June 19: The contract has been officially announced by the Flyers, matching the financial details originally reported. GM Chuck Fletcher released this statement:
We are very happy to sign Kevin to a long term contract. He plays a smart, two-way game and is just entering the prime of his career. Kevin will add size and skill to our line-up.
The deal will include a no-movement clause for the first three years and a 12-team no-trade clause the remaining four.
Per CapFriendly, the contract breaks down as follows:
2019-20: $4MM base salary, $5MM signing bonus
2020-21: $3.75MM base salary, $3.75MM signing bonus
2021-22: $9MM base salary
2022-23: $3.75MM base salary, $3.75MM signing bonus
2023-24: $6.5MM base salary
2024-25: $4MM base salary, $1.25MM signing bonus
2025-26: $4MM base salary, $1.25MM signing bonus
June 18: As soon as the Philadelphia Flyers acquired Kevin Hayes’ negotiating rights from the Winnipeg Jets, they became the favorites to sign the two-way center. However, talks had not been going as expected until a recent report that progress was finally being made toward a contract resolution. Now, TSN’s Bob McKenzie reports that a deal is imminent. He expects the contract to be worth $50MM over seven years.
Hayes’ reported $7.14MM AAV, a raise of more than $2MM over his latest contract, puts him in the top 20 among NHL centers and continues an off-season that appears to be a players’ market. For a player with just five seasons of pro experience who has averaged less than 20 goals and 50 points per year, this may seem like a high cap number. While centers are paid a premium and Hayes’ defensive effectiveness needs to be taken into account, it is likely that some will be skeptical of this deal. Nevertheless, the Flyers did what they needed to to lock up a top young free agent and fill a major need down the middle. Now the team must hope that Hayes can continue on his upward trajectory set by a career-high 55 points this past season.
Hayes joins Erik Karlsson and Jeff Skinner as top impending free agents that have now re-signed for more than many expected. In comparison, this contract makes the New York Islanders’ extensions of Brock Nelson and Jordan Eberle look very team-friendly, but may make extending Anders Lee more difficult. Besides Hayes, the major beneficiary of this contract is Matt Duchene, who is considered the top free agent center and has a strong argument to make substantially more than Hayes. Lee can also fairly make that case. Marcus Johansson and Gustav Nyquist additionally stand to benefit, as they have similar per-game numbers to Hayes, albeit are older and not natural centers.
Hayes now joins fellow new Flyers Justin Braun and Matt Niskanen on a re-tooled roster that has undoubtedly gained the imprint of new GM Chuck Fletcher. And it’s only June. Where else Philadelphia goes this summer remains to be seen, but the team will certainly have a different look when they take the ice next season.
Guess decent forwards getting overpaid is the new thing.
We now have a new worse contract. At least karlsson if health is okay . he will be worth it for a few years. Anyone think he one of top 20 centers?
As a Pens fan, I have to say that I like this deal a lot.
4th line on Jets team that didn’t and doesn’t have a 2C. He might be a top 20C in the league though. If we are talking AHL or KHL. Kudos to him and his agent.
When you have a need down the middle and with the cap space they have, you make the move
This is officially the worst contract of the off-season. They will regret it immediately like oilers with lucic. Guys a slug, 19 goals equals 20 billion dollars my ass
Absolutely garbage contract. Fletcher has lost his mind. $7 million for a guy who’s barely a second line centre?
I like Kevin Hayes’ game but lordy that is a big commitment
Do you even watch hockey?
Are you a flyers fan?
Andy are you?
Hayes had a career high 55 points last year. how does that equate to 7 million a year?
you’re right. the Flyers needed a centre. it’s too bad though that need made them completely overpay.
Hayes was going to get $7 million or more on the free agent market. The Avalanche would have given it to him. The center market is scarce. It was basically Duchene & Hayes, Yes, it is likely an overpay, but when the market is scarce, players get paid more because there isn’t the supply. Hayes will produce. He won’t be Lucic or Eriksson. Will he produce to the level some would expect for $7.14 million a season? Probably not, but he will give the Flyers more than the 6 goals and 14 assists Lucic gave the Oilers last season.
this could either be really good or really bad…and i fear the latter.
Story of this offseason; go for the RFA’s. At least that money will get you star players.
