This is DEFINITELY a lot to do with money, and there are huge differences.
1) Team A's max rookie contract vs Team B's identical max rookie contract look the same on paper. The difference is how many NHL games he gets, which puts a HUGE difference of money in Hayes' pockets. No team can give him a contract that exceeds the rookie max, so on paper they will all be the same offers. However, many teams can either guarantee him ice time, or show him the likelihood of him having it.
2) The more NHL time he plays during his first contract, the likelihood of him having a larger 2nd contract will be, and the less likely it will be that it will be a two-way deal. No guarantees of course, but the numbers can drastically change.
If I am Hayes, I am thinking that staying in Chicago can potentially cost me millions. You can understand why he wants to move, and it is completely in his right, even if many don't quite agree with it and state he should show more loyalty. Should he potentially give up millions of dollars to show loyalty? Tough one to answer from the outside looking in. Easy to dislike from a Chicago fan's perspective (and other fans as well), but it becomes an easier choice when you are wearing his shoes.
I am sure he will be talking to most teams in the NHL, and any team with a weak right side organizationally will be more on his radar. Calgary and Florida both have certain advantages right away, not to mention lower taxes (if money is going to be counting his pennies), which is a huge deal when you are going to end up long-term in an organization. Any team that either guarantees him a certain number of NHL games, or shows him how likely it is for him to get it, will be on his radar. Edmonton should be there as well, no? They are trying to add size, and on the right side you have Eberle - Yakupov - potentially Hayes. Am I missing someone now? Perron and Hall on the left side. Seems like I am missing someone here.
Will be interesting to see who gets him, but I think that is what it will come down to. It is certainly nice to have a brother in Florida, some friends and past line mates in Calgary, an uncle in Pittsburgh, a cousin in Boston (and a hometown to boot), but it seems like this will really be about money in the end, and he will sign where he feels he has the best chance to make it long-term.
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