Kevin Hayes’ ‘glue guy’ role, John Tortorella’s reputation, and more Flyers notes from NHL All-Star Weekend

Sunrise, Fla. — With the waves crashing on the sand behind them, the NHL All-Stars shared their emotions, their Super Bowl picks and their thoughts on the Flyers.

Kevin Hayes, the Flyers’ All-Star representative, is the cousin of brothers Matthew Tkachuk and Brady Tkachuk — who play for the Florida Panthers and Ottawa Senators, respectively — and has played with or against many of the others All-Stars over the course of his nine-year NHL career. New York Islanders All Star Brock Nelson has played with Hayes as a member of Team USA and against him as Metropolitan Division opponents. He called Hayes a “glue guy,” someone everyone has a connection to.

» READ MORE: Kevin Hayes, Johnny Gaudreau, and five story lines to watch at NHL All-Star weekend

Meanwhile, Flyers coach John Tortorella is a more divisive figure. He’s had his differences with the media, other coaches and players, including Hayes, and players are watching his return from afar.

Here are some of the things All-Stars around the league said about Philly-related topics:

South Jersey native and Columbus Blue Jackets winger Johnny Gaudreau, unsurprisingly, predicted that his beloved Eagles will win the Super Bowl. However, part of him is tempted to not watch the big game next Sunday.

Gaudreau wasn’t able to catch the Eagles’ last two playoff games against the New York Giants and the San Francisco 49ers because of the Blue Jackets’ conflicting game and travel schedule. But the Eagles emerged victorious on both occasions, bringing out the superstitious sides in Gaudreau and fellow Blue Jacket and Eagles fan Eric Robinson.

“The last two games, we haven’t been able to watch,” Gaudreau said. “So we were thinking maybe not watching this one just to keep the wins coming. But we’ll see.”

The 29-year-old Gloucester Catholic High School alumnus lists the Eagles among his favorite sports teams, also including the Sixers and the Phillies. He enjoyed watching the Phillies storm their way to the World Series and he has high hopes for Joel Embiid and the Sixers this season.

But most of all, he’s been impressed with Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts’ growth this season, leading the team to its first Super Bowl since 2017 and contending for the league’s MVP award.

“It’s just crazy how [far] he’s come from last season,” Gaudreau said. “The way he throws the ball, the way he can run the ball. It’s just been a lot of fun to watch. He was on my fantasy team this year, too. So that was great.”

Even if Gaudreau misses a game, he still rocks Eagles gear, especially his go-to “lime green” beanie that he wears throughout the winter.

Everyone knows the name Tortorella. There are stories, Islanders All-Star Brock Nelson said.

And now he’s back behind an NHL bench after his stint as an ESPN analyst. What’s that like for opponents around the league?

“I mean, obviously, some crazy sound bites, you know?” said Jack Hughes, the New Jersey Devils All-Star who has to face the Flyers four times this season.

As wild as some of the stories are about him, Nelson said you also hear that a lot of players like him. And from what Nelson’s seen in their two games this season, the Flyers are a team that plays hard and competes every night.

Hughes has been on the wrong end of that so far. The Devils are 1-2-0 against the Flyers this season and have just one more game left.

“We got to beat the Flyers,” Hughes said adamantly. “They beat us twice.”

When Flyers winger Travis Konecny found out that the Vancouver Canucks traded his second cousin Bo Horvat to the Islanders, he texted his newfound division rival immediately.

Konecny, who realized that the Flyers play the Islanders in their first game back from the All-Star break on Feb. 6, decided to send Horvat a welcome message.

“He circled the calendar and sent me the picture of the screenshot of it and I just said, ‘I can’t wait,’ ” Horvat said. “So it’s going to be a treat to play against him all the time and hopefully we’ll get the better end of those games.”

» READ MORE: Flyers roundtable: Is the team’s overachievement actually a good thing long-term?

The Canucks sent Horvat, their former captain, to the Islanders on Monday in exchange for forwards Anthony Beauvillier, Aatu Räty, and a conditional 2023 first-round pick. Horvat is representing the Islanders at All-Star Weekend, however, he will still be a member of the Pacific Division team.

Although Horvat played for the Canucks for the last nine years, he has kept tabs on Konecny’s career from afar, especially his stellar season so far. Konecny leads the Flyers in goals (24) and points (49) through 45 games.

“I’ve always loved Trav’s game and the way he plays,” Horvat said. “He’s obviously having a great year and he deserves it, too. He’s worked hard and he’s a heck of a player and I’m really happy for him this year.”

Trades and free agency moves are part of the game, Vegas Golden Knights All-Star Chandler Stephenson said. Even so, it still feels weird every time he watches a Claude Giroux highlight and sees him in a Senators jersey.

“He was a big part of their [Flyers] team for so long,” Stephenson said. “Now that he’s in Ottawa, it’s something that you’re just not used to.”

Ottawa Senators All-Star and captain Brady Tkachuk is the beneficiary of Giroux’s move. The 23-year-old captain now has the support of an assistant captain who was previously the longest-tenured captain in Flyers history.

“He’s been so great to me on ice, off ice and I feel like we’ve gelled a lot throughout this year and then just be able to lean on each other in certain circumstances,” Tkachuk said.

It’s also a bit surreal for Tkachuk to play with the six-time All-Star who he watched growing up and to get to know him.

Tkachuk has an inside source for getting to know Giroux. As we mentioned, he’s cousins with Hayes, who played with Giroux for three seasons. Hayes has stories — a lot of stories.

“I don’t think we have the time to even talk about it,” Tkachuk said with a laugh.