Mad as hell and not going to take it anymore

People who have followed hockey for many years can recall games where one particular player seemed to be getting into scrums and even fisticuffs all night long.

Seattle Kraken fans haven't seen that very much. Especially last season when the team was criticized for not responding to cheap shots against players like MattyBeniers and Jared McCann.

That wasn't the case at Vancouver's Rogers Arena on Tuesday night. Forward John Hayden, who's been slowed down by injuries and has spent the last two seasons with the Coachella Valley Firebirds of the AHL, was a thorn in the side of the Canucks and public enemy number one of Vancouverites in attendance.

Hayden started the night stepping up to fight 6'6 defenseman Vilma Alrikson after the Swedish rookie ran Logan Morrison from behind. The `little guy' at only 6'3,Hayden appeared to deliver the most punches.

``That's John Hayden in a nutshell," opined former NHLer Eddie Olczyk on the Kraken telecast. ``He jumps on the ice. He responds and stands up for his teammate. We've seen this with Hayden before. Not just in the American Hockey League but at the NHL level."

The night wasn't over for the 29-year-old from Greenwich, Ct. When defenseman Will Borgen had a set-to with Vancouver's Scott Garland at the horn ending the secondperiod, Hayden exchanged pleasantries with the Canuck bench.

In the third period, the Canucks' Tyler Myers slashed Brandon Montour after taking a hit in front of the net. It appeared that Myers and Montour were set to drop the gloves when Hayden came flying into the fray and put a headlock on Myers. In the pre-season a year ago, Hayden challenged the 6'7 Myers, who has taken runs at Kraken players in the past, notably Beniers.

Late in the contest, the Kraken's Brandon Tanev fought Vancouver's Mark Friedman. Canuck defenseman Derek Forbert tried to involve Hayden in a second fight, showing perhaps that he was getting under Vancouver's skin.

The next day at the Kraken's training facility, Hayden noted that he's not the only Kraken set to play a physical game this season. ``I think we have a pack mentality. I thought it was critical the last two years with Coachella Valley."

``We want our team to have a mentality of getting into the fight," said Kraken coach Dan Byslma.``And when you do that, it means your jerseys are back-to-back and you're all in it together."

Or to quote a famous movie from the `70's, maybe the Kraken are just ``mad as hell and not going to take it anymore."

Hayden had a modest 15 goals and 11 assists with the Firebirds, but was a top penalty killer in CV. The Kraken signed Hayden as a free agent prior to the 2022-23 season and he was playing regularly in the latter stages of the season. Then Hayden hurt his ankle in a scrap with Edmonton's Klim Kosten when he fell awkwardly on the ice. 

He hoped to make the Kraken last season but was banged up again in training camp. He spent virtually all of last season in Coachella Valley playing only two games with the Kraken. Despite not seeing much NHL action he opted to return to the organization this season.

``I try to grow every year," said Hayden. ``I've learned a ton from this staff the last couple of years. That's the thing about hockey. There's always something to work on."

With Bylsma moving up to the parent club from Coachella, that could bode well for Hayden making the Kraken.

``There's definitely a comfort level with Dan," Hayden admitted. ``Coming to camp and knowing the system. The culture he expects, and it's good to see it implemented."

Hayden's also happy to see Jessica Campbell, the Firebirds' assistant coach promoted to the NHL. ``I worked won skating and puck drills with Jess. And Stu (Bickel) with the penalty kill."

Hayden surprised some members of the media when he noted that Campbell, the first full-time women's coach in the NHL, has helped him gain confidence. ``There's an element of sports psychology and theory that she's helped with... making sure guys were confident with the best version of themselves."

Originally drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks in 2013 as the 74th pick (third round) Hayden, who was born in Chicago but grew up Connecticut, opted to attended Yale University. A captain and All-Ivy in his senior year, Hayden joined the Hawks in 2018 when his college career ended. He scored a goal in his second NHL game against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

He would go on to spend one season apiece with the New Jersey Devils, Arizona Coyotes and Buffalo Sabres before signing with the Kraken organization. 

One Kraken blog has already suggested that Hayden on the parent roster this season over Tanev, who's been mentioned in trade rumors, would be a good financial move for the Kraken. Tanev's been a fan favorite from day one in Seattle, but the Kraken have reached the salary cap limit with the signings of Montour and Chandler Stephenson and contract extensions for Beniers and Adam Larson.

And the physicality that Hayden brings to the table won't hurt his chances. The Kraken's pre-season home opener with Calgary was also a physical contest and Bylsma noted after the game, ``we don't want to be reactionary. We want to be the aggressor. I like to be the aggressor in physicality and how we play."