The Chicago Blackhawks are clearly one of the NHL's glamour franchises. A pair of Stanley Cups in the past five seasons and a roster that is loaded with superstar talent has placed the team in a position to contend for the championship again in 2014-15.
But the team's failure to sign its 2010 first-round draft choice, Kevin Hayes, could be indicative of a problem that may start to impact the team going forward.
Hayes, 22, was the 24th pick in the draft five years ago. Like many American youngsters, Hayes elected to play college hockey instead of signing with the pro team that drafted him. That was not a surprise nor a shock. Hayes, a right wing/center, went on to an excellent career at Boston College. While it was expected that he would eventually put his name on a contract with the Blackhawks, he ultimately chose not to.
As a result, he is a free agent who can negotiate a deal with any team. The Blackhawks had spoken regularly with Hayes throughout his four years at Boston College. They were disappointed they couldn't come to an agreement with him after he finished his 2013-14 season with 27 goals and 65 points for the Ea ...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NHL
Article written by Steve Silverman
Why Failure to Sign Kevin Hayes Is Problematic for Chicago Blackhawks’ Future
August 19th, 2014 by Steve Silverman Leave a reply »
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