Kevin Hayes Living up to Contract
When GM Chuck Fletcher and the Philadelphia Flyers signed UFA Kevin Hayes to a 7 year deal with an average annual salary worth $7.14 million this past summer, most so-called “experts” and hockey fans took to social media to blast the team for once again overpaying for a player.
Before the signing, most experts agreed that Hayes should be a $6.5 million a year player at most. A difference of $640K a year. $640K.
After 50 games with the club, Hayes posts a very respectable 14 goals and 13 assists for 27 points. Roughly equivalent to 23 goals and 44 points over an 82 game span. That would be well shy of his career-best 55 points last season when he split time between New York and Winnipeg and only 2 goals shy of his career-high of 25 in the 2017-18 season with the New York Rangers. That alone is not worth $7.14 million per season, agreed.
Hayes brings more to the team than just points. He plays those “Hard Minutes”. He frustrates his opponents, just ask the Pittsburgh Penguins. He does a masterful job of playing “keep away” while on the penalty kill, something Flyers fans have not seen since Mike Richards was a Flyer.
When closing out a tight game, Kevin Hayes is always on the ice during the last few minutes. He’s been a mentor for highly touted young forward Joel Farabee, and he clearly has the trust of head coach Alain Vigneault. At the midway point this season, Flyers forward Sean Couturier has been named the leading candidate to win the Selke Trophy, given to the league’s best defensive forward. Make no mistake, that doesn’t happen without Hayes on this team. As good as “Coots” has been, he would have played most of those hard minutes Hayes currently plays, on top of his own. $640K.
Admittedly, the Flyers are not the deepest team at the center position. Now imagine them without Hayes. $640K. Fact is when you have an organizational need, and a 27-year-old, 6’5”, 216lb center, who kills penalties, contributes offensively, is a mentor to the younger players and has had his best years in the league while playing under your new head coach becomes available, overpaying by a mere $640K a season is a no-brainer.
Kevin Hayes is in the prime of his career, and when this contract expires, he’ll still only be 34. You certainly can’t blame Hayes for getting the most he possibly could, after all, most players only become UFA’s while in the prime of their career once.
It’s only been 50 games, but we must give credit where credit is due: Chuck Fletcher made a great business decision by spending an extra $640K per season on Kevin Hayes.
Featured Image: David Banks/USA Today Sports
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