Jimmy Hayes isn't waiting around any longer.
With no contract in hand after his buyout from the Bruins, the veteran wing has agreed to a professional tryout with the Devils. The move is a wise one on Hayes' part, as his struggles during his two seasons in Boston were exacerbated by diminished minutes and healthy scratches. The Devils, who finished last in the Eastern Conference last season, will provide fewer obstacles when it comes to cracking the roster.
Hayes' best season came in 2014-15, when he scored a career-high 19 goals for the Panthers. He was dealt to the Bruins that offseason in exchange for Reilly Smith and Marc Savard, and though he finished his first season in Boston with 13 goals, he scored just two goals over 58 games last season. He had one year remaining on a three-year, $6.9 million contract when the B's bought him out. Boston will pay $566,667 in dead money against the cap this season and $866,667 in 2018-19.