Kevin Hayes Explains How the KHL Differs From the NHL
Ak Bars forward Kevin Hayes, 34, says the KHL is fast and built on puck control, while the NHL relies more on physical play, after 12 NHL seasons.
Kevin Hayes, the 34-year-old forward who signed for Ak Bars on 25 August, says the KHL puts less weight on physical play than the NHL and more on puck control.
He described the level of the KHL as high and the league as a fast one, according to Izvestia.
Hayes spent the last two seasons with Pittsburgh Penguins and played 28 games in the 2025/26 regular season, scoring 8 points. Before that he played for New York Rangers. Across 12 NHL seasons he made 861 appearances and scored 472 points (193+279).
His move east comes as the NHL prepares to open its new season on 29 September. Both clubs open the season without a match.
If Hayes settles into a possession-based style at Ak Bars, his numbers there may say more about how the two leagues differ than his last NHL season did.
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