Hayes, 27, signed a PTO with the Devils on August 23, 2017. He played the 2016-17 season with Boston, where he totaled two goals and 3 assists for 5 points overall with 29 penalty minutes and a -3 rating in 58 games last season. The Boston, MA native spent two total seasons with the Bruins after being traded to Boston from Florida on July 1, 2015 for forwards Reilly Smith and Marc Savard.
The 6-5, 215lb. forward spent the first two seasons of his NHL career with Chicago (2011-12 through 2012-13). Hayes was traded to Florida from Chicago on November 14, 2013 after appearing in two games for Chicago in the 2013-14 season. A veteran of 301 regular-season NHL games, Hayes has totaled 51 goals and 49 assists for 100 points with 143 penalty minutes.
He has played in two Stanley Cup Playoff contests. The right-handed forward attended Boston College from 2008-11 (Hockey East) where he was teammates with Devils' forward Brian Gibbons (2008-11) and helped lead Boston College to a NCAA Championship in 2010. Born on November 21, 1989, he was selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the second round, 60th overall, in the 2008 NHL Draft.
