Winnipeg Jets interested in New York Rangers centre Kevin Hayes

This weekend the Hockey Night In Canada panel discusses contract talks between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Auston Matthews plus much more.

The Winnipeg Jets traded for Paul Stastny ahead of the 2018 NHL Trade Deadline and one year later the team is hoping to add some more depth down the middle to prepare for another lengthy playoff run.

One player the Jets are interested in is New York Rangers centre Kevin Hayes, according to Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos, who added the Nashville Predators could also be in on the forward.

Hayes is set to become an unrestricted free agent following the season after signing a one-year deal last June to avoid arbitration.

The 26-year-old carries a salary cap hit of $5.175 million that he has lived up to this season.

Hayes is on pace to break his career-high point total of 49. He has 10 goals and 25 assists in 41 games played, while also being reliable defensively.

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