Kevin Hayes

Kevin Patrick Hayes Bio

Kevin Patrick Hayes is an American professional ice hockey player who currently serves as a forward for the Pittsburgh Penguins in the National Hockey League (NHL). Standing at 6 feet 5 inches tall and weighing 217 pounds, Hayes has established himself as a versatile forward known for his two-way play and penalty-killing abilities.

Early Life and Background

Born on May 8, 1992, in the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, Kevin Hayes grew up as the youngest of five children in a hockey family. He began his hockey journey playing in the Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament, representing South Shore in 2004 and 2005 alongside future NHL players Noel Acciari, Chris Wagner, and Charlie Coyle. Hayes played high school hockey at Noble and Greenough School in Dedham, Massachusetts, where he developed his skills with 67 points in 28 games during the 2009-10 season.

Hayes comes from an athletic family with NHL connections. His older brother Jimmy Hayes also played in the NHL, and their cousins include former NHL players Tom Fitzgerald and Keith Tkachuk. The hockey lineage continues with Fitzgerald’s sons Ryan and Casey, who were Hayes’ teammates at Boston College, and Tkachuk’s sons Matthew and Brady, all of whom have NHL careers. Hayes is a fan of the New England Patriots and the St. Louis Blues, where Tkachuk played during his childhood.

Path to Professional Hockey

After his successful high school career, Hayes was selected to participate in the 2010 U.S. National Junior Evaluation Camp, showcasing his potential at a national level. The Chicago Blackhawks recognized his talent and chose him in the first round, 24th overall, in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. Despite being drafted, Hayes chose to attend Boston College, following in his brother Jimmy’s footsteps. He joined the Eagles as part of their recruiting class, which had impressed Jimmy a few years before.

During his freshman year at Boston College in 2010-11, Hayes recorded his first NCAA career point on October 15, 2010, in a 6-2 win over the Denver Pioneers. Unfortunately, he suffered a posterior cruciate ligament injury that caused him to miss the second half of the season, ending with 14 points in 31 games. The following season, Hayes rebounded with an assist against Air Force in the Northeast Regional semifinals and a goal against Minnesota in the national semifinals as Boston College won the NCAA tournament, with Hayes contributing 28 points for the season.

Kevin Patrick Hayes Career

Early Career (2014-2019)

After his senior year at Boston College, where Hayes was named the MVP of the 2014 Beanpot tournament and selected for the AHCA East First-Team All-American after scoring 65 points in the 2013-14 season, Hayes and the Blackhawks could not agree on a contract by the August 15, 2014 deadline. As a result, Hayes became an unrestricted free agent. Less than a week later, the New York Rangers signed him to an entry-level contract with a base salary of $925,000 per season at the NHL level.

Hayes made his NHL debut with the Rangers on October 12, 2014, against the Toronto Maple Leafs, playing 14:17 of ice time in 19 shifts. He scored his first career NHL goal a few games later while centering a line with Rick Nash and former Boston College teammate Chris Kreider against the San Jose Sharks. Hayes finished his rookie season ranking fifth among all league rookies in both points and assists as the Rangers qualified for the 2015 Stanley Cup playoffs. In the playoffs, he scored the game-tying goal in an overtime win over Washington in the second round and recorded an assist on Dominic Moore’s late third-period winner against Tampa Bay in the Eastern Conference Final.

New York Rangers Breakthrough (2014-2019)

Before the 2015-16 season, Rangers head coach Alain Vigneault gave Hayes a chance on the first line with Kreider and Derek Stepan. His scoring declined during the season, and after a goalless 16 games, he was a healthy scratch for the first time. Despite finishing the season with only 14 goals and 22 assists for 36 points, the Rangers signed him to a two-year, $5.2 million contract extension.

In the 2016-17 season, Hayes reunited with childhood friend Jimmy Vesey, who had signed with the Rangers. They were tried on a line together before Hayes was moved to the third line with Michael Grabner and J.T. Miller. On October 30, 2016, their line combined for nine points in a 6-1 win over Tampa Bay. Hayes began strong with 13 goals and 22 assists in 47 games before suffering a lower body injury against Detroit in January. He finished the season with 17 goals and 32 assists for 49 points. In the 2017 playoffs, he recorded 0 goals and 3 assists as the Rangers were eliminated in the second round against Ottawa.

For the 2017-18 season, Hayes missed six consecutive games due to another lower body injury, returning on January 25, 2018, with an assist against San Jose. On July 31, 2018, as a restricted free agent, Hayes re-signed a one-year contract with the Rangers. In his fifth season with the Rangers in 2018-19, Hayes increased his offensive output, contributing 42 points in 51 games despite missing nine games with an upper-body injury. At the trade deadline, he was traded to the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for a first-round pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, Brendan Lemieux, and a conditional fourth-round pick in the 2022 draft.

