# Kevin Hayes professional hockey career conclusion

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/kevin-hayes-professional-hockey-career-conclusion
> Updated: 2026-09-21T14:14:05.000Z. Sources: 4. Developments: 2.

Veteran NHL forward Kevin Hayes signed a one-year contract with Ak Bars Kazan of the KHL in Russia, marking his first professional assignment outside of North America.

Following a brief five-game stint with Ak Bars Kazan in which he recorded no points, Hayes announced his retirement from professional hockey at age 34. He cited physical limitations for the decision, stating, “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’s career included 12 seasons in the NHL, where he played 805 regular-season games for teams such as the New York Rangers, Winnipeg Jets, Philadelphia Flyers, St. Louis Blues, and Pittsburgh Penguins.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-21: Kevin Hayes announces retirement from professional hockey

Former NHL forward Kevin Hayes has retired from professional hockey at age 34, citing his inability to perform at his peak due to physical limitations following a brief stint in the KHL.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/kevin-hayes-announces-retirement-from-professional-hockey

### 2026-08-25: Kevin Hayes signs one-year deal with Ak Bars Kazan

Veteran NHL forward Kevin Hayes has signed a one-year contract with Ak Bars Kazan in the KHL, leaving North American professional hockey after more than 800 games.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/kevin-hayes-signs-one-year-deal-with-ak-bars-kazan

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Cite as: Kevin Hayes professional hockey career conclusion. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/kevin-hayes-professional-hockey-career-conclusion