Don't like it. Should have given him 2 years. Would have made it easier to get a lot more if they wanted to trade him at the deadline IMO. Either way, I expect him to have a big season.
He's as good as gone now. Just hope he stays healthy and has a great first half of the season so we can maximize his value at the trade DL. Clearly they couldn't agree on a longer deal, so the shame of it is that will also lower his value at the trade DL as a rental. No one wins here. Hayes has a down season or gets hurt, we can't get good trade value and his ability to sign for big money next summer is diminished. If he has a big season we can get a late first for him at the trade DL, but that kind of puts us/him where he is now anyway. Shame...but we do have good C depth now, and we could have 3 first round picks if TB wins the cup.
Would be interesting to know what Kevin was asking for, think $5 mil is pretty generous for a guy his size with a few years under his belt who's yet to crack 50 points. While he did have a career high 25 goals I think of all the times he sits in the offensive zone dangling with his back to the goal inevitably turning over the puck without creating a scoring chance because he's a lousy passer. Good chance for Kev to earn a big contract next year, don't think the playoff bound Rangers will be trading him though. We'll see what future free agency has to offer him.
If Chytil doesn't do much and Hayes has a big year, my guess is they give him a 5 year deal. If Chytil impresses, they probably deal him.
think Hayes is 100% gone, but we'll see. Anything can happen, but if they were going to sign him long term for the money he wanted they would have done it now when they could maybe have gotten a lesser year as a RFA in the deal. Not sure what would happen this year that would make them say okay now we'll give you 6 mill (or more a season). If he blows up sure I could see them saying we f'd up and cannot afford to lose this guy, or if the kids really struggle, but those seem like long shots to me. I think the %'s are high he is dealt during the season/at the trade DL for a late 1st package (similar to Nash).
