Hayes buyout ends winger’s home run
The Bruins placed Jimmy Hayes on waivers yesterday for the purpose of buying him out, ending the Dorchester-born winger’s time with his hometown team.
Hayes had one year left on his deal that would have paid him $2.3 million. The cap hit the B’s will incur from the buyout will be $566,667 in 2017-18 and $866,667 in 2018-19. They also have Dennis Seidenberg’s dead money on the books — $2,166,667 for 2017-18 and $1,166,667 for the next two seasons.
The B’s could have stashed Hayes in Providence and hidden $950,000 of his salary, but decided to cut ties with the 6-foot-5 forward.
The B’s now are approximately $14.5 million under the salary cap, with David Pastrnak and the arbitrationRyan Spooner still to be signed.
Obtained from the Florida Panthers for Reilly Smith and the remainder of the Marc Savard contract in the summer of 2015, Hayes was never able to establish himself on the Bruins. After scoring 19 goals in his last season in Florida, the number dipped to 13 in his first year in the Hub before bottoming out with two goals and three assists in 58 games last season, when he was a healthy scratch on many nights.
The Hayes buyout closes the books on the Tyler Seguin trade with nothing left to show for it. Loui Eriksson walked in free agency, Matt Fraser was waived, Joe Morrow was not qualified, Smith was traded for Hayes and now Hayes has been bought out.
Pasta still cooking
A month ago, Don Sweeney sounded optimistic that a deal for Pastrnak was on track to get done. Yesterday, he conceded that he would have liked to get it done before today for some cost certainty, as Pastrnak will become a restricted free agent at noon.
“In a perfect world, you’d button that up, but it just hasn’t happened to this point in time. I don’t comment on where things are at other than that we’re committed to the player and we’d like to find a longterm deal,” said Sweeney.
Unlike Dougie Hamilton, whom Sweeney traded rather than risk losing to an offer sheet as a restricted free agent two years ago, Pastrnak said on breakup day that he very much wanted to remain a Bruin.
Center of attention
The B’s have two arbitration-eligible players, Spooner and Tim Schaller, and Sweeney said he’s continuing discussion with both for extensions. They have until Wednesday to file for arbitration.
While Spooner seemed like a goner when he couldn’t crack the lineup in the playoffs, Sweeney made it sound like he’d be back, though his name at third line center isn’t exactly written in ink.
“Ryan Spooner can certainly play third line center and he has. He’s done well for two years, as well as on the power play,” he said. “I think ( Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson) is going to come in and vie for the spot. I think Riley Nash would like to continue to play center. David Backes could move to the middle of the ice depending on where some of the wing prospects are. I think we have lots of flexibility. Last year it was put forth that we had too many, but I don’t think you can have too many centers.”
Backup plan
Sweeney continues to explore other options for backup goalie, though he’s not committed to making a change.
“We’ve been exploring that, but we feel very comfortable,” said Sweeney. “But I’ve said before, if the Anton Khudobin that played in Long Island and Chicago (late in the season) came back through, I don’t think anyone’s questioning whether we have ample goaltending. The two players underneath, Zane ( McIntyre) and Malcolm ( Subban), need to take another step and push.” . . .
While he’s had some conversations with unrestricted free agents Dominic Moore and Drew Stafford, Sweeney doesn’t expect either to be back, and John-Michael Liles also is unlikely to return.