BONUS EDITION: Thoughts & analysis on the Penguins trading for Kevin Hayes!

The Pittsburgh Penguins acquired Kevin Hayes and a second-round pick from the St. Louis Blues for virtually...nothing! Well, almost nothing. On this bonus show, Hunter and Patrick discuss if this is a good move by Kyle Dubas and analyze the impact that Hayes will have on this roster. They also look at what could come next and what this move tells us about the long-term plans that Kyle Dubas has for this team.
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[@Ando2k10]

6'5", 220 lbs...strong in the corners and in front of the net... historically, a Penguins killer, during his time in Philly. And being given a 2nd round pick to take him off their hands...I'm okay with that.

[@gablefisk-govphost817]

This is how you weaponize cap space. More like this, please.

[@bocephus124]

After watching him in St. Louis he just seems like he really doesn’t want to play anymore, just lackadaisical play,, and Philly is paying half of contract

[@johnnythunder196]

He's always been soft and just not impressive...dont like the move at all. Hope he's not on the third line.

[@Netcentric-fk6ek]

he would drift around the ice in Philly, and my wife said it looks like he should have beer in one hand and a cigarette in the other. Just laisse faire most of the time

[@johnnythunder196]

@@Netcentric-fk6ek he was a clown with the Rangers and that was his prime

[@PENS68]

I for one don’t mind Hayes at all. He can play bottom or top 6, he’s always been solid play maker and for 3.57 mil for two years not bad, plus nabbing a second round pick in next years draft was key. Who’s to say, depending on how this season goes if Hayes could be used for trade bait should things not go as well next year. Either way, I really like it.

[@JohnSmith-jb2jf]

So Hayes + a 2nd at 3.57M x 2Y for nothing. This is exactly what I wanted Dubas to do. Weaponize cap space for futures. Hell, Hayes may even rebound as a scorer and boost his value to be traded again. It even addresses the Center depth and puts Eller in the role he should be in. Very happy with this. Dubas W.

[@LockedOnPenguins]

Yup, I was gonna mention it in the end but I can definitely see Hayes being flipped at the deadline if they’re out of the race.

[@AT9606_]

This is a meh trade for right now and a potential win for the future. Hopefully Hayes rebounds but that’s another guy the penguins are counting on for a bounce back season. This might be considered the second step of a rebuild when we look back on it.

[@drakebarrett1780]

Thanks Pat for your intel

[@pittsburghfan4124]

This IS a move to get younger. He's now our youngest C. lol. I love the trade for the 2nd rdr and Philly paying for half of our 3C

[@MrFreeth26]

Tidy piece of work from Kyle. Second rounder around the 40-48 mark and a 3rd line center, bigger body, net front element. Will need some speed and finishing on his flanks. Considering no cost and only $3.5M for 3LC decent cap management. It's also extra LOLs if he scores on the Flyboys and they are paying him to score on them.

[@vipeholmskolan6052]

It's a reasonable gamble to make. If he can get his act together, then the Pens center line is stacked. If he can't, at least It's just for two seasons.

[@gablefisk-govphost817]

And in a worst-case scenario, the final year isn't a bad buyout at all.

[@Aarron656]

just for 2 seasons… possibly our last 2 seasons with sid & geno. L Trade

[@vipeholmskolan6052]

@@Aarron656 A bit early to call it an L.

[@gablefisk-govphost817]

@@Aarron656 2022 should have been our last year with Geno

[@jsebby2284]

​@@gablefisk-govphost817 lol no

[@davidog13]

Dam we got Hayes? Nice! I’ve always loved him

[@MaddyS25]

Thanks for the guided meditation, Pat. I needed that 😅

[@scottpykare801]

Thanks guys. So, the wheels are turning. Time will tell.

[@Pgh_heather_412]

Now at center they have sid-geno-hayes-eller. Smith will be traded to get that $5M in cap space back. I really thought they would pursue Domi. Maybe they still do but he plays wing? Looking forward to seeing what Gruden, Puusty, Poulin, Koivunen and Ponamarev do in camp. All make under $900k/yr. Does Nieto stay on LTIR all year? Is Acciari healthy?

[@GaryRogers-jk1ob]

I hope this isn’t a bad acusition! I thought the Pens are going to get younger not someone in their 30s again!

[@LockedOnPenguins]

I think you’ll see that in other moves this week (at least that’s what Dubas says!)

[@pexrinne5144]

The Penguins are only trying to sell jerseys when they get more and more old guys.

[@chickenalaking1319]

I'm glad you clarified his abilities. From most of the comments on Pensburg, Hayes was soft & defensively inept.

[@andrewthetruth]

Teravainen and Marchessault both sign for less than $5.5. Crickets from Dubas. Absolutely obnoxious.

[@LockedOnPenguins]

The Marchessault one I think was a bit lower because Tennessee has no income tax

[@TonyP-ft1tu]

Puusti, Hayes, DOC 3rd line? Sounds like a decent line to me boys. W trade.

[@RDPq]

i still neeed dubas get us top 4 or top6 to make us feel if this team is playoff cause this season its gonna be hard

[@RDPq]

in my head is this rebuild trade or playoff trade like its fine we got second round pick from a mid player like if he could do that even flip him in deadline if were not playoff team this season it seems

[@Aarron656]

have a feeling sid is not gonna be happy if dubas keeps going this way. feels like dubas is half assing putting pens in contention especially when it was his and the coaching staffs fault for why they missed the playoffs last year (oh yeah he also got rid of guestz, something else sid hated)

[@MayhemMatty]

Was hoping Future Considerations would have a great career in Pittsburgh, man..

