Rookie Hayes Embraces Top-6 Spot in Penguins Lineup

Avery Hayes steps into the Penguins' top-6 with the quiet confidence of a kid who gets it - no diva demands, just hockey sense that fits right into Mike Sullivan's system. Sources around the Burgh whisper that this rookie's not fazed by the bright lights or the vets breathing down his neck; he knows his role and thrives there. Penguins fans remember how rookies like this can spark a middling season, especially with playoff positioning hanging by a thread this late in February.