Former Rangers forward Kevin Hayes will miss the start of the Pittsburgh Penguins season with an upper-body injury. The 33-year-old forward was on the wrong end of a collision with defenseman Ryan Graves, a 2013 draft pick by the Rangers.

To cap off the Rangers triple play, the injury announcement was made Friday by Penguins coach Dan Muse, who previously was an assistant behind the Rangers bench on Peter Laviolette’s staff for two seasons.

Aside from that Rangers oddity, it’s a blow for their long-time rivals. The Penguins hope to regain their footing in the division after missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs each of the past three seasons. There’s not a lot of quality depth behind an aging core of stars, so losing Hayes for at least a month is suboptimal.

Hayes is a reliable bottom-six forward at this stage of his career and a veteran of 777 NHL games. He had 23 points (13 goals, 10 assists) in 64 games with the Penguins in 2024-25, his fewest in 11 NHL seasons. But he won 52.1 percent of his face-offs and contributed as an experienced penalty killer.

He’s in the final season of a seven-year, $50 million contract, signed with the Philadelphia Flyers in June of 2019. Since then, his production’s dipped, he’s been traded twice, and personal tragedy struck. His brother, former NHL forward Jimmy Hayes, died at the age of 31 in 2021. And a year ago, Hayes lost his best friend, when NHL star Johnny Gaudreau was killed in a biking accident.

Related: Rangers camp notebook: Artemi Panarin leaves practice with injury

Ex-Rangers forward Kevin Hayes latest injured player at Penguins camp

The Rangers signed Hayes as a college free agent in August of 2014 after the 6-foot-5 forward refused to sign with the team that selected him in the first round of the 2010 NHL Draft, the Chicago Blackhawks.

There was much hype around Hayes when he turned pro. Hayes scored 27 goals and totaled 65 points in a monster senior season at Boston College in 2013-14. That was two years after he teamed up with Chris Kreider to help the BC win the NCAA men’s hockey national championship.

Hayes scored 17 goals and had 45 points his first season in the NHL, when the Rangers won the Presidents’ Trophy. He had at least 40 points in four of his seasons with the Rangers, topping out with 49 in 2016-17. Hayes scored a career-high 25 goals with the Rangers in 2017-18, but was dealt to the Winnipeg Jets ahead of the 2019 trade deadline.

He has 438 points (181 goals, 257 assists) in the NHL with the Rangers, Jets, Flyers, St. Louis Blues, and Penguins.

His injury news comes two days after the Penguins announced that 21-year-old forward Rutger McGroarty is out indefinitely with an upper-body injury. In addition, veteran forward Noel Accieri missed the start of a camp with a core muscle injury.

Kevin Hayes

Former Ranger and now Flyers center Kevin Hayes told Dave Portnoy of Barstool Sports on an Instagram interview that he thinks there’s a chance they could come back after July 15th. Although the video is no longer available, I have spoken to many that verified the quote.

For the most part, what Hayes is saying lines up with much of the news coming from the NHL. Gary Bettman believes that the Tokyo Olympics being cancelled gives the NHL more viability to play late into the summer. That means less conflicts with their playoff broadcast partners NBC. The concerns many have would be ice quality but Bettman believes that won’t be an issue. He alluded to the new state of the art arenas in areas like Florida and Vegas being the main reason why.

Drew Doughty

On the flip side, LA Kings defenseman Drew Doughty doesn’t see how the league can return. He said on a conference call, “I don’t see how this season is going to return,” believing it will impact next season.

The NHL and NHLPA continue to look at ways to come back this summer and not lose any of next season. Cancelling the NHL All-Star Game would likely be part of that plan.

In the team’s final game before the league’s holiday break, the Rangers were in Philadelphia to face some familiar faces. But it would be Alain Vigneault, Kevin Hayes and the Flyers skating off the ice at Wells Fargo Center with a 5-1 win.

Jesper Fast – The longtime Rangers jack of all trades got the only goal for David Quinn’s squad, finishing off a shorthanded rush for his sixth goal of the season. After Brady Skjei was denied by Carter Hart, the defenseman stayed with the play and found Fast in front for a one-timer and the second-period lead.

