After signing Chris Kreider this morning to a four-year extension, the New York Rangers have come to terms with fellow restricted free agent Kevin Hayes, according to NHL analyst Aaron Ward. According to Ward’s source, the deal is for two seasons, at $2.6MM per.
After being selected in the first round of the 2010 Entry Draft, Hayes spent four years at Boston College in the NCAA, after which he became a free agent and chose to sign with the Rangers. In the two seasons since his transition from college, Hayes has put up solid scoring numbers, tallying 45 and 36 points, while playing in 79 games each season.
His deal represents the third time this summer the team has been able to lock up one of their young forwards, following Kreider and J.T. Miller in inking multi-year deals. Hayes, still just 24, will have a chance to move back up the depth chart in New York as Eric Staal and Viktor Stalberg both signed elsewhere.
After acquiring Mika Zibanejad the other day, the team has continued it’s push to get younger up front, and now has five 25-or-younger players expected to start the season with the club up front.
As General Fanager adds, since the Rangers have settled all four of their arbitration filings already, the team will now have a 48 hour bonus buyout window. For the updated depth charts, be sure to check out the Rangers’ Roster Resource page.