Flyers Sign Free Agent Center Kevin Hayes

Tuesday night, just hours after acquiring Justin Braun from San Jose, Kevin Hayes accepted a seven-year offer from Chuck Fletcher and the Philadelphia Flyers.

The total numbers: 7-years, $50 million, $7.14M AAV.

In which Kevin Hayes, a 27 year old who has broken 20 goals once and 50 points once, now has the 18th highest AAV for a center in the NHL.

Unrestricted Free Agency. Catch the FEVER, BABY! https://t.co/o6XTxRlHTB

— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) June 19, 2019

If you’re calling it an overpay, that’s exactly what it is. That’s because, as a UFA, Hayes has leverage. What the Flyers don’t pay, someone else will.

The good news, and this cannot be stressed enough: the Flyers no longer have a hole at the 2C position. Hayes brings a sense of stability down the middle that the Flyers haven’t seen in years. He’ll take a lot of pressure off of Nolan Patrick, who the team is no longer dependent on for 2C production.

SIGNING
Flyers: Kevin Hayes $7.14M x 7 years

A nice player who can fit well with Flyers' winger depth. Should be a decent top six centre for much of his contract, but term looks lengthy and the team didn't get a discount for it. pic.twitter.com/jJSoMuocPc

— dom luszczyszyn (@domluszczyszyn) June 19, 2019

Hayes is coming off a career season, earning 55 points in 71 games split between the Rangers and Winnipeg Jets.

With the Flyers finally realizing that Claude Giroux isn’t getting any younger, Kevin Hayes rounds out a formidable center group. They look to be pushing for playoff series wins for the first time since 2012.

It’s still very early in the offseason, and there’s a feeling that Fletcher isn’t yet finished with this roster. Who’s next?