BHN Puck Links: Some Bruins Fans Need To Quit The Hayes Rumors

The cause of death for former Boston Bruins and Boston College forward Jimmy Hayes likely won’t be known for potentially a month or more. 

In an e-mail statement to the Boston Globe a spokesman for the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner had this to say:

“OCME has completed an autopsy in this case. The cause and manner of death remain pending and an update is not expected for several weeks when toxicology testing comes back.”

Sadly, that toxicology test will lead to even more of the baseless and insensitive speculation that has dominated hockey social media since Hayes passed away suddenly on Monday morning. Frankly, after 20 years of covering the Boston Bruins and the NHL, this longtime puck scribe has never been so disappointed in the Bruins and NHL fan base. The people claiming that Hayes had a drug overdose or died from the COVID vaccine are showing their true colors and don’t have the slightest idea of what may have happened. They likely have no idea what an amazing human being Hayes was but clearly, as is usually the case with insecure people that hide behind a keyboard, they get more joy out of dragging the deceased through the mud rather than celebrate a sadly short life for a wonderful person and teammate. 

“Jimmy was just a special guy. Literally every single room he walked into he lit it up with a smile, a joke, and lots of laughs. It’s hard to put into words what he meant to not only his teammates but his family. He has such a strong family that it’s tough to see it happen,” former Boston Bruins defenseman and teammate of Hayes Torey Krug said on the Greg Hill Show on WEEI on Wednesday morning. “You don’t hear people talk about the championships and all the goals he scored over the years, and he won championships at Boston College, but you hear people talk about his character, how much fun he was to be around, and that smile. It’s been a tough few days.”

These ignorant trolls are likely the ones who made life with the Boston Bruins tougher than it had to be for the Dorchester kid who wanted nothing more than to represent them and wear the Spoked B.

“He was so excited to wear the Boston Bruins sweater. We knew what it meant for him to wear the sweater and what a dream come true it was for him to play in front of all his friends and family,” Krug said. “I remember doing multiple hospital visits with Jim. It was so easy to go in there with him because one of his God-given abilities was to light up a room and make everybody laugh. No matter what they were going through, it was easy to go into a room like that with Jim.”

Luckily tributes like that have helped drown out the rumors and immaturity but I couldn’t not say something for a person who always cared more about everyone else than himself. Show some respect!

Boston Bruins

Unrestricted free agent goalie Tuukka Rask once again defended his and the coaching staff’s decision to start Rask in Game 6 against the New York Islanders but he gets the constant no-win situation he’s in with some Boston Bruins fans and media. (BHN)

Speaking of Rask, is $250,000 and free Bud Lights all it will take for him to sign with the Boston Bruins again? (BHN)

National Hockey Now

The Philadelphia Flyers added some veteran depth up the middle on Wednesday. (Philly Hockey Now)

What can the Washington Capitals and their fans expect from big winger Anthony Mantha in his full season with the Caps? (Washington Hockey Now)

It was number reveal day for the newest Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday. (Detroit Hockey Now)

Amazingly, plenty of Colorado Avalanche fans seem to think they will be better off with newly acquired Darcy Kuemper than 2021 Vezina Trophy finalist Philipp Grubauer. (Colorado Hockey Now). 

Who are the Top 10 San Jose Sharks prospects? (San Jose Hockey Now)

NHL

That’s a really nice gesture by Oakland Vice Mayor Rebeca Kaplan but enough already! MOVE THE COYOTES TO QUEBEC CITY!

Yes! To the @ArizonaCoyotes & anyone interested in the fabulous & well-located Oakland Arena for your sports team: We recently approved terms for a WNBA team, which will allow the team, and the tax payers, to both prosper.
Could this work for you too:https://t.co/XNyMVtbmEv https://t.co/xufjfViRaD pic.twitter.com/90LKWB8Cai

— Rebecca Kaplan, Vice Mayor of Oakland (@Kaplan4Oakland) August 21, 2021

The future was already bright for the Ottawa Senators and now with former NHL on NBC and TSN analyst on board in the Hockey Ops department, it’s even brighter. Trust us, the Sens are a sleeper team to watch and bet on this season. I’m saying it now, they will make the Stanley Cup playoffs. (TSN)

I may need a lawyer after writing this but Evander Kane has really become a scumbucket. (The Athletic)