Edited Mar. 13, 2023 at 4:45 p.m.
With $2.5M retained, I'd do something around:
- 2024 '2nd
- Roslovic (He needs to get moved to make room for Hayes, and I don't think he is long for CBJ anyway);
- Liam Foudy (He desparately needs a fresh start elsewhere, and Danforth would slot in for him);
The fit is there with CBJ - we could use a 2C/3C (assuming our 1C is a Bedard/ Fantilli, please god), and he could play with his old buddy Johnny Hockey, so I think he'd be willing to waive his M-NTC, or perhaps not have CBJ on his list. Would be nice to have Bedard/ Fantilli - Hayes - Sillinger - Kuraly down the middle. Jenner (will he stay at C, or go back to W?) and Voronkov (will he be NHL ready on day one?) are going to be the wild cards, IMO, but I wouldn't mind sending Sillinger down to the AHL long-term to have him rebound. It's still borderline criminal CBJ have yet to do that.
But, I don't think any team in the league takes Hayes on without retention (sorry, but no one is letting PHI off that easily), and though he has had a solid rebound year, it doesn't mask some of his inconsistencies, and poor defensive play. All for a dude on the wrong side of 30.