Fast’s goal was the eighth goal the Rangers scored this season while killing a penalty, which is tied for the NHL lead.

Missed Opportunities – Perhaps the biggest reason the Rangers didn’t pull out the two points would be the inability to cash in on their many chances. Four man-advantage opportunities, including a 64-second 5v3, were unable to generate a goal. In addition, the Rangers had 24 attempted shots that either missed the net or got blocked; and that doesn’t include the handful of saves that Carter Hart made on ”Grade-A” chances.

Yes, this was a game where both goaltenders were on top of their game. But when you get multiple high-quality chances to score, you have to take advantage of them. The Flyers, on the other hand, seized their opportunities and skated away with the win.

Henrik Lundqvist – While the scoreline may indicate otherwise, it was a strong game for Henrik Lundqvist. The Flyers started the game strongly and Lundqvist was forced to be sharp in the opening seconds. King Henrik made a handful of 10-bell saves to keep the Rangers in the game. But after former Ranger Kevin Hayes scored on an odd-man rush to give the Flyers the lead, the Rangers pressed hard to tie the game, which gave Philadelphia many high-quality chances to extend their lead. Had it not been for Lundqvist early on, this game could have been over early in the second period.

Next Game: The Rangers return to action on Friday when they host the Carolina Hurricanes at MSG. Puck drops at 7!

LETS GO RANGERS!!

Brett Kemp – The biggest bright spot for the Rangers was not one of their highly touted prospects, rather, it was Brett Kemp, who was a free agent invite that played for Medicine Hat in the WHL last season. Kemp netted both Rangers goals, scoring from a bad angle on the first, and a snipe on the second.

Vitali Kravtsov – For me, Kravtsov had his moments but could’ve been better. He appeared to pass up a few shooting chances, something Rangers fans have become all too familiar with in recent years. As I said during the Mats Zuccarello/Kevin Hayes era: shooting the puck more forces the defense to respect your shot and opens up the passing lanes. If all you do is pass, you make it easier for the defense to defend.

Adam Fox – The Harvard alumnus also had some positive moments, but he definitely struggled for large stretches. He was definitely noticeable when it came to jumping into the rush, but he made a couple of poor breakout passes as well.

The group as a whole looked a bit disjointed, with plenty of bad drop passes and turnovers that led to Columbus goals on the ensuing odd-man rush. But for Fox, who is now in an elevated spot on the depth chart with Shattenkirk being bought out and DeAngelo still without a contract, his play in this tournament will be monitored closely by Rangers management.

Igor Shesterkin – In his first game on the smaller North American ice, Igor Shesterkin did not have a good showing. His teammates didn’t give him much help with all the odd-man rushes they allowed, but you could definitely make a case that the young Russian should’ve stopped a couple of the Columbus tallies. As people mentioned on Twitter during the contest, Shesterkin is almost guaranteed to start the year in Hartford, which will allow him to get as comfortable with the NHL-sized ice before he makes his mark with the big club.

Next Game: The Rangers continue their Traverse City Tournament with a game tomorrow night against the Dallas Stars prospects. Puck drops at 7!

LETS GO RANGERS!!

I mentioned this here and on various social media outlets, August is the dog days of summer for hockey fans AND hockey writers. However, things got very interesting for one former Ranger; Kevin Hayes.

Overpay Controversy

TSN Insider, Frank Servalli was on a podcast and stated someone who knows Kevin well informed him that the only way he would sign with the Flyers is if they overpay.

When this news got out there, Ryan Whitney who is a cohost of the popular Spittin’ Chiclets podcast tweeted on the situation. That also prompted a reply from Seravalli.

Regardless if it’s true or not, this certainly puts Kevin Hayes in a bad spot. Many around the league felt the Flyers did overpay for his services. If Hayes gets off to a rough start, the fans in Philly (who have long memories) won’t make it any easier for him to get out of the slump.

Sound off below.

The year 2015 wasn’t too long ago, but it seems like eons given how active Rangers GM Jeff Gorton has been in the trade market. From minor trades to major blockbusters, the Rangers have cycled through a plethora of players over the past several years.

