Like everybody expected, it appears as if the Boston Bruins have made their first pitch to unrestricted free agent and former first-round draft pick Kevin Hayes.
Along with Peter Chiarelli, Claude Julien made pitch to Kevin Hayes on behalf of Bruins the other day, per source.
— Mark Divver (@MarkDivver) August 19, 2014Bruins' Charlie Jacobs called, too.
— Mark Divver (@MarkDivver) August 19, 2014Drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks with the 24th overall pick back in 2010, Hayes was seemingly destined to hit the open market after month-long reports that he was not going to sign with the ‘Hawks, and when he did that, the B’s came calling.
For obvious reasons, too.
At 6-foot-3, and a Hobey Baker finalist in his last season with Boston College (2013-14), Hayes is a big body and has played both center and wing during his college career. He ended his college career with a monstrous 27 goals and 65 points in just 40 games on college hockey’s best line, featuring Johnny Gaudreau on his opposite wing and Bill Arnold at center. (Both Arnold and Gaudreau now play their pro hockey for Brian Burke’s Calgary Flames organization, by the way.)
On top of Hayes’ college accolades, he comes from a deep hockey family with roots that include his brother Jimmy Hayes, a Florida Panther, and cousins Ryan Fitzgerald (B’s prospect) and Ryan’s father, former Boston Bruin (2005-06) and current Pittsburgh Penguin assistant general manager Tom Fitzgerald, along with the Tkachuks.
Oh, and he’s from Dorchester, Massachusetts...
Given the Bruins’ summertime loss of Jarome Iginla (and everything already mentioned), Hayes is an obvious fit for the club. A right winger -- though he’d give the Black-and-Gold yet another left-handed shot on the right side -- Hayes can only count against the salary cap for the entry-level max $925,000 (though bonuses can drive up his actual impact the following year).
From the sounds of it, the Bruins have thrown everything they can to the hometown kid. He’s talked with the general manager, the coach, and has even talked with a member of the Jacobs family.
But the Bruins aren’t allow in their hunt for the young talent.
Teams like the Arizona Coyotes, Colorado Avalanche, Pittsburgh Penguins, and several others have also made their pitches to Hayes, and it doesn’t sound like a decision is coming tonight.