Count both his current coach and his former coach among those who think it’s more than just two of the 35 games on the schedule.

Badgers coach Tony Granato remembers sleepless nights, excitement and distractions in his NHL playing career before games against one of his former teams.

“Anyone that gets to play in front of their old team or go to your old place where you grew up, whatever it is, there’s always some extra emotions attached to it,” Granato said.

“He’s been looking forward to this one, for the right reasons.”

Mark Morris, the second-year St. Lawrence coach to whom Hayton delivered news of his departure this offseason, said he’d be lying if he claimed that there wasn’t a little more on the line for his players.

Yet there was some understanding of Hayton’s understated outlook from Gavin Bayreuther, who played his final three seasons at St. Lawrence in front of the goalie.

“The thing with Kyle is, no matter who he’s playing, he wants to win,” said Bayreuther, who joined Hayton last season as a second-team East Region All-American and who now is a defenseman for the Texas Stars in the American Hockey League.