Gavin Hayes is an energy player who plays the game with a lot of pace and has a nose for the prime scoring areas in the offensive zone. He plays a north-south style of game and uses his speed and size to make himself available for scoring opportunities in the slot. His combination of high-motor and mobility allows him to excel when working away from the puck. He has high top-end speed and with his aggressiveness he is keen at separating his opponents from the puck and because of his work ethic is great at retrieving the loose pucks he creates. His puck skills are good, not great, but his game doesn’t rely on him driving play. He’s a complimentary player who will get himself open for teammates and finish off plays when he gets the puck in the offensive zone. He will want to work on his play in the defensive zone. He has good positional discipline, but doesn’t support the play as much as he should. He’s almost too cautious of his assignment and doesn’t want to do anything that may allow him to lose his positioning. The other knock against him will be his lack of play-driving potential, but some players aren’t meant to be drivers on their line, and he appears to be aware that he’s one of them. He won’t carry a line by himself, or necessarily elevate his linemates to another level, but what he will do is play with tenacity and a high pace on each and every shift, and that element can be contageous for teammates. He is the perfect energy player – likely a bottom-six winger at the next level – who plays in multiple situations at different times of the game. He has the skillset that will endear him to his coach and teammates and although Hayes won’t ever be dynamic, he will carve out a quality pro career.

– FCHockey’s 2022 NHL Draft Guide