Report: Three teams linked to Rangers' Hayes in trade talks

When New York Rangers center Kevin Hayes agreed to a one year, $5.175 million contract with the team this past offseason, there were plenty of fans and analysts around the NHL who had their eyebrows raised over the signing.

After all, Hayes is just 26 years old, had just put up 25 goals the previous season and looked poised to put up even bigger numbers moving forward. Why wouldn’t the team commit more term to a player and risk having him leave via free agency the following season?

Flash forward 30 games into the 2018-19 season and Hayes has seven goals and 21 points in 30 games, so it’s safe to say that he’s earning that $5 million paycheque. But now the Rangers find themselves in a tough spot… if they weren’t able to get Hayes signed longterm last offseason, what makes them think they will this upcoming offseason? Hayes is slated to hit the open market as an unrestricted free agent and if he keeps up his point trajectory he’ll have a career high in goals and points. In other words… he’s going to get PAID.

This, of course, makes Hayes the perfect Trade Deadline rental and, according to a report from NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, there are three prominent teams expected to be in the mix for the 6 foot, 5 inch, 215 pound forward.

Check out this little tidbit from Friedman’s latest 31 Thoughts podcast for Sporstnet:

“I think Boston will be in on Hayes, I think Winnipeg will be in on Hayes, I think Colorado will be in on Hayes and there’s probably more. I mean, he’s a center… there’s going to be a lot of people in on Hayes.”

Interesting… there’s no doubt that the Boston Bruins could use some help up front, especially at center. It would allowed Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy to limit Patrice Bergeron or David Krejci’s minutes a bit. Then again… Bruins GM Don Sweeney may be scared off of another big deadline deal with the Rangers considering how badly he overpaid for Rick Nash at last year’s deadline.

Wherever he ends up, Hayes is sure to be a hot commodity come the NHL’s February 25th trade deadline.