While a select few still believe Gorton is not anything special, it is hard to find a Rangers fan who disapproves of all the work that Rangers GM has done of late.

Of course, Gorton’s activity spiked up when the Rangers announced a rebuild a year and a half ago, and that’s when things really started to get interesting. Let’s take a look at what I believe to be Gorton’s five greatest trades since taking over four years ago.

5. Trade for Yegor Rykov

At the 2018 NHL Trade Deadline, the Rangers traded forward Michael Grabner to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for defenseman Yegor Rykov and a second-round draft pick.

This trade was a good one for a variety of reasons. Rykov is an excellent young prospect who has a good chance of being in the Rangers lineup on opening night. He is a solid two-way defender who could easily have a lengthy career as a dependable top-six defenseman in the NHL.

Despite Rykov’s favorable scouting report, he is not what made this trade a good one in the end. The Rangers were able to use the second-round pick, along with another pick, to move up in the draft and select defenseman K’Andre Miller. Miller is one of the NHL’s top blue line prospects.

4. Rick Nash Trade

In 2018, the Rangers traded Rick Nash to the Boston Bruins in exchange for forwards Ryan Spooner and Matt Beleskey, defenseman Ryan Lindgren, a 2018 first-rounder, and a 2019 seventh-rounder.

This trade helped the Rangers a ton. First off, Lindgren is a solid defensive prospect who could compete in the Rangers system the next few seasons. I expect him to potentially be the Rangers’ seventh defenseman.

The first-round draft pick was used in conjunction with the second-rounder received from the Devils to move up and select Miller. That was the biggest part of that trade with Boston, as Miller is expected to be a Blueshirt for years to come.

And then Ryan Spooner was flipped to the Edmonton Oilers this past season in exchange for Ryan Strome. Spooner continued moving teams after that, while Strome put up solid bottom-six stats for New York. The trade that sent Nash to Boston worked well for the Rangers on a variety of levels.

3. Ryan McDonagh/JT Miller Trade

This was the biggest trade to immediately follow the Rangers rebuild announcement.

The Rangers traded captain Ryan McDonagh and JT Miller to the Tampa Bay Lightning for forward Vladislav Namestnikov and Brett Howden, defenseman Libor Hajek, a 2018 first-rounder, and a 2019 second-rounder.

JT Miller did not work out for the Lightning, who shipped him off to the Vancouver Canucks this offseason. Namestnikov has been average in New York, but he’s not part of the excitement surrounding this trade.

The Rangers used the first-round pick to select defenseman Nils Lundkvist in the 2018 draft. Lundkvist, along with Miller, is expected to be a key piece of the Rangers defense over the next decade.

In addition, Libor Hajek is a promising prospect who will likely be competing with Rykov for a spot in the opening night lineup in October. He is a stay-at-home defender who pairs well with offensive defensemen.

Lastly, the Rangers also got Howden. A good, young centerman, Howden is an excellent play-maker who has second-line potential. He will likely fill the role of third or fourth-line center in years to come.

2. Acquiring Jacob Trouba

Just a few short weeks ago, the Rangers acquired star defenseman Jacob Trouba from the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for defenseman Neal Pionk and a first-round draft pick.

This was highway robbery and one of Gorton’s best trades by far. Neal Pionk has some upside, but he clearly has a long way to go before he is a complete defenseman. I’m not saying the Jets don’t watch game tape, but maybe they took too many bathroom breaks while doing so. Pionk is going to really disappoint some people over there.

What’s even better about this trade is that the draft pick wasn’t even owned by Rangers. They had received it when they traded Kevin Hayes to the Jets. So the Rangers basically returned Winnipeg’s own draft pick and tacked on an average young player for one of the best young defensemen in the league.

1. Rangers Acquire Mika Zibanejad

You should’ve known this was coming. Jeff Gorton executed one of the most one-sided trades to occur in the NHL in recent years when he acquired Zibanejad and a second-round pick from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for Derick Brassard and a seventh-round pick.

Brassard went into decline in Ottawa. In the few years following this trade, he has since been traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins, then to the Florida Panthers, and then finally to the Colorado Avalanche. Brassard isn’t a bad player, but he is nowhere close to the player he was in New York.

