Report: Division rivals competing for Rangers center Hayes?

The hot stove is heating up!

HockeyFeed
HockeyFeed
Published 5 years ago
Report: Division rivals competing for Rangers center Hayes?
Zuma Press

Very quietly, New York Rangers center Kevin Hayes is having himself a very productive season and, as a result, he’s rocketing himself up the list of available trade targets ahead of February 25th’s Trade Deadline.

The 26 year old pending unrestricted free agent has 12 goals and 37 points in 44 games for the Rangers this season and there’s no doubt he’ll generate interest on the trade market. 

Yesterday, TSN insider Darren Dreger was on Montreal’s TSN Radio 690 and offered an update on Hayes’ situation, insinuating that a return to the Rangers in free agency might not be out of the question, even if he’s moved ahead of the deadline. 

Check it out:

“Before we did the segment here - so about 10 minutes ago - I checked in on Kevin Hayes and the New York Rangers, just to see where that’s at,” Dreger said on TSN Radio 690 Montreal. “Because he’s a pretty important piece to the New York Rangers. That deal might come right down to the end. Have a conversation with Hayes. Find out what he wants to do. Does he want to push for a playoff run, and ultimately the Stanley Cup as a rental, and then perhaps sign back with the New York Rangers.”


Dreger also listed a couple landing spots for Hayes, namely the division rival Minnesota Wild and Winnipeg Jets.

Check it out:

“Kevin Hayes, to me, should be a player that Minnesota or a team like Winnipeg should be looking at. I mean, just everything he brings, I think he’d fit nicely in that conference.”


Wherever Hayes ends up, it’s likely that the Rangers will demand AT LEAST a first round pick in return for his services, making him an expensive rental. However, if a team can convince him to re-sign or if they can pull off a sign and trade scenario, he could be worth it in the long run.

Source: TSN