Penguins Video Q&A: The Hayes Trade, Draft Picks and Next Deal?
LAS VEGAS — From the hallway in Encore because Sphere quickly ushered us out after the draft. The big news of Saturday was not the Pittsburgh Penguins draft but the Penguins’ trade with the St. Louis Blues for Kevin Hayes.
The Penguins acquired Hayes and a second-rounder for future considerations. Essentially a salary dump by St. Louis facilitated by the pick.
Basically, it was trade for a second-round pick with Hayes thrown in. The going rate in the NHL has been a second-round pick to accept a $3.5 million salary, and president of hockey operations/GM Kyle Dubas paid up, fulfilling his stated desire to acquire draft picks as urgently as he could.
The Penguins will now have a pick in all seven rounds next year.
However, PHN readers were not so happy with the deal. I received a few questions about it and where Hayes fits into the lineup, as well as some derisive comments about Dubas’s job performance.
We’ll get into where Hayes fits, what the Penguins see in the picks they made, and who was the jackwagon who decided to have a phone conversation right behind me? Seriously, we were in a 200-foot hallway, and Slappy chose my little area?
Like and comment on the video. NHL free agency starts Monday.
Cheaper replacement for Carter (good face off guy) plus a second round pick? Win win.
More expensive AAV. Hayes makes a little over 3.5; Carter made 3.125 if I’m not mistaken. Although Hayes is 32, Carter was 39, may have turned 40 before the season ended. 2nd rounder seems to be the going rate for 3.5-4.5 AAV salary dump deals. This certainly isn’t the guy any fan or media person predicted would go to the Pens, but sometimes these initial lackluster deals end up rejuvenating a player’s career. I’ll wait to see what happens the rest of the weekend and on Monday, but I’m no longer anticipating many current contracts moved. Although there are definitely… Read more »
So is Ellers & Hayes both staying or going? Both are slow, yes F/O rates Ellers 52%, Hayes 57%(NHL top 11), both 30-40pts. Buffalo, RedWings, Blackhawks all searching for bottom 6 Veteran C/W with 2yrs less contracts.
I think they keep both and one plays on the 4th line. Or they play together on the 3rd line. They are both versatile and can play wing as well
I’m fine with veteran centers and youth on the wings. Still another day of possible trades prior to FA
I mean, fine. I’m not bothered with the Hayes thing. Actually, everything is going as I thought it would. What really annoys the hell out of me is this talk about being competitive. No way, no how. Aren’t we grown ups that can accept the bad times? Last year was last chance and it did not go well. Making playoffs? Depends on how bad others are, we might squeeze in some year and that’s it. Talking about winning a round or how squeezing into the playoffs is not our thing , is only asking for trouble. I mean, why would… Read more »
Being competitive doesn’t necessarily mean winning or competing for the cup. The penguins were competitive last season. They lost a lot of games that they could have won if they had played better defensively at the end of games and scored on the power play. Win 2 or 3 of those games and then Sid could unleash terror in the playoffs. Anything can happen, its just not probable.
Incredibly, you’ve managed to reply without paying attention to what I wrote, which should be a premise for a reply. Oh well, although it’s unclear what the thing is, you’re right and I concede.
I was more adding to what you said than anything. So, we are both “right”? 🤷🏻♂️
I’d rather them tear it down and try to win the Cup. But the mandate is to also make hay with Sid and the three. Cant blame them for that. Dubas has shown his plan. Take contracts and high picks to fill a role for the short-term. Any FA signings won’t be longer then 3 years, 2 max, probably. Likely any turnaround begins in a couple seasons (Malkin’s first in retirement). Any kids should be ready, 17 probably gets moved, Blomqvist ready, etc. Biding time.
Tearing it down does not mean they will compete for the cup again. They would have to hit on a majority of their draft picks and get generational talents again for that to happen. I would not bet on drafting another sid and geno/lemieux and jagr ever again. The Penguins franchise has been extremely lucky in that regard and the luck has to run out eventually.
Well, obviously. But higher picks generally provide a higher probability of getting better talent. Edmonton is a poster child for #1 picks not equalling success. But I’d like to win another Cup (which I thought was the entire point) instead of just being competitive. And since that’s not going to happen in the next few seasons, I’d tear it down to accelerate the process. Shrug. And get that GMKD can’t do that which is why he’ll try to remain competitive, no chance at Cup, and acquire picks and give time for the younger guys to come up. Definitely a tight… Read more »
Rock-Dubas-hard place, eh?
I said before that it wouldn’t be the worst thing to trade Sid and start rebuilding(the only way a rebuild will happen). He wants to stay, so he gets what he wants.
For sure, and there’s nothing wrong with that. If Sid wants 71, 58, 65, 17, etc., that’s fine too. Keep 87 happy, and here. I hope he can play longer than two years. I think the third season from now should be the one where we should see an upward trajectory start again.
Perhaps 🤞🏻
I am one of the more patient sports fans. I’ve seen a rebuild before, it would be nice if that could somehow be avoided. I am fine with watching future hall of famers in the twilight of their careers vs seeing barely echl caliber players at the nhl level. Sue me! Lol
As a season ticket holder, I’d rather watch Sid lose than watch a team without Sid lose.
Indeed
Where is the video? I can’t play anything from this page.
It’s there now. My bad.
Thank you, sir.
What video?
I guess I’m not so smart. I posted it wrong. It’s now included.
Looks like Tampa may be the team that overpays Guentzel. They’re also seemingly letting Stamkos move on. Still not as crazy as NJ trading 2 of their better young players to Vegas for a 4th liner. Silly season indeed.
I give them props for letting Stamkos walk. Some teams focus on winning and not just being competitive.
Would you suggest they keep Stamkos for close to what they’d pay Guentzel? If they sign Guentzel, even if it’s 7×9 (without state income tax) that’s obviously the better move. 59 has already proven not to be a product of 87 in the very short time he was in Carolina.
Tough call. Stamkos is way better and showing no decline yet. It would be equivalent to the penguins just letting Crosby leave after next season. I like Jake, but i don’t think he is at the same level as Stamkos. Sometimes change is needed, i guess, and keeping the status quo is one of the main things holding the penguins back. Shaking things up by trading Guentzel actually helped the team come together at the end.
You were right.