The soon to be 28 year old Hayes spent last season with the Bruins scoring two goals and three assists in 58 games before becoming a free agent.
Hayes signed a one-year contract for 700,000 and despite his less than dazzling numbers as a Bruin last season scored goals in double figures the previous three seasons in Boston and before that with the Florida Panthers, where Hayes scored a career-high 19 goals in 2014-15.
Hayes should be a third or fourth line winger with the Devils that could occasionally slot among the top six if needed.
Hayes is a big body that you might even be able to use on the second power play unit and if you use him there, it wouldn't surprise me to see Hayes finish with 25-35 points on the season.
That said, I don't want to expect Hayes to produce too much.
The reason that I say don't want to is that the Devils may be in a position that they might have to need someone of the lower six forwards to put up numbers that are beyond their usual production or at least match a career high.
I'll be back later tonight with our annual Devils preview.
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