Hayes traded to Flyers by Jets for fifth-round pick

Kevin Hayes was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers by the Winnipeg Jets on Monday for a fifth-round pick in the 2019 NHL Draft.

Hayes, who is a pending unrestricted free agent and can sign with any team July 1, was traded to the Jets by the New York Rangers on Feb. 25 for a first-round pick in the 2019 draft, forward Brendan Lemieux and a conditional fourth-round selection in the 2022 NHL Draft.
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The 27-year-old center had 13 points (five goals, eight assists) in 20 games for Winnipeg and 55 points (19 goals, 36 assists) in 71 regular-season games. He had three points (two goals, one assist) in six Stanley Cup Playoff games for the Jets, who lost to the St. Louis Blues in the Western Conference First Round.
"By gaining the rights to Kevin at this time, it provides us with an opportunity to negotiate with him prior to July 1 when he is due to become an unrestricted free agent," Flyers general manager Chuck Fletcher said.

Selected by the Chicago Blackhawks with the No. 24 pick in the 2010 NHL Draft, Hayes elected to not sign with Chicago after playing four seasons at Boston College and became a free agent.
Hayes signed with the Rangers on Aug. 20, 2014, and had 216 points (87 goals, 129 assists) in 361 games in five seasons with New York, including four (2014-18) under Alain Vigneault, who was hired as Flyers coach April 15.