A rumor involving the Philadelphia Flyers centerman has caused quite the stir. Here’s why it doesn’t really matter.
As most, if not all fans know by now, the Philadelphia Flyers inked forward Kevin Hayes to a seven-year contract back in June to help solidify their center group for the 2019-20 season and beyond. A lot of Flyers fans and people around the league the thought this was an overpay, and they weren’t wrong as any higher-profile free agent is subject to a more substantial payday. Recently, TSN’s Frank Seravalli went on the “Snow The Goalie” podcast and had this to say regarding Hayes (transcript from Crossing Broad):
"” I don’t understand why they (Philadelphia) felt the need to spend a pick in order to go out and do this (trade for Hayes’ rights). I don’t think there was a team that would’ve come close to the Flyers’ number, because if there were, Kevin Hayes would’ve just waited until July 1, and I have that on good authority. I was with a current NHL player the night before Game 7 in Boston who – five minutes before seeing me – ran into Kevin Hayes outside of somewhere in downtown Boston, which is obviously his hometown. He goes, ‘Oh yeah. I just ran into Kevin Hayes.’ He said Kevin Hayes told him the only way he’s going to the Flyers is if the Flyers overpaid to get him. And how much did they overpay by? It’s hard to answer that specifically, but I would say at least $600k-700k a year times seven years.”"
This may seem like somewhat of a big deal, but I’m here to tell you that it’s not. As I previously mentioned above, everyone knows the Flyers overpaid for Hayes’ services. He was the second-to-third best free-agent centerman on the market and guys like that almost always obtain a steep pay raise unless they’re taking a hometown discount.
I also wouldn’t lose sleep over giving Hayes 600-to-700k more per year, if it’s true, because it adds up to, at most, just under five million dollars more than what some other team he supposedly wanted to go to would’ve coughed up for him. General Manager Chuck Fletcher made it clear by acquiring Hayes’ rights from Winnipeg that he wished to have the 27-year-old on his team and gifting Hayes with more money in order to make that happen shouldn’t come as a surprise.
GM’s overpay players to come to their team all of the time, in any sport. That’s usually how free agency works. Hayes and his agent were more than likely looking for the best deal possible, found it in Philadelphia, and agreed to come to the Flyers because of it. He can quiet any of the skeptics with a strong campaign next season to show his passion for the team with production on the ice.
I’m well aware that one of Hayes friends, Ryan Whitney, refuted Servalli’s report on Twitter, though he got the day wrong, but have no interest in playing the “he said, he said” game. All that matters is that Hayes is a Flyer and should be in an Orange and Black uniform for a long time coming.