After weeks of rumors that they were talking seriously with the Winnipeg Jets about a deal for center Kevin Hayes, the Rangers finally pulled the trigger Monday morning on a deal that sends their second-line center to the Jets in exchange for a first round draft pick, a conditional fourth round pick, and 22-year-old winger Brendan Lemieux, the son of former Devils and Colorado Avalanche forward Claude Lemieux.
Hayes, 26, is the second big trade for the Rangers in the last 48 hours, following Saturday’s trade of beloved winger Mats Zuccarello to Dallas for a pair of conditional draft picks.