return after the untimely death of his brother Jimmy Hayes. Jimmy, a former NHL player, died unexpectedly in August, shocking the hockey world considering his youthful age and good health. Jimmy died of an overdose linked to fentanyl, a lethal narcotic that has claimed thousands of lives across the United States of America.
If Kevin returns, I am confident that he will be welcomed back by both his and Jimmy's fans, as well as his team. I am convinced that he will receive a warm welcome from a variety of fan bases around the league, not just the Flyers'.
