Jimmy Hayes' 2015-2016 report card

Looking back on a homecoming of sorts for the native of Dorchester.Here begins another story of a trade; a trade meant to strengthen the Bruins with some added size, grit, and - wouldn't you know it - a little hometown spice. Jimmy Hayes, a Dorchester native and Boston College product, had spent parts of three seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks (and their AHL affiliate) before being moved to the Florida Panthers. After two years there, Boston acquired his rights as an RFA and signed him to a three-year deal worth an annual cap hit of $2.3 million, putting him in the same realm (at least, on the Bruins) as "heaht and soul" Chris Kelly ($3M) and relatively-new addition Brett Connolly ($1.025M). Worthy? At the onset of the season, Hayes was coming off a career year offensively; however, he wasn't brought in to replace the scoring of his active trade partner, Reilly Smith. Hayes was brought in for his frame (6ft 6in, 221lb) and some TBD portion of offensive depth.

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