Meanwhile, Zibanejad has become the Rangers first line centerman and has begun to develop into a potentially elite force in the NHL. Still only in his mid-20’s, Zibanejad is not even close to being fully developed. The Rangers won this trade by the widest margin imaginable, and it is paying off gloriously.

Side Note:

Many of you could be wondering how I didn’t include the trade that brought over Anthony DeAngelo and the seventh overall pick in 2017. While this has the potential to be a great trade, it hasn’t show it yet. That pick was used on Lias Andersson, who is an excellent prospect. But he has not shown enough in my opinion to warrant the trade being a success. DeAngelo is a good player but likely won’t be a Ranger a few seasons down the line. The jury is still out on this one, in my opinion.

The Rangers biggest decision to date is what to do with the team’s long-time forward, Chris Kreider. By now, it’s no secret what the game plan is on Broadway; sell until you can’t sell anymore. That “selling” mindset may have been hinted at coming to a close when Jeff Gorton and company acquired their number one offseason focus on Monday – defenseman Jacob Trouba.

But that doesn’t mean that they are set in stone with what they have for next season, of course, as arguably the biggest draft day in organization history today, which they will welcome either Jack Hughes or Kaapo Kakko. One of those two players will make an immediate impact with the Rangers next season, as will the multitude of players the Rangers have acquired. So how should they handle the situation surrounding Chris Kreider?

There’s no need to go over what a player like Kreider does to a lineup, because well, it’s quite clear. He’s fast, he’s big (6’3″ 220lb), and he drives hard to the net, and on good days, he can score. Tying his career-high in goals last season with 28, Kreider’s value is at its peak right at this very moment. But the Rangers’ smartest move would be to wait. Delay the situation further with Kreider, as he’s due a next contract that will come in north of $6.5 million once July 1st, 2020 roles around.

The options in front of the Rangers as far as Chris Kreider go are simple. Does the team believe he is worth the hefty, long-term contract he can find outside of New York? Kreider, now 28 years old, has pretty much shown his entire worth to the Rangers and what he will give the team each year. All it comes down too is if the higher-ups think he’s worthy of a contract that he will most definitely ask for. And even though trading Kreider at the draft to acquire a higher draft pick seems like the play, waiting as they did with other former Rangers will give the Rangers their best return.

The Rangers should handle this situation the same as they did with Kevin Hayes. The team could’ve easily traded him at this time last year, but waited and got a package which now they are more than pleased with. The reasoning behind waiting comes down to a few different things. If Kreider is moved at this Friday’s draft, it’ll be for the team to move up in the draft. Although moving up for a second first-round pick will obviously help the organization in the long run, the package they would get at the trade deadline next season would likely surpass that. The 2020 draft is known to be absolutely loaded. And as far as this draft goes, Jack Hughes and Kaapo Kakko are far superior than the rest of the soon-to-be draftees, and the Rangers can check one of those guys off of their list as a definite.

Since the Rangers hit a home run with one of those guys, consider this draft a success, and move forward. Let Kreider stick with the team, play with the youngsters throughout the first half of next season, then ship him off for a package that includes draft picks in the loaded 2020 draft, and then some. Although a player like Kreider doesn’t come around very often, it seems like the Rangers would rather spend their cap money elsewhere. Like I stated before, Kreider is aging and has shown this organization what he brings to the table.

The Rangers best bet moving forward is to follow the same path as they did with former Ranger, and now Flyer, Kevin Hayes. The Rangers let him play through the first half of the 2018-19 season, and he did very successfully I might add, then get rid of him for what now the organization can say was a great return. Then, Kevin Hayes signed a massive seven-year/$7.14 AAV contract with Philadelphia after Winnipeg traded his negotiating rights.

Hayes’ contract is a perfect example of a contract the Rangers likely wanted to avoid. So they played their cards correctly and dealt Hayes at the deadline. This is the path in which the team might take with Kreider, and even though it will hurt getting rid of one of the last remaining veterans in New York from that great 2014 run, this is a move that will not be a surprise if it goes down.

