Flyers General Manager Chuck Fletcher caught the hockey world by surprise on the night of June 3rd with the acquisition of forward Kevin Hayes from the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for a fifth round pick in the 2019 NHL Draft. By acquiring Hayes, the Flyers gained exclusive rights to negotiate a contract extension with the 27-year-old before he could hit unrestricted free agency on July 1.

After 13 days of recruiting, Kevin Hayes is officially a member of the Philadelphia Flyers, securing a seven-year deal worth $7.14 million annually. In 381 games played, Hayes has compiled 229 points (92G-137A) and is coming off his best season where he totaled 55 points (19G-36A). At the trade deadline, Hayes (a former first round pick) was shipped from New York to Winnipeg in exchange for Brendan Lemieux, a 2019 first round pick and a conditional fourth round pick.

It's believed that the Dorchester, MA native is entering his prime of his career and a reunion with new Flyers coach Alain Vigneault will continue to elevate Hayes' progression.

For more of what you can expect from Kevin Hayes now that he's officially landed in Philly, check out the highlights below...

The Philadelphia Flyers announced they have signed center Kevin Hayes to a seven-year contract worth an average annual value (AAV) of $7.14 million, according to Executive Vice President & General Manager Chuck Fletcher.

"We are very happy to sign Kevin to a long term contract," said Fletcher. "He plays a smart, two-way game and is just entering the prime of his career. Kevin will add size and skill to our line-up."  

Below are notes on Hayes' career:

The 2019 NHL Entry Draft is shaping up to a "Year of the Americans," at least in the first round. Among European prospects, this year on the whole is not an exceptional class at the top end beyond likely second overall pick Kaapo Kakko (Finland) and potential top-10 selection Vasily Podkolzin (Russia). 

Last year, for the first time in Flyers' franchise history, the team did not select even one Canadian-born player among the team's eight selections in the NHL Entry Draft. Five were from the United States and three were from Sweden.

The Philadelphia Flyers announced today they have acquired defenseman Justin Braun from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for a second-round pick in this year's draft (41st overall) and third-round pick in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft.

The Philadelphia Flyers today released their North American preseason schedule for the 2019-20 season, according to Executive Vice President & General Manager Chuck Fletcher. 

The team's preseason activities will start with a Rookie Game on Wednesday, September 11 against the New York Islanders rookie team at PPL Center in Allentown, the home of the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. This is the fifth consecutive season that the Flyers will stage preseason action in the Lehigh Valley.

After main training camp opens, the Flyers will start a seven-game main camp schedule with a home-and-home against the Islanders, starting at the Wells Fargo Center on September 16 and transferring to the Barclays Center on September 17. The Flyers will then host the Boston Bruins on September 19 and the New York Rangers on September 21 before playing return engagements in each city, with a visit to TD Garden on September 23 and Madison Square Garden on September 26. 

Following those six games, the Flyers will head to Europe for a previously-announced final preseason contest against Swiss club HC Lausanne at Vaudoise Arena in Lausanne, Switzerland on September 30.

The 2018 NHL Draft was one of the shallower classes for prospects from the three Canadian Hockey League (Ontario Hockey League, Western Hockey League, and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League) circuits in recent memory. Correspondingly, the Flyers only selected one CHL player -- American defenseman Wyatte Wylie of the WHL's Everett Silvertips -- among their eight picks in the Draft.

This year could be different, at least to some extent. 

"We can go league by league," Flyers assistant general manager Brent Flahr said. "Last year was a particularly weak year for the WHL, but it's a better group this year. This year is a little below average for the OHL in terms of the top-end candidates but there are some players there. With the QMJHL, there's only a couple higher-end kids but there's some mid-range players who have a chance to play."

Here's a brief synopsis of some of the more notable Draft-eligible players available from each of the three CHL circuits. Note: Another name to watch, possibly even within the top 12 to 15 picks is a junior A forward from the BCHL, Alex Newhook. The BCHL is not one of the CHL leagues, but any draft lift of prominent candidates playing Canadian junior hockey this past season should include Newhook.

The Flyers acquisition of veteran defenseman Matt Niskanen on Friday essentially boiled down to these two elements: the organization wants the 32-year-old to be a leader on an essentially young young defense corps while still playing significant minutes both at even strength and the penalty kill.

There is something else that the right-handed blueliner brings along with him to Philadelphia: a recent Stanley Cup ring from a playoff run in which he was a valuable contributor. 

Niskanen, who has averaged north of 20 minutes of ice time per game in each of the last seven seasons while playing for Cup-contending teams in Pittsburgh and Washington, logged a hefty 25:23 TOI average for the Capitals during their successful 2018 run to the Stanley Cup championship.

Flyers general manager Chuck Fletcher spoke to the media on Saturday via conference call to discuss the two roster moves the team made over the weekend -- trading Radko Gudas to the Washington Capitals on Friday to acquire Matt Niskanen and, on Saturday, placing Andrew MacDonald on waivers for purposes of buying out the final season of his contract. 

He also provided updates on the status of negotiations with impending unrestricted free agent center Kevin Hayes and the team's cadre of restricted free agents.

Here are five takeaways from the conference call:

The Philadelphia Flyers announced today they have placed defenseman Andrew MacDonald on waivers for the purpose of terminating his contract, according to Executive Vice President & General Manager, Chuck Fletcher.