6/17/18 | Larry Brooks writes that Kevin Hayes is generating "significant interest" around the league. (NY Post)
Brooks notes that the Rangers could have a glut at center and that if Hayes were to be moved it would likely be as the "centerpiece" of a deal to acquire a defenseman. (NY Post)
He wrote that it's unlikely the Rangers would move Hayes in an effort to move up in the draft. (NY Post)
Hayes is an RFA with arbitration rights and Brooks writes that he is likely to get a five-year deal around $4.75 million (NY Post)
6/3/18 | What Kevin Hayes might be able to get for his next contract
Larry Brooks wrote in the NY Post that it may take a five-year deal with a cap hit of $4.5 million per season to get Kevin Hayes signed to a long-term contract. (NY Post)
Hayes is an RFA with arbitration rights and could become an unrestricted free agent after next season. (NY Post)
Hayes had 25 goals this season, a career high, averaged 17:21 per game and finished the season winning 50.5% of faceoffs.
Hayes won an average of 36% of faceoffs in his first two seasons before moving to 46% in 2016-17.
He spent the past two-seasons under Alain Vigneault starting an average of 41& of his shifts in the offensive zone and 58% in the defensive zone. (Hockey Ref)
Hayes, 26, is finishing up a two-year deal with a cap hit of $2.6 million per season.
Adam Rotter: Hayes is an interesting guy for a variety of reasons. At the very top, Alain Vigneault saw him as a center and he developed into a pretty nice one. Hayes developed into a pretty reliable player that was able to take on most of the load that was left behind when Derek Stepan was traded. Hayes has certainly shown that he can be an NHL center, but David Quinn may try taking a look at him on the wing, where he played and starred at BC. The Rangers are deep down the middle and with Mika Zibanejad locked up as the first line center and Lias Andersson and Filip Chytil knocking at the door, it wouldn't be a shock to see the Rangers try and move Hayes around. That said, it's hard to invest multiple years and nearly $5 million in a player that might be shifting around. At the same time, maybe Andersson or Chytil are moved to the wing and Hayes keeps his spot behind Zibanejad. It may seem early to think about all of this, since it's early June and training camp isn't until September, but as the Rangers make up their roster for this season, and the future, these are the kind of things that likely go into their decision making.