Kevin Hayes and the Winnipeg Jets have been eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by St. Louis 4-2.
With Winnipeg Hayes had five goals and eight assists in 20 games, averaging 15:17 per game and winning 51.6% of his faceoffs.
Hayes had two goals and an assist in their six game loss to Nashville.
The Rangers sent Hayes to Winnipeg for Winnipeg’s first round pick in 2019, Brendan Lemieux and a 2022 conditional fourth round pick that the Rangers would have received if the Jets won the Stanley Cup.
The spot of the first round pick from Winnipeg is still to be determined but will be somewhere between 16 and 22.
Hayes is a UFA on July 1.
Adam Rotter: Winnipeg was a popular pick to come out of the West based upon their size, skill and depth but they are out and the Rangers will benefit from it with a higher pick than expected. It will be interesting to see what happens with Hayes next. I think it’s possible he returns to the Rangers but that remains to be seen at this point. I think the Rangers would have a lot of interest in him coming back but only if the terms make sense.