Kevin Hayes injury: Flyers forward has successful sports hernia surgery

Flyers center Kevin Hayes underwent successful sports hernia surgery last week in Philadelphia.

The procedure, which was performed by the renowned Dr. William Meyers, will require an expected five-week recovery. The Flyers will open training camp at some point in September ahead of the 2021-22 season.

This season, Hayes had 31 points (12 goals, 19 assists), a minus-2 rating and 127 shots (second on the team) over 55 games this season. Last season, Hayes had 32 points (17 goals, 15 assists), a minus-11 rating and 136 shots through 55 games. He finished 2019-20 with 41 points and was on pace to break his career high of 25 goals (he had 23 in 69 games) before the season was suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic.

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In 2020-21, as the Flyers surrendered the NHL's most goals per game at 3.52, the 29-year-old Hayes admitted he wasn't pleased with his defensive consistency. One would think the hernia issue started to hinder his game, although Hayes didn't pin anything on the injury.

"I just think it was kind of a mix of everything, the type of season the team had, the type of season the league had, a bunch of different factors," Hayes said last month at his end-of-the-season press conference. "I felt like my first year in Philly was amazing, it was a great start to my career here, and this year was kind of a little hiccup, not the way I wanted it to go obviously. I want to be a guy that's relied on every single night and a guy that plays the right way, 200-foot game. This year, I can't honestly say that that was the case. I'm kind of going to get away from the rink for a little bit and then get back after I feel better. Get back to work and start working toward next season."

Hayes will be entering his third season with the Flyers, who are aiming for a return to the playoffs after falling short of expectations in 2020-21.

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