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Kevin Hayes News
The Jets have acquired Kevin Hayes from the Rangers for a Brendan Lemieux, a 2019 first-round pick and a conditional draft pick.

Hayes is a former first-round pick (No.24 overall) back in 2010 and has enjoyed a breakout season in 2019. Hayes is on-pace for a career-best 39 assists and 58 points through 51 games. Hayes will likely replace Bryan Little as the Jets No.2 centre, where he could play with the likes of Patrik Laine, Nikolaj Ehlers or Kyle Connor.

Kevin Hayes
Hayes (upper-body) will return to the Rangers lineup on Tuesday.

Hayes has missed the last nine games with an upper-body injury but will replace Mats Zuccarello, who is sidelined with a foot infection. Hayes has had a solid campaign, scoring 10 goals with 23 assists (33 points) in 39 games and will skate on the second-line with Jimmy Vesey and Vladislav Namestnikov.

Kevin Hayes
Hayes (lower-body) left Sunday’s game and is questionable for Monday’s game.

Hayes left Sunday’s game after playing just 8:41 TOI and did not return. Hayes was seen walking stiffly with a brace on his left leg after the game, which isn’t a good sign for his availability for Monday’s game. Hayes will be evaluated on Monday, so expect an update later today.

Kevin Hayes
The Rangers signed Kevin Hayes to a two-year deal worth $5.2 million ($2.6M AAV).

Hayes, 24, had an excellent rookie season and was among the breakout candidates heading into 2015-16, but he struggled for the majority of the year. He scored 14 goals with 22 assists, falling short of his 17-goal, 28-assist rookie campaign. Heading into 2016-17, Hayes remains an intriguing sleeper option given his great size and skill, but he will need to find a way to break into the Rangers’ top-6 if he’s going to have huge impact.

Kevin Hayes
Hayes (healthy scratch) will be back in the Rangers lineup on Tuesday.

Hayes was a healthy scratch for the last two games, but will get back into the lineup on Tuesday. Alain Vigneault has not been impressed with the 23-year-olds game lately so he sat him for a couple of nights. The second-year forward had 45 points (17G / 28A) last year, but has just 17 points (6G / 11A) in 37 games this season—on pace for 37 points (13G / 24A). Maybe this time off will wake Hayes’ offensive game up and he can become fantasy relevant again.

Kevin Hayes