NHL analyst fires up Pittsburgh Penguins trade rumors by naming $50 million Kevin Hayes as candidate

By Evan Bell

Modified Aug 14, 2024 19:48 GMT

Recently, NHL veteran Kevin Hayes, who was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins earlier this summer, was named as a potential piece the Penguins could use in a trade.

At 32 years old, Hayes is on the sixth year of a seven-year, $50 million deal signed with the Philadelphia Flyers prior to the 2019-20 season, after a brief stop in St. Louis.

Given that his contract carries an average annual value of $7.14 million and a cap hit of $3.5 million, NHL reporter Dan Kingerski suggested that the Penguins could look to trade Hayes. This might be a way to both free up cap space and give young players the opportunities they deserve.

On the heels of Kingerski's suggestion, the NHL community began to speculate on potential trade scenarios for Hayes.

James Wilson of NHL Trade Rumors theorized that a trade could wind up coming to fruition close to the trade deadline. This would be because teams will look to bolster their rosters with the experience of veterans for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The big question here is what a potential trade that includes the forward could look like. Given his play in recent years, and his contract, which isn't viewed as team-friendly, the Penguins will likely need to attach another asset to Hayes in a potential deal.

Kevin Hayes eager to prove he can still play at a high level after trade from St. Louis

Last season, Kevin Hayes played in 79 games for the St. Louis Blues after being traded by the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for a sixth-round pick at the 2024 draft. While he was able to remain healthy for the second straight year, his production numbers dropped significantly.

After a 54-point season with the Flyers in 2023, Kevin Hayes posted a 29-point season last year. As he explained to media members earlier this summer, while reflecting on the trade to Pittsburgh that began the offseason for the Penguins, he didn't have a clearly defined role.

Because of that, his production numbers suffered, which led to questions about his future in the league. Now, with a chance for a fresh start in Pittsburgh, Hayes is eager to prove that he can still compete with the best of the best.

"I felt like last year, I couldn't really find a role in St. Louis and didn't play my best hockey. Eager to get this season started to kind of show I can still play in this league and be part of a winning team. ... I still think I can produce in this league and I want to show that to my teammates and the coaching staff."

While Hayes praised his former teammates in St. Louis, he felt as though not having a consistent role on the ice contributed to long stretches with poor play. After landing in Pittsburgh this summer, it will be interesting to see how things play out for Hayes in the season ahead.