If you're looking for a little mid-August drama, the Chicago Blackhawks have been unable to come to terms with 2010 first-round draft pick Kevin Hayes, and the team issued the following announcement:

Chicago Blackhawks Vice President/General Manager Stan Bowman released the following statement regarding Kevin Hayes:

“We offered Kevin what we believed was a generous and fair contract. Unfortunately, he felt it was in his best interests to become a free agent. We are looking forward to the compensatory draft pick we are receiving and are focused on the excitement surrounding the start of training camp next month.”

Per the National Hockey League’s Collective Bargaining Agreement Article 8.3(b), the Blackhawks will receive a second-round pick (54th overall) in the 2015 NHL Draft.

Hayes is a 6'4," 216-pound forward who graduated from Boston College having registered 27 goals, 38 assists and 65 points over the course of only 40 games played, and as SI's Allan Muir noted on Friday morning, the Calgary Flames, Phoenix Coyotes, Colorado Avalanche, Boston Bruins (the "local angle" for the Boston native) and Florida Panthers (for whom Kevin's brother Jimmy plays) are all in the mix...

But there are another 24 teams that will heavily pursue Hayes as well, and with the rookie cap-max deal and signing/performance bonuses being equal, the 22-year-old power forward can pretty much pick and choose wherever he wants to play based upon which team he feels will be the best fit.

If he's looking for promises of playing time, Calgary, Phoenix and Florida can probably deliver there, but you can be sure that each and every NHL team--including the spurned Blackhawks--will "wine and dine" Hayes and his representatives.