Jimmy Hayes’ family hopes sharing his story ‘can save someone’s life’ after fentanyl contributed to former NHL player’s sudden death

Former NHL player Jimmy Hayes had cocaine and fentanyl in his system when he died, his family told The Boston Globe on Sunday.

Hayes was found dead at his home in the Boston suburbs on Aug. 23, the day after celebrating his son’s second birthday. He was 31.

“I hope getting Jimmy’s story out there can save someone’s life,” Hayes’ father, Kevin, told the Boston Globe. “If this can save someone from the pain, great. It’s just so sad. I pride myself on being pretty mentally strong. I’m a street guy. But there’s just no formula for this. You have a beautiful, All-American boy who made a terrible mistake and it cost him his life.”

Jimmy Hayes’ wife, Kristen, told the newspaper that she received the toxicology report from the Massachusetts state medical examiner on Friday. She took the call when she was en route to New Jersey to attend a Devils-Blackhawks game, which featured a pregame tribute for Hayes.

“I was completely shocked,” Kristen told the Globe. “I was so certain that it had nothing to do with drugs. I really thought it was a heart attack or anything that wasn’t that [drugs]. … It didn’t make any sense, so it was hard. I was hoping to get a different phone call when they called. I was hoping to get some clarity and I was shocked to hear that it was that. … He never showed any signs of a struggle at home.”

Kevin Hayes said that 16 or 17 months ago he noticed “a little change” in his son’s behavior.

“I went to him and I said, ‘I think there might be a problem here with pills,'” Kevin Hayes told the Globe. “He had had an injury for a while and I think he started taking the painkillers and they get you. I said, ‘Jim, I think I see a problem here.’ And he’s 31 years old, so I can’t tell him to go get help. So I said, ‘When you want help, I’ll be here for you, pal. Let me know.’

“He called me three weeks later and said, ‘Dad, I’m hooked on these pills. I got injured and I started taking them and I never got off.’ And I said, ‘Well, let’s get you some help.’ He went…