Kevin Hayes signs one-year deal with Ak Bars Kazan

The contract runs through May 31, 2027.

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated Aug 251 min read

What happened: The 34-year-old center joins the KHL after 12 NHL seasons. Hayes entered the offseason as an unrestricted free agent.

Why it matters: Ak Bars reached the 2026 Gagarin Cup Final, losing the series in six games. Hayes adds extensive North American experience to a club seeking another title run.

By the numbers: Hayes recorded four goals and four assists in 28 games during 2025-26. He has 446 points in 805 NHL regular-season games and 26 points in 56 playoff appearances.

What to watch: Hayes' role and debut date will come into focus as Ak Bars prepares for the 2026-27 season.

Sources

The Hockey News 2026-08-25T18:18:03.972277+00:00

CONVERSATION

Loading comments…

NHLBreakingKevin Hayes

Follow NHL Intelligence

Real-time signals and analysis

@WireReportPuck

WR Pro

The day's sports, briefed to your inbox at 7am ET. Every claim sourced.

$9/month Free weekly newsletter →