The St. Louis Blues have traded heart Kevin Hayes and a 2025 second-round draft choose to the Pittsburgh Penguins for future issues. No wage was retained within the deal, a league supply instructed The Athletic.
Hayes, 32, was acquired by the Blues final offseason from the Philadelphia Flyers for a sixth-round draft choose this yr.
He was anticipated to provide the staff veteran depth at heart, however it was a subpar season. He had 13 objectives and 29 factors, and regardless of main the Blues with a 57 % successful share on faceoffs, his lack of pace was a difficulty and he was a wholesome scratch in a number of video games down the stretch for a staff battling for a playoff spot.
The Blues have been paying Hayes simply 50 % of his wage ($7.1 million cap hit), with the Flyers retaining 50 % within the commerce. He has two years remaining on the deal.
What this implies for St. Louis
The Blues dumped Hayes’ $3.571 million wage and a participant who was not going to be part of their future. What does it imply for the lineup and wage cap state of affairs?
They acquired Alexandre Texier from the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday, and basic supervisor Doug Armstrong expects him to play on the wing within the center six. Hayes performed largely at heart final season, however there was an opportunity, along with his declining pace, that he would’ve seen extra time on the wing if he returned in 2025-26.
So for now, Texier is the participant getting into the lineup for Hayes, although the Blues might want to tackle who will heart the third line. It could possibly be Brayden Schenn if the staff is bought on Pavel Buchnevich enjoying within the center on the second line.
The Blues didn’t retain any of Hayes’ wage within the deal, primarily giving up a second-round choose for Pittsburgh to tackle his total cap hit. So the Blues now have $16.2 million in cap area for a roster presently at 18 gamers underneath contract for 2025-26.
After all, they may use that out there cap area on a middle in free company, which begins on Monday. The Hayes commerce created some room, however this deal was equally about shifting a participant who not match of their plans. — Jeremy Rutherford, Blues senior author
Is that this deal for Pittsburgh?
With this commerce, Kyle Dubas didn’t make the Penguins youthful and sooner, considered one of his said objectives.
Nonetheless, let’s not neglect one other of Dubas’ vital objectives is for the Penguins to stockpile as many picks as attainable. The Blues are giving the Penguins a second-round choose within the 2025 NHL Draft, and the Penguins are primarily giving up nothing, one other approach of claiming “future issues.” The Blues don’t challenge to be an excellent staff subsequent season in order that second-round choose could possibly be pretty excessive subsequent summer time.
Dubas desires picks and prospects. So, in that regard, he bettered the Penguins.
On the ice, proper now, I’m unsure he did. Hayes isn’t the participant he as soon as was and is coming off a disappointing season in St. Louis. That stated, given how poor the Penguins’ backside six is, he may signify an improve, although his lack of foot pace is definitely a difficulty. — Josh Yohe, Penguins senior author
GO DEEPER
NHL commerce grades: Penguins get Kevin Hayes from Blues however he isn’t the reply
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