'I Cannot Accept Not Being In Top Form': Former NHLer Kevin Hayes Retires After Brief KHL Stint

After 12 seasons in the NHL and a short five-game appearance in the KHL, Kevin Hayes is officially retiring from hockey.Kevin Hayes has officially announced his retirement from professional hockey at 34 years old.After 805 regular-season games in the NHL across 12 years, he joined Ak Bars Kazan of the KHL for the 2026-27 campaign. That spell was called short by Hayes after five games in the KHL. The league announced his decision on social media."I have decided to end my hockey career," Hayes was quoted in the social media post. "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."Hayes was drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks with the 24th pick in the first round of the 2010 draft, but didn't feature for the club.His best year was in 2022-23 with the Flyers, when he scored 18 goals and 54 points in 81 games. He also set his personal best in goals in 2017-18 with the Rangers, producing 25 tallies in 76 outings.In the Stanley Cup playoffs, he featured in 56 contests, most of which were for the Rangers, and recorded eight goals and 26 points in five post-season campaigns.In his five appearances in the KHL this season, he didn't register a single point and had a minus-one rating.For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free.