Penguins Trade, Full Analysis: Dubas Acquires Kevin Hayes, Pick From Blues
LAS VEGAS — There was no salary holdback. Moments, after the Pittsburgh Penguins selected a pair of WHL prospects with the 44th and 46th overall picks in the 2024 NHL Draft, president of hockey operations/GM Kyle Dubas, swung his first trade of the offseason. The Penguins acquired hulking forward Kevin Hayes from the St. Louis Blues.
The details of the trade confirmed Dubas’s words on Friday when he claimed the team would not be looking for long-term contracts. St. Louis affixed a 2025 second-round pick to Hayes, and the Penguins will absorb St. Louis’s share of Hayes’s salary.
Hayes, 32, carries a cap hit of only $3.571 million because the Philadelphia Flyers agreed to pick up 50% of his more than $7 million salary when they traded Hayes to St. Louis last summer. Hayes and coach Philadelphia coach John Tortorella weren’t seeing eye to eye, and Hayes did not fit with the rebuilding Flyers.
Hayes has two more seasons remaining on the deal.
He is, in several ways, Jeff Carter’s replacement. Carter retired following the 2023-24 season.
Penguins Trade Analysis
The Penguins get the hulking Hayes, who is 6-foot-5 and 216 pounds. However, Hayes does not always use his size to his advantage. He’s more of a complementary player than a rugged center. He can also play LW.
In 79 games last season, Hayes scored only 13 goals with 29 points. He largely functioned as St. Louis’s third-line center. His integration with the Penguins lineup would seem to be as a bottom-six center or winger. He hasn’t been a primary penalty killer in a few years and played just 15 minutes shorthanded in the 2023-24 season.
The Penguins’ acquisition lessens their salary cap space to approximately $7 million, but they have not yet qualified or signed defenseman P.O Joseph.
With the 2025 second-round pick, the Penguins have a pick in every round, though they do not have their own rounder, which Dubas used in the Erik Karlsson trade.
The Penguins lineup got a little better. Hayes will have value, and he won a whopping 57% of faceoffs. In theory, he could skate on the Penguin’s second line with Evgeni Malkin, providing faceoff support, or play a down-line role in the middle, taking important faceoffs in the final minutes–just as Carter did.
It’s not a great trade, but it adds faceoff support and fulfills Dubas’s stated intent to recoup as many picks as he could as urgently as possible. The largest downside is that the second-rounder cost the Penguins about $7 million over two years, and Hayes is somewhat redundant with Lars Eller and Noel Acciari in the Penguins lineup. Hayes will also presumably take a lineup spot that could have been filled with one of the Penguins’ prospects, such as Sam Poulin or Vasily Ponomarev, lessening the available spaces for the young players.
Categorized:Penguins Penguins Trade Talk
So we got him for nothing? Meh. I mean I don’t even know what the point is anymore with this team. This trying to walk both sides of the street is getting embarrassing. We acquired anther old, slow player. I’d be far more involved in the team if we just tore it down. Next year the Devils are going to be far better, and the Rangers and Canes are well above us. So the goal is a wild card until 2030?
Welcome to the rebuild.
Dubas inherited a Hot Mess Dumpster fire from Hackster and no low draft choices from Rutherford. The Pens are screwed until the Trio all retire. Most savvy GM’s would have NOT resigned Malkin & Letang. They would have begun the rebuild by using Crosby as a mentor to the kids. The Pens will not make the playoffs again anytime soon and are in salary cap HELL It will be like Ground Hog day for the 2024-25 season. I live in Fla. and loved the Panthers Org. on Zito’s building a winner and direction. The Pens are stuck with FSG who… Read more »
*yawn* Does KD know that in the 5+ decades the Pens have been in existence, their good fortunes in the draft have always been with rounds 1 and 3, and that round 2 picks have been an unmitigated disaster throughout the years?
This move HAS to be a precursor to us unloading our own highly paid underachievers (Rackell, Smith, POJ). Otherwise, what’s the point? Unless the point was go big and soft instead of small and soft.
Yeah he should avoid 2nd Rd picks at all cost, good logic there lol
So we are taking on a bad contract for a 2nd rounder that might help the team in 2029-2030 – not a good sign for the direction of this team. Just when we were all happy to see Carter’s contract done, they replace it with another one. Sad…
Good that the Pens got the 2nd. If Hayes has a bounce back season, it’ll be a steal come January. This may be like a Lars Eller signing, not a major trade but one that solidifies the team. He’s versatile, so that’s a plus in the Sullivan regime. I see NJD traded Marino, maybe they’re looking to add Graves back in their lineup?
