Kevin Hayes Bio
Kevin Patrick Hayes (born May 8, 1992) is an American professional ice hockey player for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League (NHL). Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing 216 pounds, he plays center and is known for his two-way game and short-handed contributions. Hayes has suited up for the New York Rangers, Winnipeg Jets, Philadelphia Flyers, and St. Louis Blues across a career that began in 2014.
Early Life and Background
Hayes was born in the Boston neighborhood of Dorchester on May 8, 1992, the youngest of five children. His older brother, Jimmy Hayes, also played in the NHL, and the family environment fostered Kevin’s early love for hockey. His cousins include New Jersey Devils general manager and former NHL player Tom Fitzgerald, as well as former NHL player Keith Tkachuk, giving the family deep roots in the sport.
Hayes got his start in the Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament, representing South Shore in 2004 and 2005. His South Shore teammates included future NHL players Noel Acciari, Chris Wagner, and Charlie Coyle. He later attended Noble and Greenough School in Dedham, Massachusetts, where he scored 67 points in 28 games during the 2009-10 season and was selected for the 2010 U.S. National Junior Evaluation Camp.
Path to Professional Hockey
The Chicago Blackhawks selected Hayes in the first round, 24th overall, of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. Rather than turn professional immediately, he followed his older brother Jimmy to Boston College, where he played four seasons for the Eagles. In his senior year, Hayes was selected for the All-Hockey East First Team and the AHCA East First-Team All-American.
Hayes’ college career was not without hardship. During his sophomore year, in 2012-13, he received a suspension for a violation of team rules. Later that season, in a match against the UMass Lowell River Hawks, Hayes sustained a leg injury and lost consciousness in the locker room. He was rushed to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with compartment syndrome. He underwent four emergency surgeries on his left quadriceps femoris muscle and was hospitalized for 22 days. Doctors told him his condition had been two hours from amputation.
Kevin Hayes Career
Early Career (2010-2014)
At Boston College, Hayes recorded his first NCAA career point on October 15, 2010, in a 6-2 win over the Denver Pioneers. After sitting out the second half of his freshman season with a posterior cruciate ligament injury, he returned to contribute 28 points the following year. In 2011-12, he helped Boston College win the NCAA tournament, recording an assist against the Air Force Falcons and a goal against the Minnesota Golden Gophers in the national semifinals.
When Hayes returned from his compartment syndrome recovery, he joined Johnny Gaudreau and Bill Arnold on the Eagles’ top line during his senior season. He scored 65 points (27 goals and 38 assists) in the 2013-14 NCAA season, ending with 1.62 points per game, the second-highest in the country. He was named MVP of the 2014 Beanpot tournament and selected for the AHCA East First-Team All-American.
New York Rangers Era (2014-2019)
Hayes and the Blackhawks could not agree on a contract by the August 15 deadline for college graduates in 2014, and he became an unrestricted free agent. The New York Rangers signed him to an entry-level contract with a base salary of $925,000 per season. He made his NHL debut on October 12, 2014, against the Toronto Maple Leafs, playing alongside Carl Hagelin and J. T. Miller. A few games later, he scored his first career NHL goal against the San Jose Sharks.
Hayes finished his rookie season ranking fifth among all league rookies in both points and assists, helping the Rangers qualify for the 2015 Stanley Cup playoffs. His first postseason goal was an overtime game winner against the Pittsburgh Penguins, giving the Rangers a 3-1 series lead. In 2015-16, he signed a two-year, $5.2 million contract extension despite a dip in production. By 2018-19, Hayes had increased his offensive output to 42 points in 51 games before being traded at the deadline to the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for Brendan Lemieux and draft picks.
Winnipeg Jets and Philadelphia Flyers (2019-2023)
Upon joining the Jets, Hayes was placed on a line with Mark Scheifele and Blake Wheeler. He scored his first goal with the team on March 1, 2019, in a 5-3 win over the Nashville Predators. His negotiating rights were later traded to the Philadelphia Flyers on June 3, 2019, and he signed a seven-year, $50 million contract.
Reuniting with former Rangers head coach Alain Vigneault in Philadelphia, Hayes played in all 69 regular season games of the 2019-20 season, recording 23 goals and 18 assists. He posted career-bests of four short-handed goals and five game-winning goals, and was awarded the Gene Hart Memorial Award for the player who displayed the most heart. In 2021-22, after a blood infection and the death of his brother Jimmy, Hayes was named a finalist for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy.
St. Louis Blues and Pittsburgh Penguins Era (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. After a slow start, he moved to a line with Alexey Toropchenko and Jake Neighbours on November 21 and added seven goals in his next 13 games. His production later slowed, and he was a healthy scratch for two of the Blues’ last three games.
On June 29, 2024, Hayes was traded, along with a second-round selection in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, to the Pittsburgh Penguins for future considerations. He has since joined the Penguins roster and continues his NHL career in 2025.
Driving 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 the team signed him. Hayes is also known for his close relationship with head coach Alain Vigneault, with whom he worked on the Rangers and Flyers. He credits Vigneault with turning him from an offensive player into a reliable two-way NHL center.
Notable Events and Milestones
Hayes’ first postseason goal, an overtime game winner against the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2015, marked him as a clutch playoff performer. His 2019-20 Gene Hart Memorial Award and his Bill Masterton Trophy finalist nod in 2021-22 recognized his perseverance through personal and physical challenges. Internationally, he represented the United States at the 2014 and 2017 IIHF World Championships, scoring three goals across both tournaments.
Kevin Hayes Career Wins
Kevin Hayes has recorded hundreds of points across the NHL, highlighted by his time with the Rangers, Flyers, and Jets. Verified milestones include his first NHL goal with the Rangers and his overtime playoff winner against the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2015.
Regular Season and Playoff Highlights
Hayes posted career-best offensive totals during the 2019-20 season with the Philadelphia Flyers, recording 23 goals and 18 assists in 69 games. He added 13 points in 16 playoff games that postseason, including four goals and nine assists across two rounds. With the Rangers, he tied for third among all rookies in playoff points during the 2015 postseason.
Kevin Hayes Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Hayes’ family has deep roots in professional hockey. His older brother, Jimmy Hayes, played in the NHL before his death in August 2021 due to a drug overdose. His cousins include New Jersey Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald and former NHL player Keith Tkachuk. Fitzgerald’s sons Ryan and Casey were teammates with Kevin at Boston College, and Tkachuk’s sons Matthew and Brady Tkachuk are currently on NHL rosters.
Personal Life
Hayes married Katya Vasilyev on July 16, 2023. He is an advocate for Hockey Fights Cancer, as both of his parents are 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 his sophomore year at Boston College. His closest friend in the NHL was former Boston College teammate Johnny Gaudreau, who was killed by a drunk driver on August 29, 2024, and Hayes served as a pallbearer at his funeral.
2025 Season Performance
Kevin Hayes enters the 2025 season with the Pittsburgh Penguins after being acquired from the St. Louis Blues on June 29, 2024. He looks to rebound from a quieter 2023-24 campaign, where inconsistency led to healthy scratches late in the year. A fresh start in Pittsburgh offers him an opportunity to recapture the form that produced 23 goals with the Flyers in 2019-20.
Playing a depth center role, Hayes is expected to contribute on the penalty kill and provide veteran two-way play. His experience under head coach systems and his track record of short-handed production make him a valuable complementary piece. As the season progresses, Hayes will aim to provide consistent scoring and leadership for a Penguins team in transition.