[@andrewthetruth]

He sucks. Kevin Hayes sucks. Mangiapane traded for a second round pick. Thompson for two thirds. Both players could have helped the penguins, and Jarry could have been dumped for two seconds. You'd have dumped Jarry for Thompson, Mangiapane, and a second round pick, which would be a reasonable return. Crickets for Dubas.

[@d1landscape632]

Was hoping we weren’t going to take on older guys hoping they’d have bounce back years like dubas did this past off season. Best part of this deal is clearly the 2nd rd pick for essentially nothing.

[@JohnSmith-jb2jf]

If he has a good season then you can deal him again too.

[@Aarron656]

only like this move if we find a way to get rid of smiths contract and replace him with someone new. cuz imagine if we have smith and hayes not pan out, our season is going down the drain

[@LockedOnPenguins]

I still think they’re eventually gonna move Smith before the season starts.

[@jamaldee2355]

Another old guy seriously loll just playing y’all hopefully it works out

[@damingomes2369]

Did hayes overlap with quin in ny? Is there any history there?

[@LockedOnPenguins]

One season, 2018-19

[@steverobinson1353]

I thought we were supposed to get younger, what a dumb move

[@christianrussell1843]

Smith has to be on the way out now right?? Hayes will be great on our pk. Who is 3c and who is 4c between Hayes and Eller though?

[@LockedOnPenguins]

I still think Smith will be dealt eventually. Right now I think Hayes will be 3C and Eller 4C (unless you’re talking about wingers) but there’s a long way to go in the offseason

[@zanegearhart8116]

When was the last time Hayes played penalty kill? Just checked and he hasn't played at least the previous 2 years. Makes keeping Acciari necessary if he can't PK.

[@LockedOnPenguins]

His last like big season on the PK was the COVID season, but he’s played on it a bunch throughout his career

[@rodbelding9523]

Taking on Kevin Hayes for free is a reasonable gamble. He put up more points last season than almost everyone in the Pens bottom six did, so he can't be any worse. Hopefully this pushes Acciari to wing too because I like Acciari way better as a forechecking wing than a defensive center. As far as what's to come I'm making a prediction that Dubas signs Jeff Skinner on Monday lol. Skinner just seems like a Dubas/Sullivan type player.

[@johnnythunder196]

Skinner would be very nice

[@1pbdecoded1pb]

Hayes can't even skate. He's super slow. What happened to youth and speed?

[@LockedOnPenguins]

They got Hayes for his playmaking ability imo. I think you’ll see youth and speed in some of the other moves they make for this year (at least that’s what Dubas says)

[@1pbdecoded1pb]

@@LockedOnPenguins I asked St. Louis fans and they said slow so I'm now just being NEGATIVE. Sorry about passing on the negatives I got from other fans I questioned.

[@LockedOnPenguins]

Nah you’re good. Hes definitely slow, they’re right about that. Hes not close to a fast skater but they’re not getting him for that imo

[@mattcoohill]

Your 3rd line center had better have speed to go up against other team’s best.

[@thatsright4194]

I could see him eating up some minutes in the press box this year.

[@bryanelliott6662]

Not a great move by dubas but not a bad one either. Hayes is a serviceable bottom 6 guy who could play top 6 for stretches with the inevitable injury bug. As far as draft goes, only knew anything about 4 of the drafted players. Brunicke has high upside imo. Howe I heard comparisons to brad Marchand. I literally hate Marchand but if how can become that type of player I will love his game. Mac swanson I saw highlights of this season because I was watching zam plante and was impressed with his game. Finn harding is a steady dman. Not flashy but plays a hard nosed game. All in all a decent draft for penguins. I thought last year's was a lil better but 2 more prospects I think will eventually play nhl minutes in brunicke and howe

[@mikecrow8444]

Sorry, but I just can't get behind this trade. The Pens need to get younger, and they need depth scoring in the bottom 6, and they need to get harder to play against. Hayes does none of these things, not in 2024. This is a good acquisition 3-5 years ago. But Hayes isn't the same player he was then. This also puts yet another past-his-prime player in the bottom six that will block another young player from getting an opportunity.

[@LockedOnPenguins]

I definitely hear you and I do think it could make more sense after some more moves. I personally don’t think they’re gonna sign a bunch of older dudes in FA tomorrow (could always be wrong though). I still think someone like Ponomarev will get a shot this year, Puustinen will be there full-time too. I think this could be the start of remaking the bottom six a little bit but we’ll see

[@mikecrow8444]

Yeah, I just think if Hayes and Eller are the two bottom 6 centers, they are going to be stuck with two 4th lines yet again. Hayes and Eller both top out at 30 points at this stage of their careers. To get back to the playoffs… Crosby is going to need a 100-point season, Malkin is going to need an 80-point season, and the power play needs to get around 25%.

[@mobilepwr2]

Another old, slow player. I like getting the 2nd round pick but that's about it

[@LockedOnPenguins]

I’d like to think they’ll get some faster players tomorrow or throughout July but we’ll see