Lars Eller replacement? Heard there was interest in the Dane.
Is this a 35+ contract, or can he be waived if need be?
He’s 32. Contract runs for 2 more years.
I will delete all links to your site and quit reading this waste of an online rag.
You are not fair by picking and choosing what posts you will allow.
Good lord, over react? Our moderation is automated–new commenters and certain words are flagged for manual approval. We’re a little busy today.
Any chance his offseason was due to not wanting to be in St Louis?? Maybe just not happy about the trade?
Typical commenter on here.. doesn’t have a clue, just looking for something to complain about
He is 32 that skates like a 35 plus guy, lol.
If the Pens can mover Eller for a prospect that would be great. Plus move Accari opening up room for younger players.
Does anyone have scouting reports on the two second-rounders (Nos. 44 and 46)?
I’m kinda surprised how surprised folks are about this.
The pens could sign Jesus and some would complain his hair is too long!
But he saves!
I’m not
To whoever picked the picture of Hayes shoving Granlund in the face, well done.
I didn’t even notice that was Granlund until you pointed it out!
Relax. He’s not that old. He’s the same age as Rust and six years younger than Malkin. At 3.5 million, it’s minimal risk for a guy who was an all-star with 56 points just in 2023. Plus the 2nd. Relax.
I’ve commented here before about not being a fan of Dubas and the lack of faith in his ability to build a bottom 6, assessing dmen on the back end and goalie signings. He’s continuing what he did in Toronto. I don’t quite understand this move unless it’s a precursor. Smith is better than Hayes. Eller at this point is better than Hayes. If he is coming so one of those two can go I shake my head. I don’t have hope for this team winning in aids last years. And don’t have hope in dubas being able to build… Read more »
I don’t quite understand Dubasses plan. Any 2nd, 3rd, round picks taken now or the years to come most likely won’t be ready to play while our core is still here. Pick a lane. Either tank and rebuild with high draft picks or go for it. Being stuck in the middle will only prolong the agony. All his youth talk and he brings in another slow, old, overpaid bottom 6 player. Is the plan to force sid to want a trade?
I don’t mind it, as stated he needs to build toward the future a 2nd rounder and now got a center for bottom 6 for free. Needs to open up cap space though. Smith, rakell, Graves, or jarry will be on the way out if KD plans to make moves monday
He can play center or wing on either of the bottom 2 lines. Fill in on 2nd line when needed. Could also move Acciari to wing where he can use his speed more effectively. Plus, the team got a draft pick. Not making the team younger now, but by getting the pick, Kyle accomplished 1 of his goals plus added some more depth to the bottom 6.
Somewhat optimistic about the move overall. Eller turned out a good signing, maybe Hayes will work out too. Not the kind of move i was expecting, but then again, i have no idea what to expect with Dubas. The next move he makes should be to free up cap space imo.
So they’re still going old and slow whats new.
In a trade usually you trade something.
What did STL get?
Just cap space?
On the day of his daughter’s wedding, the St Louis GM will make an offer that Dubas cannot refuse?
I think future considerations means nothing…but cap space, so you are correct.
It is amazing to see people not get that the purpose of the trade was the second-round pick. Hayes is just the cost of getting a free pick, and if his decline continues, he’ll be sent packing. Even if he stays, Hayes isn’t a big contract, and the Pens will still have another roughly $10 million coming off the books next offseason in Smith, Eller, and the retained Petry money. I expect the Pens will give Hayes a shot, but if he stinks, he’ll be gone and replaced with a prospect. This is a rebuild. It is what so many… Read more »
It will be at least two more years before the Pens recover from the Hextall disaster, which is why Dubas wants to stockpile picks and prospects over the next couple of seasons.The harsh reality is that there is probably not going to be a miracle turnaround or a miracle playoff run this year or next. The Pens probably won’t be bad enough to hit rock bottom, but they won’t be good enough to win anything.
Finally, another level-headed Penguins fan. Thank you!
Thank you, Robert. I enjoy your comments here, as well. I think a lot of the fanbase is spoiled because it has been more than 20 years since the last rebuild began. Any entire generation has grown up only knowing contending and winning, so I suspect this is all new to some folks, but as someone who was a season ticket holder during the pre-Sid rebuild, this looks familiar, although the current talent level on the team is much higher than last time right now.