Veteran NHL forward Kevin Hayes signs in Russia

Veteran forward Kevin Hayes is heading overseas.

According to recent reports, Hayes has signed a one-year contract with Ak Bars Kazan of the KHL, bringing an end, at least for now, to his lengthy run in the NHL. The move sends the 34-year-old to one of Russia's most recognizable hockey clubs after an NHL career that saw him play 805 regular-season games and record 185 goals and 446 points. It comes following a difficult, injury-shortened 2025-26 season with the Pittsburgh Penguins, during which Hayes appeared in just 28 games and recorded eight points.

Hayes' path to the NHL was an interesting one from the beginning. Originally selected 24th overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2010 NHL Draft, he never actually played a game for the organization. Instead, Hayes developed into a star at Boston College, exploding for 65 points in 39 games during his final NCAA season. His college success made him one of the most intriguing free agents on the market, and he eventually signed with the New York Rangers in 2014.

It did not take long for Hayes to establish himself in New York. The big, skilled center made an immediate impact as a rookie, scoring 17 goals and 45 points in 79 games while helping the Rangers reach the Eastern Conference Final. Hayes was never the flashiest player in the league, but his combination of size, puck protection and playmaking ability made him a valuable offensive weapon. At his best, he could slow the game down, control possession and make plays that few players his size could pull off.

His time with the Rangers lasted parts of five seasons before he was traded to the Winnipeg Jets at the 2019 trade deadline. Hayes performed well in his brief stint with Winnipeg, posting 12 points in 20 regular-season games and adding three more points in six playoff contests.

That strong stretch helped him land the biggest contract of his career. In the summer of 2019, Hayes signed a seven-year, $50 million deal with the Philadelphia Flyers. The contract came with plenty of expectations, and while there were certainly ups and downs, Hayes produced some excellent hockey in Philadelphia. He scored 23 goals in his first season with the Flyers and later put together a 54-point campaign in 2022-23, his highest point total since entering the NHL.

Unfortunately, injuries became an increasingly significant part of the story. Hayes dealt with abdominal surgery and other physical issues during his later years in Philadelphia, and although he continued to show flashes of his old offensive ability, it became harder for him to maintain the same consistency over a full season.

Philadelphia eventually moved Hayes to the St. Louis Blues, where he recorded 29 points in 79 games during the 2023-24 campaign. The following summer, St. Louis traded him to Pittsburgh along with a second-round pick, with the Penguins taking on the veteran's contract as part of the transaction. Hayes managed 23 points in 64 games during his first season in Pittsburgh, but his second year was much tougher. A shoulder injury delayed his season debut, while another lower-body injury and a reduced role limited him to only 28 games.

Now, Hayes gets a completely new opportunity with Ak Bars Kazan. After more than a decade in the NHL, the move to the KHL represents a major change of scenery for a player who was once one of the league's more effective offensive centers. Whether this is the final chapter of his NHL career or simply a chance to reset and rediscover his game remains to be seen.

Either way, Hayes leaves North America with a résumé he can be proud of. He was a first-round pick, a highly sought-after college free agent, a 50-point player, a major free-agent signing and a veteran of more than 800 NHL games. Not every career follows a straight line, and Hayes certainly had his share of injuries and difficult stretches, but he carved out a long and successful NHL career.

His next chapter will now be written in Kazan.