Kevin Hayes retires from hockey after 12 NHL seasons

Kevin Hayes has announced his retirement from hockey, bringing to an end a professional career that spanned 12 seasons in the NHL. The 34-year-old forward played his final season with the Pittsburgh Penguins, where he recorded eight points (four goals, four assists) in 28 games, and then signed a one-year contract with Ak Bars Kazan in the KHL, where he went scoreless in five appearances.

According to the NHL, Hayes was a first-round pick (No. 24) in the 2010 draft and during his regular-season career scored 446 points (185 goals, 261 assists) in 805 games with the New York Rangers, Winnipeg Jets, Philadelphia Flyers, St. Louis Blues and Pittsburgh Penguins. In the playoffs he reached 26 points (8 goals, 18 assists) in 56 games; as a rookie he contributed seven points during the Rangers’ run to the 2015 Eastern Conference Final.

Hayes issued his farewell statement through the KHL, saying his body no longer allows him to play at the level he wants and that he cannot accept being short of his best form. The decision comes after he tried last season in the NHL and a brief scoreless spell in the KHL.

Over his professional career Hayes left behind a history with five teams at the highest level and considerable playoff participation; his brother, Jimmy Hayes, also had a league career, with 334 games, and died in 2021. As the NHL reports, Hayes finished his career with 805 regular-season games and 446 points.