[News] Kevin Hayes signs with the Rangers

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by Mike Teavee

Chicago offered him a contract. He didn't take it.

Sure they offered him a contract. The questions really is if it was maxed out with schedule A and B rookie bonuses. I highly doubt it. IMO Chicago saw where he was after 4 years of developing and when compared to the compensation probably thought Option B (the compensatory pick) was more beneficial to the team in the long run.

[CalgaryFan1988]

Originally Posted by fotze

Everyone can see the need for the draft but I could understand from a players POV that all the draft does is limit your options for employment.

Especially college players who don't receive a penny from the team that drafts you.

Imagine being told in University that you can only go work for this one company in this one city.

Imagine being drafted by Edmonton! That's basically human rights abuse.

A lot of players feel honoured to be drafted and loyal to the team that took a chance on them. Others feel more self-entitled.

Being drafted is like being accepted to University in a way, but it doesn't mean you have to work there once your schooling is done (UFA).

I don't know Hayes' reasoning or anything, so not bashing him at all.

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by old-fart

I still hope he signs here, but as I have said all along, if he doesn't - no big deal. It is pretty clear he had hugely inflated stats when paired with Johnny Hockey. I don't even think Kevin would try to pretend anything other than JH was driving that line, and he and Arnold were along for the ride.

From all reports, Arnold is a great stand up guy who I hope turns into a Yelle type player. JH is JH... he has proven his size is not an issue at every single level so far, I hope he can translate that to the pros. If he can, we have by far the best player off that line, and arguably the second best as well (Hayes and Arnold are not that far off in my opinion).

I kind of think this is his play to leverage the great season. Lets be honest, his value probably took some significant hits and greatly depreciated after being drafted (not worth a first rounder anymore). That year playing on the line was probably best case scenario for him.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by The Original FFIV

If he wants to play on a contender, why is Nashville in the conversation? He stiff armed Phoenix probably for this reason, what would he see in Nashville contention-wise that we don't see?

Maybe he is just not that smart. This is not so unusual, as you see professional hockey players signing with average or marginal teams all the time and citing that they did so because they wanted the chance to win. Iginla used to talk about winning in Calgary when most people already saw that it was no longer possible.

In the end, I suspect that Nashville and Phoenix both made really good pitches, and perhaps he truly believes everything they are telling him.

[Mike Teavee]

Originally Posted by Robbob

Sure they offered him a contract. The questions really is if it was maxed out with schedule A and B rookie bonuses. I highly doubt it. IMO Chicago saw where he was after 4 years of developing and when compared to the compensation probably thought Option B (the compensatory pick) was more beneficial to the team in the long run.

It would be a real surprise if they didn't max it. I've been following the story and they seemed pretty pissed when he wasn't signing. And the schedule A and B bonuses only count for anything if the player earns it.

He looks like a player who will be in the NHL pretty soon. How is a late 2nd round pick an improvement on that?

Originally Posted by old-fart

I still hope he signs here, but as I have said all along, if he doesn't - no big deal. It is pretty clear he had hugely inflated stats when paired with Johnny Hockey. I don't even think Kevin would try to pretend anything other than JH was driving that line, and he and Arnold were along for the ride.

From all reports, Arnold is a great stand up guy who I hope turns into a Yelle type player. JH is JH... he has proven his size is not an issue at every single level so far, I hope he can translate that to the pros. If he can, we have by far the best player off that line, and arguably the second best as well (Hayes and Arnold are not that far off in my opinion).

Actually, Hayes was already scoring at a fast pace before he was put with Gaudreau (and when he was playing with pretty bad linemates). His offensive production went up a bit when he started playing with Gaudreau but it wasn't a huge difference.

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by The Original FFIV

If he wants to play on a contender, why is Nashville in the conversation? He stiff armed Phoenix probably for this reason, what would he see in Nashville contention-wise that we don't see?

May have had developed a good relationship with Laviolette at the world championships. Otherwise your guess is as good as mine, unless the whole contender rumor/speculation is not accurate.

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by Robbob

Sure they offered him a contract. The questions really is if it was maxed out with schedule A and B rookie bonuses. I highly doubt it. IMO Chicago saw where he was after 4 years of developing and when compared to the compensation probably thought Option B (the compensatory pick) was more beneficial to the team in the long run.

The Blackhawks flew Kevin Hayes to watch one of their playoff games from the owner's box in an effort to restart contract negotiations.

Pretty sure they tried everything to sign him.

[Freeway]

Drafting a player is an assignment of value, not just by the organization drafting, but also to the player's representation to potentially pass on to the rest of the league.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

The Blackhawks flew Kevin Hayes to watch one of their playoff games from the owner's box in an effort to restart contract negotiations.

Pretty sure they tried everything to sign him.

But by that time they were in the same position as all the other teams ..... they had nothing more to offer him than the Flames and Bruins and....

Had they made the max offer and blew off a year of his ELC and got him his $80K signing bonus a year early then it would have been a risky move for him not to sign


The Flames did this for Gaudreau and especially Arnold to lock him up before he became a UFA. If the Flames did not sign Arnold at the end of last season him and Hayes could be doing the UFA dance together today.

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by Mike Teavee

It would be a real surprise if they didn't max it. I've been following the story and they seemed pretty pissed when he wasn't signing. And the schedule A and B bonuses only count for anything if the player earns it.

He looks like a player who will be in the NHL pretty soon. How is a late 2nd round pick an improvement on that?



Actually, Hayes was already scoring at a fast pace before he was put with Gaudreau (and when he was playing with pretty bad linemates). His offensive production went up a bit when he started playing with Gaudreau but it wasn't a huge difference.

