Jets: Winnipeg Acquires Hayes in Trade with Rangers

The Winnipeg Jets have sent Brendan Lemieux, a first-rounder for 2019’s NHL Entry Draft and a conditional draft pick to the New York Rangers in exchange for Kevin Hayes.

The condition on the other pick is that it becomes a fourth-round selection if the Jets win the Stanley Cup. If that doesn’t happen, the pick doesn’t happen. No, that’s not a misprint.

The 26-year-old has a one-year contract worth $5.175 million, so he’ll be an unrestricted free agent this summer. He’s spend his entire career with the Blueshirts.

For the Jets, the Hayes pickup gives them more size down the middle. He’ll be a big second line pivot at 6’5, 216 pounds and that’s a pretty sweet deal for Winnipeg.

In 51 games this season, Hayes has 14 goals and 28 assists for a total of 42 points.

This puts an interesting angle in the mix for the Rangers, who are starting to look rather sharp. Not only do they get a fresh-faced 22-year-old in Lemieux, they’ve also snagged a first-rounder along with the long-shot conditional selection.

The Rangers now have two first-rounders for 2019 and look to be building pieces for the future at a reasonable pace.

New York traded Mats Zuccarello to the Dallas Stars just a couple days ago, only for the Stars to have him injured for a month after blocking a shot.

The Rangers picked up a second round pick and a third round pick in that trade, with the second-rounder becoming a first round selection if Dallas wins two rounds in the post-season. And if the Stars are able to re-sign Zuccarello, that third-rounder becomes a first round pick.

(Photo credit: MSG Sports)