"I'm excited to meet everyone tomorrow when I get there. It'll be a hectic day but I'm excited to get there."

"My phone has been ringing off the hook for a while now, a couple hours," the 26-year-old Hayes said. "Blake Wheeler was the first one to reach out. They're in Arizona right now and he texted me to say 'Welcome to the team.'

He woke up a little earlier than usual on Monday - trade deadline day in the National Hockey League. He was watching NHL Network when he saw he had been traded from the New York Rangers to the Winnipeg Jets.

WINNIPEG - Kevin Hayes knew something was up even before his cell phone started buzzing like crazy.

Hayes, a centre, was acquired by the Jets for Winnipeg's first-round pick in the 2019 NHL Draft, forward Brendan Lemieux, and a conditional fourth-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft.

Seeing Winnipeg give up a player like Lemieux along with those draft picks is flattering, says Hayes.

"It's a great feeling to feel wanted there. Clearly the Jets, it's been rumoured for a bit that the Jets were going to be the place I was going to end up at," said Hayes. "It's nice that they gave up a lot for me. I'm hoping I can come in and show them that it was worth it."

Hayes has 14 goals and 42 points in 51 games with the Rangers this season, a franchise he's been with since breaking into the NHL in 2014-15.

Video: TRADE DEADLINE | Kevin Hayes

Originally, the Dorchester, Massachussetts native was drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round of the 2010 NHL Draft.

Since then, he's been working on developing into a well-rounded player. He's always had an offensive touch, recording at least 35 points in every NHL season he's played.

His career-high in goals came in 2017-18 when he lit the lamp 25 times.

His focus of late though has been improving the defensive side of his game.

"When I first entered the league I was mainly all offence but I've learned to play pretty well defensively. I have my previous coach in Alain Vigneault and David Quinn to thank for that," said Hayes, who has also seen an increase in his average ice time this season.

"I played with some good players here. A lot of it has to do with them. My minutes have definitely been up, and that's what I wanted. I've been in the league for five years now. Every year you want to take another step in your game."

Now Hayes is excited to play for the Jets and play in the Western Conference for the first time in his career.

"They're a heavy team. There's a little bit of a difference between the Western and Eastern Conference," said Hayes. "They're a pretty heavy team and they have some elite players. I'm hoping to just step in and it'll be an easy transition. We play the Wild tomorrow so it'll be a pretty good test right away."

Instagram from @kphayes12: #tbt to the best jerseys in the league. #Winnipeg

He's not sure who his linemates will be just yet. At this point, he's just focused on getting through a hectic travel day to get into Winnipeg tonight so he can potentially play against the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday.

"I'm picking up my gear right now then heading to the airport," Hayes said via a conference call on Monday morning.

When he arrives, he believes his "pass-first" style of play will suit the talented Jets wingers really well.

"I'm going to play with some good wingers that can score some goals," he said. "I definitely know how good the Jets are… I think it'll be a good fit and I'll bring a lot to the team."

And if he needs someone to show him around, well, he happens to have a cousin in Winnipeg for a visit.

Keith Tkachuk will be part of the festivities around the Winnipeg Jets Hall of Fame Induction ceremony on Tuesday night.

Tkachuk played 208 games with the Jets between 1991 and 1996. He's also Hayes' cousin.

"When he was on the Jets we were huge Jets fans," said Hayes, who plans to meet up with Tkachuk later on Monday.

Tkachuk was also one of the many people to call and text Hayes when the deal broke. As he's flying to Winnipeg, he'll have time to check all those messages.

But there will also be time to reflect on five years in New York and the excitement of what's to come.

"It's tough to leave a city like this and a team like this, and the friendships you build," Hayes said, adding he hopes to have a smooth transition similar to what Paul Stastny had when he arrived in Winnipeg at this point last season.

"I know Stastny came in last year and did very well. I'm hoping to do the same thing. They're definitely in a win now mode and they're all in on it. I'm excited they wanted me there."