On Monday, the Bruins announced the signing of newly acquired Jimmy Hayes to a three-year contract worth $2.3 million per season. Along with Hayes, the B’s also signed fellow restricted free agent Brett Connolly to a one-year deal that will pay the former Tampa Bay Lightning forward $1.02 million in 2015-16.
Hayes signs with the Bruins just five days after being acquired from the Florida Panthers in exchange for forward Reilly Smith and the contract of Marc Savard. Coming off a one-year deal with the Panthers that paid the Dorchester native $925,000, Hayes earns himself a nice little raise — something he earned with a solid season in Florida a year ago.