So you think Winnipeg and GM Kevin Cheveldayoff are experiencing a little buyer’s remorse right about now? At the deadline, the Jets traded away their 1st round pick, and winger Brendan Lemieux for Kevin Hayes. The Jets lost in the first round of the NHL playoffs.

Yesterday, they traded away Hayes’ rights to the Philadelphia Flyers for a 5th round pick. That should tell you all you need to know about how Winnipeg feels about the deal they made last season.

Getting Back that 1st round pick

There’s lots of talk coming out of Winnipeg surrounding Patrick Laine’s next contract. As an RFA coming off his ELC, Laine doesn’t have any real leverage except for the fact that he is the face of the franchise. Cheveldayoff also wants to avoid the possibility of an offer sheet. The good news is that the GM has only 59 million in cap space used, so we can expect Laine to get a longterm deal starting at least around $10M per year.

Reports from around the league claim that Jacob Trouba is on the move. Thanks to all that cap space, the Jets can take on salary in any deal involving Trouba if they can get what they want for him. That is going to start with a 1st round pick in this draft and the Rangers certainly have an extra thanks to the Jets themselves.

Of course, the Jets will want to stay competitive and replace Trouba. Jeff Gorton could also package Kevin Shattenkirk and his $6.65M cap hit in the deal to make room for Trouba. What’s really appealing to Winnipeg is that Shattenkirk only has 2 years left on his deal and the Rangers front loaded the contract enough that in 2020-2021 he’s only owed $4M.

Another option is Brendan Smith and another player along with that 1st rounder for Trouba. Or possibly, Marc Staal and the 1st if Gorton can get him to waive his modified no trade clause.

Hayes in Philly

When the Flyers hired Alain Vigneault the ball was set in motion for him to make moves for former players. Kevin Hayes was an absolute favorite of his and it would not surprise me if Hayes avoids free agency and takes a significant deal with the Flyers for 5-7 years.

That also raises the possibility of other deals between the Broadstreet Bullies and the Broadway Blues. While interdivisional trades are rare, they are not unprecedented and if a deal makes sense for the two teams it shouldn’t shock you.

So keep your eyes and ears open on these two teams heading into the draft.

With the Winnipeg Jets eliminated, and either Dallas or St. Louis making the Western Conference Final, the first round pick the Rangers received in the Kevin Hayes trade will be in the 18-21 range, depending on how the second round match-ups end. Colorado, Carolina, and Columbus can all affect the pick by advancing to the next round.

With the TBL second-rounder (58th overall) and the Dallas pick being either a first or second round selection, Jeff Gorton has the ammunition to trade up in the 2019 draft. What would it cost, and who would he target with a move like that?

As shown above, the potential price to trade up is a second-round pick if the Rangers are aiming at a spot in the 10-12 range. Having at least two, and potentially three, picks in the second round, Gorton has the assets to make this happen.

Trevor Zegras (US NTDP)

James: I fully expect that USNTDP Trevor Zegras will be a target of theirs. Zegras, who just finished up a great U18 tournament with nine assists in five games for the United States, is a commit to Boston University next year. He currently has 87 points in 60 games with “The Program” where 61 out of the 87 points have come in the form of assists. The 5’11” 18-year-old is a New York native, growing up in Bedford, and I think that he would be a great fit in his home state wearing the iconic Blueshirt sweater. Zegras is a playmaker and is arguably the best passer of the puck in this entire draft, including Jack Hughes and Kaapo Kakko. Zegras makes a living up and down the walls and below the goal line. He has good skating ability and hands, but it is his patience and ability to pass the puck that makes him a top-ten prospect. He looks off defenders phenomenally, makes insane no-look passes, and draws defenders to him that eventually leads to these incredible passes and assists. If the Dallas Stars make the Western Conference Final and the Rangers end up with picks 20 and 29, I could see them packaging them together to move up and draft Trevor Zegras. Leaving the first round with Kakko and Zegras would be incredible, to say the least.

