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Chicago Faces Conundrum With Collegiate Hayes

July 12, 2014, 4:28 PM ET [118 Comments]
Eklund
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The Chicago Blackhawks and Boston College forward Kevin Hayes are at an impasse on a contract, to the point that the 2010 first rounder will be a no-show at the club’s rookie camp starting this weekend.

The 22-year-old winger was MVP of the 2014 Beanpot Tournament, finished in the top 10 in voting for the Hobey Baker after scoring 28 goals in 39 games for the Eagles in his senior season and is considered one of the Hawks top prospects.




Other teams have similar signing dilemmas staring them in the face, as prospects who have completed their four years in the NCAA can become unrestricted free agents if they are not under contract by August 15.

The Winnipeg Jets were on the verge of losing Quinnipiac’s Jordan Samuels-Thomas and swapped the former late pick to Buffalo for a conditional 2015 seventh rounder.

The Hawks will receive a compensatory 2015 second round pick if they cannot sign Hayes, who may be looking for a team that can give him a quicker path to the NHL than the Hawks. That was the result for his brother Jimmy when he was traded to the Florida Panthers in the Kris Versteeg deal last November.

Right now, I am hearing that Calgary may be the field leader on the Hayes sweeps, and NOT just because Hayes' BC linemate and good friend Johnny Gaudreau is a Flame. Calgary is stockpiling a good nucleus of young forwards.

With that said, when I asked a source how many teams are interested in Hayes, the response was "How many teams can use an NHL-ready first round pick forward who has the potential to be a top six forward?"

"Lots of teams," I said.

"Exactly," he said.

  • Sign With Chicago
  • Rights Traded Before 8/15
  • Unrestricted Free Agency
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