New York Rangers’ Kevin Hayes and J.T. Miller’s Contract Projections

With Kevin Hayes and J.T. Miller only set to play with the New York Rangers through the 2017-18 season, it will be vital for management to determine the details of these contracts while looking ahead.

Both Miller and Hayes have made a huge impact on the New York Rangers third line with Michael Grabner during the 2016-17 season.

Kevin Hayes has been a stand out player for the New York Rangers this year and has tied or broken career-highs in goals, assists and points (17, 29,46). In addition, he is the league leader in short handed points with seven. Hayes completely turned his game around this offseason and has earned himself a spot on the roster.

New York Rangers

J.T. Miller has come off his break out performance for the Rangers last year and exceeded

expectations yet again. Miller currently leads the Rangers in points with 50. His the way he steps out on the ice every night paired with his high level of consistency makes him one of the Rangers most valuable offensemen.

Part of the reason these two have been so strong for the Rangers this year is because of the line these two play on with Michael Grabner. It has arguably been the most productive on the ice for them this season.

Their success leads to questions on how the Rangers are going to approach the resigning of these two players that are so vital to the offense once their contracts expire next year.

Breaking Down the Contracts

J.T. Miller and Kevin Hayes were both on the verge of arbitration hearings when they settled their the same two-year bridge contracts both worth $5.2 million per year.

This was the right move for the Rangers at the time and was a good price.

Miller may have proven himself more so than Hayes in the season prior to inking these deals, but now they are two players of an extremely similar caliber.

If management had not thought twice about moving Hayes, we would have lost a player that had become one of the team’s strongest assets.

If on the other hand, Miller’s play fizzled out over the two season following his signing, the Rangers would have had an option to try and move him.

Both will be restricted free agents come the end of 2018, and the Rangers management needs to do what they can to hang on to these players.

New Contracts: What should they pay?

With the aforementioned decision milestones (the expansion draft and offseason) coming up for the New York Rangers, two questions will need to be answered prior to management being able to make any decisions.

First, and most importantly, the Rangers need to decide what the future of their core players entails. What set of players does that include?

Second, how much cap space will the Rangers have to work with and what do these two players deserve?

If it were up to me, I would give Hayes and Miller both contracts similar to the four-year $18.5 million that they agreed upon with Mats Zuccarello and Chris Kreider, respectively. I think they both have worked hard enough and proved that they are players that are worthy of earning this amount of money.

Both Miller and Hayes are at similar points in their careers as Zuccarello and Kreider were just a few years ago. Both are just 24-years-old, both have come out of the Rangers farm system, and both are within the top five players on the roster for point production on the roster this season (with these other players!)

Final Thoughts

With the shifts that will inevitably come with the looming expansion draft and offseason the Rangers will be able to have enough space to lock these players in for the next four years, and then take the time to consider a move.

If the scenario was different and Hayes was not having the season he is having, I would argue to give him the boot – especially if Miller were having the same season he is.

However, I believe that both have established themselves and shown that they have the potential to continue to grow on the Rangers roster.

Part of the key in all of this I think has been placing the two on a line together. As much of an asset Grabner has been for the Rangers this season, you could put anyone on a line with Hayes and Miller and they would score goals. Grabner’s speed is obviously a bonus, however, Miller and Hayes have been the key to the production on this line.

Management’s focus needs to remain on establishing a long-term offensive core, and both of these players are worth the money.

Next: New York Rangers: Michael Grabner’s Hidden Value

Overall, the Rangers need to stay focused on the long-term outlook on the team if they want to have a continued shot at the Cup in the coming years they will need Miller and Hayes.