After 12 seasons in the National Hockey League, veteran center Kevin Hayes is officially heading overseas. On Tuesday, the Kontinental Hockey League announced that the 34-year-old unrestricted free agent has signed a one-year contract with Ak Bars Kazan for the 2026-27 season.
After 12 seasons in the NHL, Kevin Hayes 🇺🇸 is heading to the KHL! pic.twitter.com/mHBRHmICvC
— KHL (@khl_eng) August 25, 2026
He spent the last two seasons with the Pittsburgh Penguins, but injuries and a reduced role limited his impact. During the 2025-26 campaign, Hayes appeared in just 28 games, recording four goals and four assists while serving primarily as a reserve forward before hitting the free-agent market this summer.
Originally selected 24th overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2010 NHL Draft, he never actually played for Chicago, instead making his debut with the New York Rangers in 2014.
Over the course of 12 seasons, Hayes suited up for the Rangers, Winnipeg Jets, Philadelphia Flyers, St. Louis Blues, and Penguins. Utilizing his massive 6-foot-5 frame, he evolved into a reliable two-way center, ultimately amassing 185 goals and 445 points across 805 career regular-season games. His career peaked during his time in Philadelphia, highlighted by a career-high 54 points with the Flyers during the 2022-23 season