What’s Up, Kevin Hayes?
Various media outlets have alluded to something CSN Chicago’s Tracey Myers tweeted a couple weeks ago: Boston College senior forward Kevin Hayes will not sign with the Chicago Blackhawks.
Hayes, who turns 22 on May 8, was the Hawks’ first round pick (24th overall) in the 2010 NHL Draft. He just completed a fantastic senior year, skating on a line with Hobey Baker winner Johnny Gaudreau. Unfortunately for BC, that season ended with a Frozen Four loss to Union.
In his first three years at Boston College, he registered 67 points (17 goals, 50 assists) in 102 games. He was limited to only 27 games in his mediocre junior year because of a suspension and subsequent injury.
In his senior year, Hayes posted 65 points (27 goals, 38 assists) in only 40 games.
Because Hayes played out his four year college commitment, the Hawks control his rights until Aug. 15. If his intentions are indeed to sign elsewhere, the Blackhawks can trade those rights before/at the NHL Draft.
Another Hawks draft choice from 2010, Notre Dame defenseman Stephen Johns signed with the team three days after his final season with the Fighting Irish came to a close. Johns signed a PTO with Rockford, and will begin a two-year entry-level deal with the Hawks in the fall.
Gaudreau and Bill Arnold – the other two-thirds of Boston College’s top line with Hayes – both signed with the Calgary Flames on Friday. Will the Flames want to keep the #trio referred to in a tweet from Hayes last night together?
Congrats to my 2 Lineys and 2 of my best friends @johngaudreau03 and @BillDaHurricane for signing with the Flames. Doing big things #trio
— Kevin Hayes (@KevinPHayes12) April 11, 2014
Hayes’ older brother Jimmy was traded to Florida earlier this season.
If true it’s a bummer because he has size and good hands so he has potential to be a good NHLer. But I still think his skating is below average east/west and stop/start. At least the Hawks would get the #54 pick in the 2015 draft which is supposed to be a very deep draft to the point that the #54 pick may have late 1st round value in other drafts.
I think whats being overlooked is the possibility of the Hawks not wanting to sign Hayes yet, rather than Hayes not wanting to sign. By not signing him you leave yourself options where you could trade him and gain more assets, or trade someone else to gain assets. With the rise of Morin, the Hawks don’t have the forward positions available to put him anywhere. And with his size and ability to play wing or center, that is a value. Another left handed shot however. With Versteeg’s low cap hit, I would think he can be moved relatively easily.
If he’s like his brother then don’t sign him and trade him. Get something for him. His brother has no heart and is where he belongs in Florida. Lot of skills but gave up on plays when he didn’t get the puck and not physical like he should be.
Trade high, sell low…
I like K Hayes. If true, thought Boston College degrees were smarter then that.
I think the league needs to have the rules for drafted college fa, the same as offer sheets. You have to give draft picks based on salary player signs for (what rounds and how many…). They need to fix this. EDM stole a good player a couple yrs ago, its messed up/wrong. So, the rules are the rules, then they need to be fixed so there right.
Drafted college fa need to be under same rules as offer sheeters.
If Kevin Hayes doesn’t sign its a little different than when Schultz didn’t sign in Anaheim. With Hayes completing school the hawks have more time to sign or trade him. Anaheim didn’t have the option of trading him. Schultz de-registered from school giving the Ducks 30 days to sign him or lose his rights. Because it happened after the deadline they couldn’t trade his rights like the Hawks can. Anaheim definitely got screwed and should have got compensation, similar to what happens in MLB free agency. I doubt it gets to the point where the Hawks get draft pick compensation as they have ample time to trade him… IF it comes to that
Ideally the hawks can trade him, but I can’t see a team giving up more than a 2015 #54 pick for just his rights. May have to settle for the make-up pick
If this is true, the Hawks will once again give up on a prospect too soon. Hossa is getting old and Versteeg has lost a step along with grit. Vertseeg cannot beat out Ben Smith. My biggest concern is Bowman’s attitude lack of patience and gutting his farm system.
Kevn Hayes is a left handed shot who would be an awesome asset on left wing! Bickell Saad and Hayes who can also play right wing. Morin is a terrible skater who has poor balance. Bowman’s draft picks are nowhere to be seen on the roster since he took over from Tallon. This is still Tallon’s team. I hope they sign Hayes who is better than his brother.
