After a strong sophomore campaign in the OHL, 2022 Blackhawks draft pick Gavin Hayes has signed his entry-level deal with Chicago.
The amateur seasons have come to an end and NHL-bound prospects are signing all over the league. After signing prospects Wyatt Kaiser, Ryder Rolston, and Paul Ludwinski , among others, the Chicago Blackhawks are adding another prospect to their pool. According to reports, Gavin Hayes has signed a three-year, entry-level deal with the organization.
Hayes spent the entirety of the 2022-23 OHL season with the Flint Firebirds. In 66 games, he scored 41 goals and added 40 assists. Both totals are noticeable improvements over his 19 and 30, respectively, from a season ago. Hayes' sophomore season indicates significant growth following the 2022 NHL Draft.
Hayes was selected with the 66th overall selection in the 2022 NHL Draft. The pick was acquired in the Kirby Dach trade just before the draft. The other pick acquired in the deal was used to select forward Frank Nazar in the first round.
Hayes is a big-bodied, 6-foot-2, 176-pound forward with a scoring touch. He fits the mold that Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson has used while building the new-look Hawks. Players such as Boris Katchouk and Taylor Raddysh are big wingers with a scoring touch. Davidson might see Hayes in a similar light for the future.
Next season, Hayes will return to Flint for the OHL season. Due to the CHL agreement rules, he cannot play in Rockford until the 2024-25 season. His contract will slide until then if he spends all of next season in the OHL, which should occur barring an unforeseen exceeded expectations. He would only be allowed to play in the NHL next season before the conclusion of the OHL campaign.
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