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The Flyers traded against Kevin Hayes, perhaps responding to a huge need for the club.
Hayes, 27, is an unrestricted free agent on July 1, but the Flyers now have an exclusive bargaining niche to try to sign a long-term contract with the former Boston College star for the low price of a fifth round choice.
Hayes, a six-by-five player, could fill a gap in the middle of the second row for the Flyers if general manager Chuck Fletcher could sign a contract with a player to collect 55 points (19 goals, 36 assists) in the 71 games with Rangers and Jets. The Rangers sold Hayes to the Jets on the trade deadline, but the Jets could never keep Hayes on a long-term contract.
Although Hayes is definitely looking for money, he has produced .60 points per game in his career, even with his 2018-19 campaign, and the Flyers are unlikely to be looking for such senseless contact. The cut is very good because Hayes brings a big body in the middle that produces and accumulates solid possession figures. It also gives the Flyers three very good centers in the middle with Sean Couturier already in place and hopes Nolan Patrick will jump in his third season in the NHL.
The newly acquired pivot also has a bit of history with the new head of the Flyers bench. Hayes played under Alain Vigneault in New York, with 174 points in 310 games from 2014-15 to 2017-18.
While Fletcher still has some work to do to keep Hayes visible in the long run, it's an encouraging sign that the new Flyers GM is ready to improve the club – and quickly. We will see what the numbers will be if Hayes is going to sign a long-term contract and, as always, we will have this information here for you.
Until then, play Gloria.
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