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Report: Rangers eyeing unsigned ‘Hawks prospect Hayes

GaudreauHayes

We’ve written quite a bit about Chicago Blackhawks prospect Kevin Hayes already on PHT -- see here and here -- and now, it looks like the New York Rangers are in the mix for his services.

Per the New York Post, the Blueshirts have targeted the 22-year-old Hayes, who was taken 24th overall by Chicago at the 2010 NHL Entry Draft but has yet to sign an entry-level deal with the club.

More, from the Post:

Several NHL talent evaluators told The Post they believe Hayes, who did not attend Chicago’s prospect camp last week after having done so in each of the previous four summers, likely would have been selected between 15th and 25th had he been eligible to re-enter the 2014 draft. He is regarded as an offensive talent perhaps a bit lacking in the ability to grind.

Hayes, who is eligible/required to sign a two-year Entry Level deal regardless of whether he signs with Chicago or becomes a free agent, would have a shot to make the Rangers with a strong training camp. The Blueshirts appear to have vacancies on their third and fourth lines.

Hayes had a tremendous final season at Boston College, finishing third in the country in scoring while capturing the 2014 Beanpot MVP. But it’s hard to put those accomplishments in context, namely because he was one of the oldest players in collegiate hockey last year, and one of the biggest (the BC website lists him at 6-4, 216 pounds.)

And that’s partly why he may be looking to sign somewhere other than Chicago. It’s no secret the ‘Hawks are stacked; they’ve traded away a number of good young forwards that couldn’t get a regular chance to play in the top six, like Brandon Pirri and Jimmy Hayes. If that latter name is familiar, it should be — Jimmy is Kevin’s older brother, and was sent packing to Florida this season as part of the Kris Versteeg trade. Upon moving to the Panthers, Hayes proceeded to score 11 goals and 18 points in 53 games (the 53 games were more than Hayes saw in three years with the Blackhawks.)

Of course, player agent Robert Murray has said Chicago trading Jimmy has nothing to do with Kevin’s reluctance to sign. “There’s no issue, no problem,” Murray told ESPN Chicago. “It absolutely has nothing to do with Jimmy. Chicago treated Jimmy fine. The trade probably helped Jimmy.”

That final point probably most key. If the elder Hayes found greener pastures elsewhere, maybe the younger is thinking the same? It’s also worth noting that, in New York, Kevin would reunite with former BC teammate Chris Kreider, who scored a career-high 17 goals last year.