Former NHL forward Jimmy Hayes dies at 31

Former NHL forward Jimmy Hayes has died. 

According to the Boston Globe, law enforcement and first responders were called to his home in Milton, Mass., on Monday morning. The cause of death is unknown at this time, but it is not considered suspicious. A native of Dorchester, Mass., Hayes was 31 years old. 

“Former NHL player Jimmy Hayes has died. 31 years old. I just chatted with him last week at a golf course,” ESPN’s John Buccigross tweeted at 12:14 p.m. “He leaves behind wife Kristen & two young boys, 2 and 3 months. Also brother Kevin, three sisters and a Mom and Dad. Devastating news for family and Boston hockey community.” 

The news was confirmed by Boston College, where Hayes played for the Eagles from 2008 to 2011 and helped the team win a national championship in 2010.

“Boston College Hockey is heartbroken over the passing of Jimmy Hayes,” the team tweeted. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the entire Hayes family.”

Originally drafted by the Maple Leafs in 2008, Hayes played 334 NHL games for the Blackhawks, Panthers, Devils and his hometown Bruins. He recorded a total of 54 goals and 55 assists with a career-best 35-point season in 2014-15 for Florida. His last professional hockey game was in 2019 as a member of the Penguins’ AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. He recorded 30 points (15 assists, 15 goals) in 72 games in the 2018-19 season.

In 2007, he won a silver medal at the IIHF World Junior U18 Championship for the United States. He also represented USA Hockey at the 2009 World Juniors and the 2014 World Championship; the latter was alongside his brother Kevin, who currently plays for the Flyers. Hayes is also the cousin of NHL players Matthew and Brady Tkachuk, ex-NHLer Keith Tkachuk and Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald.

After retiring, he joined fellow ex-NHLers Shane O’Brien and Scottie Upshall on the podcast “Missing Curfew” in 2020.

His wife Kristen posted on her Instagram account Sunday pictures of the family celebrating their son Beau’s second birthday over the weekend.

The hockey world took to Twitter on Monday to mourn the loss. 

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