I think Chicago is saying all the right things to be PC about Hayes. IMO based on his WC appearance he looks farther away than "pretty soon". Time will tell with him. I wouldn't mind having him because he is a free asset and we would be able to see what he has. If he makes it to the NHL great.

I just think when you look at his stats over his career in BC that there is some hesitation based on who he played with his last season.

2010-11 Boston College H-East....31...4.....10....14...8
2011-12 Boston College H-East....44...7.....21....28...10
2012-13 Boston College H-East....27...6.....19....25...14
2013-14 Boston College H-East....40...27....38....65...16

[squiggs96]

Originally Posted by Mike Teavee

Chicago offered him a contract. He didn't take it.

I'm sure it was a fair contract, but one reason they needed to offer him any sort of contract was to get the compensatory pick next year. They only received #54 in next year's draft because they offered a contract and Hayes rejected it. I'm guessing they still wanted Hayes to sign, but if they didn't they could have low balled him just to get the pick.

[djsFlames]

Have fun not playing in the NHL soon, Kevin.

Truthfully he's not the smartest of players on the ice, Bill and Johnny have a step up in that department. I've noticed that to be one of his weaknesses. The team he picks is going to notice that pretty fast. There's no such thing as fast tracking to the NHL in the timetable that he's looking for - unless you're with the Oilers. But here, there's at least room to be on the team when he's ready to be there. We're up and coming, and his supposed best friends are here. I think there's more opportunity here than all those places listed with the exception of Boston. Anywhere else and I think it's a long route to be an NHL regular despite what he thinks. Also any player passionate about the game you think would want to play in Canada.

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

But by that time they were in the same position as all the other teams ..... they had nothing more to offer him than the Flames and Bruins and....

Had they made the max offer and blew off a year of his ELC and got him his $80K signing bonus a year early then it would have been a risky move for him not to sign


The Flames did this for Gaudreau and especially Arnold to lock him up before he became a UFA. If the Flames did not sign Arnold at the end of last season him and Hayes could be doing the UFA dance together today.

That's pure speculation. The Hawks were able to also sign highly touted Stephen Johns and they didn't need to burn a year off his contract.

[FanIn80]

Danny Picard @DannyPicard · 3h
As I reported Saturday on WEEI, the #Bruins are trying to sign Kevin Hayes, and are one of 5 teams that will talk to him & his agent today.

Danny Picard @DannyPicard · 3h
Those sources also tell me the 5 teams in mix for Kevin Hayes that talk to him today are: Colorado, Nashville, #Bruins, Pittsburgh, & NYR.

All he's saying is that 5 of the teams in the mix for Hayes are talking to him today. He's already met with other teams, and these are the five he's meeting today.

I'm not saying anything about whether or not the Flames are still in it. I'm just saying that sometimes people read what they want to read, instead of what's actually written.

[tempz]

Originally Posted by old-fart

I still hope he signs here, but as I have said all along, if he doesn't - no big deal. It is pretty clear he had hugely inflated stats when paired with Johnny Hockey. I don't even think Kevin would try to pretend anything other than JH was driving that line, and he and Arnold were along for the ride.

I watched ~10 BC games this season, and I completely disagree with his stats being significantly inflated by JG. I mean of course Johnny inflated his stats to a certain degree, but Hayes was consistently an offensive catalyst himself. He makes good use of his size and strength to get into good shooting positions. He has a pretty good release on his wrist shot. In my eyes he is a poor man's Corey Perry in terms of how he makes use of his size. And of course Hayes doesn't have that pest like quality that Perry has, is half a step slower and his shot isn't as effective. He'd still be a great addition to any roster.

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

All he's saying is that 5 of the teams in the mix for Hayes are talking to him today. He's already met with other teams, and these are the five he's meeting today.

I'm not saying anything about whether or not the Flames are still in it. I'm just saying that sometimes people read what they want to read, instead of what's actually written.

Yeah except for the fact it was already reported that he was narrowing his list of teams down to 5 today.

Mark Divver @MarkDivver · Aug 16
Hearing that Kevin Hayes camp will spend Sunday narrowing list of NHL suitors, then speak with 4 to 5 finalists on Mon.

[Mike Teavee]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

All he's saying is that 5 of the teams in the mix for Hayes are talking to him today. He's already met with other teams, and these are the five he's meeting today.

I'm not saying anything about whether or not the Flames are still in it. I'm just saying that sometimes people read what they want to read, instead of what's actually written.

i don't think so:

Mark Divver @MarkDivver · Aug 16
Hearing that Kevin Hayes camp will spend Sunday narrowing list of NHL suitors, then speak with 4 to 5 finalists on Mon.

[old-fart]

Originally Posted by tempz

I watched ~10 BC games this season, and I completely disagree with his stats being significantly inflated by JG. I mean of course Johnny inflated his stats to a certain degree, but Hayes was consistently an offensive catalyst himself. He makes good use of his size and strength to get into good shooting positions. He has a pretty good release on his wrist shot. In my eyes he is a poor man's Corey Perry in terms of how he makes use of his size. And of course Hayes doesn't have that pest like quality that Perry has, is half a step slower and his shot isn't as effective. He'd still be a great addition to any roster.

The stats would appear to say otherwise. Never a point per game, never double digits in goals before spending some quality time with Johnny Hockey. Then he shoots up significantly in all categories. I also watched BC games, including the frozen four. Hayes was largely invisible unless being fed by JH. He was also a complete non-factor at the WC (did he even play for the US?).

He still may prove to be a useful NHL player, and I hope he signs here so we get a "free" asset, but he looks much farther away from regular NHL duty to me than a number of our other prospects.

[Ashasx]

I am kind of surprised that the Flames aren't a finalist.

[The Fonz]

For those who are more familiar with Hayes, where would you have him on our prospect depth chart? Above Knight, but below Reinhart?