Philadelphia Flyers Era (2019-2023)

Upon joining the Philadelphia Flyers on June 3, 2019, Hayes was reunited with head coach Alain Vigneault, who had been hired by the Flyers after being fired from the Rangers in 2018. On June 19, the Flyers signed Hayes to a seven-year, $50 million contract with an annual average of $7.14 million. After a strong training camp, Hayes was named an alternate captain for the 2019-20 season, rotating the position with Jakub Voráček on away games.

Hayes had a career-best season in 2019-20, recording 23 goals and 18 assists in 69 games, including four short-handed goals and five game-winning goals. He was named the winner of the Gene Hart Memorial Award, given to the player who displays the most “heart.” In the 2020 playoffs, Hayes recorded four goals and nine assists in the Flyers’ run to the Eastern Conference semifinals.

St. Louis Blues and Pittsburgh Penguins (2023-Present)

On June 27, 2023, the St. Louis Blues acquired Hayes from the Flyers in exchange for a sixth-round pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. He had a slow start to the 2023-24 season, with only two goals in his first 17 games. However, after moving to a line with Alexey Toropchenko and Jake Neighbours on November 21, Hayes added seven goals in his next 13 games. This success was not sustained as he scored only four goals in his last 47 games of the season.

On June 29, 2024, Hayes was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins along with a second-round selection in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft for future considerations. During the 2024-25 season, Hayes mainly played on a line with Philip Tomasino and Drew O’Connor, providing 13 goals and 22 assists. In the 2025-26 season, he faced challenges with multiple healthy scratches and a lower-body injury in March, returning to the lineup just before the end of the regular season.

Playing Style and Strengths

Hayes is best known for his short-handed abilities, both in managing the penalty kill and in scoring short-handed goals. Flyers general manager Chuck Fletcher emphasized Hayes’ 200-foot game when signing him to the organization. Hayes credits head coach Alain Vigneault with his development as a professional hockey player, stating that Vigneault turned him from an offensive guy into a 200-foot player. His size and strength make him effective along the boards and in front of the net.

Notable Events and Milestones

Hayes has several career milestones, including scoring his first NHL goal while centering a line with Rick Nash and Chris Kreider against San Jose. He scored his first playoff goal as an overtime game-winner against Pittsburgh in game four of the 2015 first-round series. In 2019-20, he set career highs with four short-handed goals and five game-winning goals. Hayes was also named a finalist for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy in 2021-22 for his perseverance through personal challenges, including his brother Jimmy’s death and his own health issues.

Kevin Patrick Hayes Career Wins

Throughout his NHL career, Kevin Hayes has established himself as a reliable forward with consistent scoring ability and strong two-way play. His versatility has allowed him to contribute to multiple teams in different roles, from top-six forward to checking line center.

NHL Highlights

Hayes has recorded impressive stats throughout his career, including his 2019-20 season with Philadelphia where he set career highs with 23 goals and 18 assists, including four short-handed goals and five game-winning goals. In the 2024-25 season with Pittsburgh, he contributed 13 goals and 22 assists. His playoff performances have been notable as well, including four goals and nine assists in the 2020 playoffs with the Flyers.

International Play

Hayes has represented the United States at the international level, competing in the 2014 IIHF World Championship where he skated in eight games and recorded one goal and one assist. He also played for Team USA at the 2017 IIHF World Championship, scoring his first two goals of the tournament in a 5-3 win over Germany.

Kevin Patrick Hayes Family

Family Background and Hockey Lineage

Kevin Hayes comes from an extensive hockey family. His older brother Jimmy Hayes also played in the NHL before his untimely death in 2021. Their hockey pedigree includes cousins Tom Fitzgerald, a former NHL player and current New Jersey Devils general manager, and Keith Tkachuk, another former NHL player. The hockey tradition continues with Fitzgerald’s sons Ryan and Casey, who were teammates with Hayes at Boston College, and Tkachuk’s sons Matthew and Brady, who are both NHL stars. Hayes served as a pallbearer at Johnny Gaudreau’s funeral in 2024; Gaudreau was his closest friend in the NHL and former Boston College teammate who was killed by a drunk driver.

Personal Life

Hayes is an advocate for Hockey Fights Cancer, as both of his parents are cancer survivors. His mother Shelagh was diagnosed with colorectal cancer when Hayes was in middle school, and his father Kevin Sr. was diagnosed with throat cancer during Hayes’ sophomore year at Boston College. In 2020, Yards Brewing Company in Philadelphia released “The Big Hayes-y 13” beer, a New England IPA named after the Flyers’ center in reference to his Boston upbringing. Hayes married Katya Vasilyev on July 16, 2023, and their son was born in May 2025.

2025 Season Performance

During the 2025 season, Kevin Hayes continued to play for the Pittsburgh Penguins, primarily on a line with Philip Tomasino and Drew O’Connor. Despite facing challenges with multiple healthy scratches throughout the season, Hayes provided valuable veteran presence and experience. His season was interrupted by a lower-body injury in March, but he returned to the lineup just before the end of the regular season to help the Penguins as they made their push toward the playoffs. Hayes’s ability to adapt to different roles within the lineup and his penalty-killing expertise remained key assets to the team despite the inconsistent playing time.