Analyst names Kevin Hayes as potential Penguins trade candidate
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NHL analyst Dan Kingerski named Kevin Hayes as a possible trade piece for the Pittsburgh Penguins after the team acquired him in June.
Kevin Hayes is a well-tenured NHL veteran, having a decade in the league under his belt. However, his last handful of years have left some fans underwhelmed. After a 55-point season split between New York and Winnipeg, he signed a 7-year deal for $50 million with the Philadelphia Flyers 2019, which many believed he was getting overpaid on.
Ultimately, he did not play up to the standards of his contract with the Philadelphia Flyers, only recording more than 20 goals in his first season with the team. He was traded to the St. Louis Blues last year, which then passed him off in June to the Pittsburgh Penguins along with a 2025 2nd-round pick for future considerations.
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However, now that he has just landed on the team, NHL analyst Dan Kingerski suggested that the team could trade him to give more opportunities to younger players while also releasing some cap space.
"In fairness, Pittsburgh Hockey Now has argued for seasons that young players must force their way into the lineup. While deafening calls for players like Daniel Sprong or Alex Nylander echoed across social media with vain-popping ferocity, that reality was far different than the coming situation.
With Glass, Beauvillier, Hayes, Puustinen, Blake Lizotte, Lars Eller, Jesse Puljujarvi, Jonathan Gruden, and Noel Acciari, the NHL roster is already overfilled, and those young players will have reduced opportunities.
Several of those players need ice time and space to acclimate to the Penguins. Is Dubas prepared to simply waive several of those players to make room for one of their own?"
With Glass, Beauvillier, Hayes, Puustinen, Blake Lizotte, Lars Eller, Jesse Puljujarvi, Jonathan Gruden, and Noel Acciari, the NHL roster is already overfilled, and those young players will have reduced opportunities.
Several of those players need ice time and space to acclimate to the Penguins. Is Dubas prepared to simply waive several of those players to make room for one of their own?"
Kevin Hayes has certainly had more success in the past, but, as evident from the Flyers retaining half his salary, he has yet to make any serious improvements, However, a veteran player could provide more leverage heading into the Stanley Cup playoffs, where he could provide better forward depth to a contending team. regardless, it will be interesting to see what the Pittsburgh Penguins have in store for him.
| POLL | ||
16 AOUT | 83 ANSWERS Analyst names Kevin Hayes as potential Penguins trade candidate Should the Pittsburgh Penguins try to leverage Kevin Hayes in a trade deal? | ||
| Yes, soon | 46 | 55.4 % |
| Yes, later in the season | 27 | 32.5 % |
| No | 10 | 12 % |
| List of polls | ||
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