Philip Broberg (AIK – SHL)

Steven: Swedish defenseman Philip Broberg has been up and down the rankings all season long. But, the 17-year old (turns 18 in June) has had a fantastic season playing with the top team in Allsvenskan, AIK, despite missing out on promotion to the SHL in the playoffs. Broberg was part of the U20 team at the World Juniors in Vancouver last winter being one of the youngest players in the tournament. Broberg is arguably the best defensive skater in the draft and his experience playing against men in the Swedish professional system is a huge advantage. At 6’3″ and 203 lbs, he is the best among big defensemen in the draft, but that size doesn’t hold him back in other areas. He’s a great skater and his puck-handling makes him a great prospect. After a strong U18 World Championship, where he was picked as the best defenseman of the tournament, the young Broberg may climb in the rankings. But, if he’s available at ten, the Rangers can definitely target him to trade up.

Peyton Krebs (Kootenay Ice – WHL)

Russell: Krebs is everything you could want in a top-six winger in the NHL. He has shown he can play center, but at 5’11” and 181 lbs., he is more suited to the wing position in the long run. The Rangers would be getting a kid who will already be challenging for a roster spot within the next year. He’s that good. He has the drive, he has the shot, he has the speed, he has the skill, and he has the smarts to succeed in the NHL. His numbers in the WHL may not be jumping off the page – 36G, 86A in two seasons – but make no mistake, he’s basically doing it all out there. Kootenay has not exactly been the best team over the past few seasons.

To put his last season into perspective: Krebs was a point per game player on a 13 win team with 70% of those being primary points. Krebs drives play when he’s on the ice and would be a welcome addition to the Rangers’ prospect pipeline. For a player like this, except possibly both low firsts and maybe a player or third pick included in getting a deal done. Basically, the Rangers need the Dallas pick.

Arthur Kaliyev (Hamilton Bulldogs – OHL)

James: Born in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Arthur Kaliyev moved to the United States at an early age and played Peewee hockey for the New York Jr. Rangers in 2013. Kaliyev is a pure goal scorer. He has a lethal shot and can score from any spot on the ice, whether it be from the dot, in front of the net, or in the high slot. Aside from his tremendous release, Kaliyev is a big bodied 17-year-old standing at 6’2″, and 190 lbs. He is able to get inside defenders with his size and get good looks from the slot. As for on the dot, he has an Ovechkin-type mentality where he can just let shots go and blow pucks by goaltenders, especially on the power play. Kaliyev also has a great set of hands where he is able to put moves on defenders and create lanes for himself to shoot.

His release is his biggest weapon in that when he does pull off a dangle, or is able to drop in between the dots through defenders, he can still snap off a great shot. The one knock on Kaliyev is his skating ability. As most pure goal scorers go, what they have in their hands, they lack in their feet. I’m not saying Kaliyev skates as if he has lead in his boots; it’s just the one part of his game that is not top-notch. The Rangers passed on Oliver Wahlstrom last year for Vitali Kravtsov -which we are all more than happy about – but Wahlstrom is a pure goal scorer, and I believe the Rangers still lack that. I believe that Kaliyev can be that guy for them.

Victor Söderström (Brynäs IF – SHL)

Steven: A smooth-skating two-way defenseman, Victor Söderström plays on the right side and has been a really solid part of the Brynäs defense in the SHL this past season. His 44 games in the SHL are the third most in a single season by a 17-year-old defenseman, trailing only Adam Larsson and Tim Erixon. He is a great puck handler and his passing is what stands out most. He creates chances for his teammates with strong rushes up the ice, similar to what Tony DeAngelo does for the Rangers. His ability to read the play and predict how it unfolds makes him one of the top defensemen in this draft. With the arrival of Adam Fox, the Rangers should not necessarily stay away from defensemen. While the focus will be on forwards, Söderström is the type of player you pick if he’s available outside the top-ten. Together with Broberg, he has the skill-set to be a top-ten selection and don’t be surprised if he ends up walking to the podium in the first hour of the draft.

His mature style enables him to stay ahead of other prospects in terms of development. His first step makes him a threat in transition. Söderström does not sacrifice defense for the sake of offense, which is what some offensive defensemen in the past have been guilty of. Unlike Broberg, he’s a more physical defenseman who uses his body to win puck battles. With seven points this season in the SHL, he has shown he can contribute in that area of the game, which makes him a top-five defensive prospect in this upcoming draft.