I am actually.
What were they supposed to do? They had a major hole at the position. They tried the trade market and couldn’t find anything. Are they supposed to settle for the same bad players? Sometimes you might have to “overpay”. Keeps Giroux on the wing where he’s been at his best
Hayes is a legit two way player entering his prime. who knows the head coach. The reason why he hasn’t been a point producer (and by the way, scoring points isn’t the only way to judge a players true value) was because he plays both ends of the ice and on special teams; something the flyers were awful at the last few seasons
Do I agree about the length and the dollars? No, and time will tell. But I’m not going to sit here and bitch and complain about it
I’ll bet Hayes is even surprised he got that much.
Could have had Kahdr for 4.5
I am actually. What were they supposed to do? They had a huge hole at the position and lacked depth up front. They tried the trade market and couldn’t find anything. Are they supposed to just settle for the same bad players? Do i agree with the length and the dollars? No. But I’m not going to sit here and complain about it
He’s a legit two way player entering his prime that knows the head coach very well.
It’s the same need many teams were ready to overpay for.
Andy is a flyers fan
Man what’s this mean for Duchene? 9 million? 10 million? He’s so much better than Hayes and his price probably just went up at least an extra million or two.
andy apart from the bad contract, I dont think anyone would have paid this much. The Flyers likely would have been the high bidder in Free Agency and could have saved trading the draft pick.
Just because a team has a need doesnt mean when they sign a good player to a bad contract it’s ok.
Should have traded for Kadri. He seems like a bit of a headcase but you’d save 2.5 mil per year on shorter term
ThePriceWasRight:
Saving a 5th round draft pick. Ok. And?
I’m not a fan of the contract and money, but I’m not going to start complaining about. Supply and demand is what the market showed. What else were they supposed to do? Takes less pressure off Nolan Patrick so he can continue to grow and Hayes helps in so many other areas the team sorely lacked.
It may very well strap them cap wise down the road and sure it’s risky. But you don’t make your team better by sitting on your thumbs like Hextall did; waiting for his youth to bare fruit. It was a flawed team with a broken philosophy
If they can’t extend some of their younger players, they have one of the deepest farms to retool.
Time will tell. Once again, I agree the contract is a little high, but it’s what the market dictates
I think this is a drastic overpay.
My approach would have been:
1) Offer Hayes no more than $6 x 6 .
2) If Hayes comes back asking for $7.14 x 7 I push all my chips in on Duchene. I offer $9ish x 6 or 7 .
3) If Duchene says no you make a deal with Toronto for Kadri. They’re looking to move him and I believe a reasonable deal could be made. Naz is making $4.5 for 3 more years. Is he Duchene or Hayes ? No. But he’s a heck of a lot more sensible than Hayes at $7.14 x 7!
The bigger concern for me is , what does this say to Patrick ? He was taken #2 overall two seasons ago. Has he lived up to the hype in 2 seasons ? No, but he’s 20 and Fletcher’s actions have said to him “You’re a 3C … forever”.
Flyers are going to find themselves in a cap crunch in the next couple of seasons. When they do … this is going to be the boat anchor.
He don’t call Patrick a career 3rd liner by this move.He says he needs more development time,and then Hayes could move to wing when he’s ready to move up.And the only reason to this point that says Patrick should be on the 2nd line,is being the 2nd pick.
We’ve solidified our d,by adding veteran right-handed shots,and we now have a pretty decent set of centers,down to the 4th line.
If Hayes can be a consistent top 6 winger for 5years,the overpay won’t be as big as you might think.And anyone saying we should’ve just paid more for Duchene,dont forget Taveras wouldn’t even talk to us a year ago,and we were coming off a better season….There’s still also a chance another set of compliance buyouts could come about,when the next cba is negotiated.
^ CBA is next year. I hope you’re not hoping that the Flyers can use a compliance buyout on him that soon
Hey rgreen,
Your point on Duchene having no interest in being a Flyer is taken. I think the chances of having him entertain an offer from the Flyers would have been very low. But … I just cannot see any scenario in which this contract with Hayes delivers fair value. I hope I’m wrong ! I really do … I just cannot see it.
No,like I said,hopefully we can get 5 good years.Theres not really anyone else who should need that type of buyout.
How ya like this move now?