Kevin Hayes announced his retirement from hockey on Monday after 12 NHL seasons.
The 34-year-old forward had eight points (four goals, four assists) in 28 games with the Pittsburgh Penguins last season. He signed a one-year contract with Ak Bars Kazan in the Kontinental Hockey League last month and was held without a point in five games.
"I have decided to end my hockey career," Hayes said in a statement issued by the KHL. "I can no longer play at the level I am capable of because my body does not allow me to perform at my best. And I cannot accept not being in top form."
A first-round pick (No. 24) by the Chicago Blackhawks at the 2010 NHL Draft, Hayes had 445 points (185 goals, 261 assists) in 805 regular-season games with the New York Rangers, Winnipeg Jets, Philadelphia Flyers, St. Louis Blues and the Penguins, and 26 points (eight goals, 18 assists) in 56 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
"He was an amazing person, obviously an amazing teammate," Penguins defenseman Kris Letang said. "A guy that everybody kind of wants to hang around. He loves talking. Loved to be in the dressing room and just the stories after stories. It's fun to be around him. Obviously he's a tremendous player also throughout his career."
Hayes had seven points (two goals, five assists) in 19 games as a rookie during the 2015 playoffs, helping the Rangers reach the Eastern Conference Final. They lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning in seven games.
"What an incredible career, what an incredible person, too," Penguins coach Dan Muse said. "There's certain people that will always stand out in your mind when you're a coach, and he's definitely going to be one that I remember throughout the rest of my career. Just the way he handled himself last year, the teammate that he is, the person that he is. It was a real honor to just be around him for a year."
His brother, Jimmy Hayes, played 334 NHL games with the Blackhawks, Florida Panthers, Boston Bruins and New Jersey Devils. He died in 2021.