Matthew Boldy (US NTDP)

Russell: The complete package. Matt Boldy has a powerful shot, his skating is excellent and some describe him as the Swiss-army knife forward in this draft. He can just do it all and do it well. At 6’2” and 192 lbs., Boldy is no slouch, and for someone his size, he is extremely agile on the ice. With time to develop, he will get more muscle on his frame and be an even bigger threat every time he touches the puck. Over his past two seasons with the US NTDP, Boldy has scored 62 goals and added 95 assists for 157 points in 125 games. Those are impressive numbers and Boldy projects to be a very solid top-six forward in the NHL.

Boldy’s hockey IQ is off the charts and he is an extremely selfless player. He is that type of guy that coach David Quinn would love to have with his tenacious mindset for the Rangers going forward. On the defensive side of the puck, Boldy does a good job on the backcheck and won’t be a liability on that side of the puck. Getting Boldy would be a coup for Gorton, and if the Rangers walk away from the first round of the 2019 draft with Kakko and Boldy, that would be something special.

Conclusion: If Jeff Gorton decides to trade up in the draft, there are several targets who would add significant value to the organization. For the last two years, the Rangers have gone for quantity. They added a plethora of draft picks and prospects in the last 24 months. This is the time to go for quality. Giving up a second round pick to move up four, five or maybe even six spots in the draft and get a guy who they are very high on, makes sense when you look at the timeline of the Rangers rebuild.

The soon-to-be 27-year-old certainly made an impact with his time in New York, but who is to say that time is finished? After being sent to Winnipeg at the trade deadline last season for a first-rounder and forward Brendan Lemieux, Kevin Hayes has somewhat flown under the radar; tallying 13 points in 20 games for the Jets. Now partaking in the playoffs, Hayes is set to become an unrestricted free agent come July 1, and I wouldn’t cross out a Hayes-New York reunion.

I mean, seeing Hayes come back to New York wouldn’t be the biggest jaw-dropping move this organization has made. Hayes’ career in the Big Apple included a bunch of high, and more noticeably, lots of lows. Those lows including almost vanishing from the ice on some nights, playing lackadaisical on a consistent basis, and not doing what he’s supposed to do; score on a consistently. So why bring him back?

I believe Kevin Hayes is just entering the prime of his career. At 27 when he will need a new deal, Hayes has six full NHL seasons under his belt, which brings plenty of experience. Before being traded at the deadline, Hayes was on a clear pace for a career-setting year is all facets of his game. Through 51 games with the Blueshirts, Hayes had 42 points. That’s two less then all he had in 2017-2018, and only seven points short of his career high, which he set back in 2016-2017.

The playmaking forward brings a big body up front for any team, along with strong puck-handling skills and when he’s on, wicked passing. The seasons Kevin Hayes put together in New York weren’t as successful as his future holds, just basing that off of his stats from year to year.

On a team that will have one of the youngest forward groups in the NHL next year, Kevin Hayes can also provide that veteran leadership. In addition, he can provide depth for the team on the power play and penalty kill. A scenario where I see the Rangers reach out to Hayes would be if the team strikes out with other free agents this offseason. The Panarin-to-Florida talks seemingly increased recently ever since the Panthers signed his former coach Joel Quenneville. So who knows, a reunion might be a possibility, that is if both sides can come to an agreement on what a new deal would look like.

That’s the dealbreaker that will tear the reunion apart, agreeing on a new contract. That is one of the reasons Hayes was shipped off in the first place, with the Rangers assuming they are unable to go where Hayes wants, in dollars terms.

Hayes currently makes a shade over $5 million, and as stated before, setting career numbers this year, he’s obviously getting a raise. An estimated contract he was looking back at the trade deadline had a minimum of $6.5-7 million per year, at around 5-6 years. That term was understandably balked at, and still might be this summer. With a player like Kevin Hayes who just posted over 50 points this year for the first time in his career, many will question the dollars and length of the deal, but how often do teams get a chance at signing a 6’5″, 220-pound centerman?

What’s going to happen with Kevin Hayes this offseason is obviously still unknown, but one thing for sure is that he will have many teams chomping at the bit to hear their pitch.

Featured Image: John Woods/The Canadian Press via AP