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Rangers win Kevin Hayes sweepstakes

2014 Beanpot Tournament - Semifinals

BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 3: Kevin Hayes #12 of the Boston College Eagles gets ready to battle against the Boston University Terriers during NCAA hockey action in the semifinals of the annual Beanpot Hockey Tournament at TD Garden on February 3, 2014 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images)

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Kevin Hayes is on his way to the Big Apple.

On Tuesday, various outlets (see here and here and here and here) reported that Hayes -- the former Boston College standout taken 24th overall by Chicago at the ’10 draft -- has agreed to sign with the New York Rangers, ending a long, drawn-out saga in the process.

UPDATE: Rangers make the signing official.

Hayes had consistently balked at signing in Chicago despite the ‘Hawks drafting him out of high school four years ago, ahead of the likes of Evgeny Kuznetsov, Charlie Coyle and Emerson Etem. Instead, he completed a stellar career at BC, then simply allowed time to run out on his draft rights -- on Aug. 15, the deadline for the ‘Hawks to sign Hayes passed, making him an unrestricted free agent in the process.

And now he’ll be reunited with one of his former running mates in New York.

Budding Rangers power forward Chris Kreider, who finished 10th in Calder voting last year, spent two years as Hayes’ teammate at BC -- the pair were linemates during Hayes’ freshman year and combined to help the Eagles capture the Frozen Four championship in 2012.

The move to New York also makes sense from an opportunity standpoint. Whereas Hayes would’ve had a hard time cracking Chicago’s loaded forward corps, he’ll now look to slot into a Rangers lineup that lost the services of Brad Richards, Benoit Pouliot, Brian Boyle and Derek Dorsett this offseason. While the Rangers did bring in a few veterans on the cheap (Tanner Glass, Lee Stempniak, Matthew Lombardi, Chris Mueller), Hayes should be right in the thick of competition for playing time due to his combination of size -- he goes 6-foot-4, 216 pounds -- and potential scoring ability. He finished second in the country in points last year, notching 65 in 40 games.