Lack of UFA centres makes a market for Hayes?

As July 1st approaches, NHL fans across the league await to see which teams will make a splash to try to bolster their lineup with a free agent signing. The amount of money spent on unrestricted free agency day can be berzerk. It's never dull during those first few days of July, whether there are more defensemen or more forwards.

This year, there is a lack of quality of unrestricted centres available. This news will be music to general manager Danny Brieres' ears as the Flyers begin removing high-priced contracts from their lineup to create assets that will help the rebuilding phase.

Briere has one centerman that could and will generate interest who happens to be centerman Kevin Hayes. Hayes' time with the Flyers has been rocky at best. His salary has a cap hit of $7.1 million per season over the next three seasons.

The Flyers may need to eat a portion of his salary to make a trade work, however, with the lack of centres and the cap poised to move up in the next two years, there will be an appetite to acquire Hayes's services to bolster one's line up.



Two teams come to mind, the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Boston Bruins. The Blue Jackets who are about to hire Mike Babcock as head coach lack quality centermen as they have Jack Roslovic, Boone Jenner and Sean Kuraly as their top three centres. The Blue Jackets currently have $16 million in cap space with Johnny Hockey on their wing, the Blue Jackets require a centre to help improve his numbers.


The Boston Bruins on the other hand face a different issue. There are six times selke winning centerman Patrice Bergeron could be on the verge of retirement which will open up a spot on their top six. Hayes could fill that role with his veteran presence.

Time will tell if the Flyers will make the move and close the Hayes chapter or will they keep him for the rebuilding phase?