“Bowman’s lack of patience and gutting his farm system” – which Bowman are you talking about? With all due respect, saying this is still Tallon’s team is painfully clueless.
Watching Kevin Hayes play on USA today against Kazakstan, you can see his amazing puck possession and scoring potential. Hope Bowman signs him and that either Coach Q or Bowman show some patience and play him.
They will come up short this year because they have not given Hayes, Pirri, Teuvo, Clendening any time in NHL. Trading away Olsen, Hayes, Pirri for Versteeg and a pick? Bad management once again. Ted Dent in Norfolk is playing played who never get to develop with Chicago. If hey also lose Kevin Hayes, they are making a big mistake.
Tallon’s era:
Draft Picks: Kane, Toews, Crawford, Keith, Seabrooke, Kruger, Smith, Bickell, hjalmarsson
Trades:.Versteeg from Boston, Sharp from Philly
Free Agent signings: Hossa
Grade: A +
Bowman Era:
Draft picks: Nordstrom, Saad, Shaw
Trades: Versteeg from Florida (bad knee), Handzus from San Jose (nice guy, nice leader, but too old and cannot keep up with Kanecor NHL in 2014), Rundblad from Phoenix (why? Adam Clendening AHL all star dman), Peter Regin and Jean Marc Bouchard from Islanders, Leddy from Minnesota ( will be traded soon ), Oduya from Winnipeg ( great competitor but done soon too many giveaways and Jammer should be playing on his natural left side like in 2010), Morin from Atlanta (bad skater, bad balance, good shot but a puck hog)
Free Agent Signings: Sheldon Brookbank (7th or 8 dman in NHL), Rozsival from Phoenix (great last year on his last leg in 48 game season, too long on the tooth and slow), Khabby (why a 41 year old backup? Who cannot play anymore), Antii Raanta, Brian Bollig from College (cannot skate, no need for a goon in playoffs, better players who can play 4th line in NHL with more hockey sense and talent)
Oh, who did the Bowman get in return for Stalberg, Frolic, and Bolland?
Bowman grade: C
Who is in the lineup for the Hawks today in return for the following players Bowman gave away?
Ladd, Dustin Byfuglien, Brouwer, Bolland, Stalberg, Frolic, Eager, Fraser, Burrish, Antii Neimi, Brain Campbell, Kopecky, Hayes, Pirri, Cam Barker, Jordan Hendry, Jake Dowell, Jack Skille……?
Kris Versteeg, Jeremy Morin, Nick Leddy???? Wow Mr. Tab, what do you think?
Coach Q and Bowman never on same wavelength like Tallon was.
I really hope Bowman signs Kevin Hayes. At 22, Hawks have nothing on left wmg or right eing eith that size and skill. Hossa is 35!!! Much more skilled than Jimmy and would look awesome on left wing with Teravanien at Centre and Kane on the wing at one point. Jon Gaudreau plays a lot like Kane and younsaw ehat that did for Hayes.
Sharp Toews Hossa
Bickell Teravanien Kane
Saad Shaw Hayes
Norsdstrom Kruger Morin
Keith Seabrooke
Hjarlmarsson Clendening
Leddy (Holl, Johns, or Dalbeck)
Extra forward: Ben Smith, Danault, McNeil
Out: Versteeg, Oduya, Rozsiva, Bollig( release him please) !
BEN Smith is a good extra forward, utility tye player but too small!
Hayes would be our new Buff!!!! With more skill than Bicks who is a faster skater. Two twin towers on offense would give Kane and Teravanien more room! No secret Flames Burke wants Hayes in Calgary!!!
BOWMAN better not screw this up as as well. Danault is a 4th line player at best and McNeil’s worth ethic ad defensive play is suspect which means Coach Q will never have him with the big team. Thus, Hayes at 22 becomes an asset for the team and should play. He was dominating yesterday at the World Championships on his line playing without Gaudreau who was Patrick Kane like!!!
They need to sign him immediately after the Worlds. Remember, how long can Hossa go!? Hayes is no Hossa but skill and size is important once Hossa packs it in!!!!