On Monday, the Philadelphia Flyers and St. Louis Blues made a trade that sent forward Kevin Hayes to the Blues in exchange for a sixth-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. The move marks the first major trade of the offseason for both teams, and it could have a significant impact on the upcoming season.
Hayes, who was acquired by the Flyers from the Winnipeg Jets last season, had a solid year in Philadelphia, tallying 17 goals and 34 points in 71 games. He was also a key contributor to the Flyers’ run to the Eastern Conference Final, where they ultimately fell to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning.
The move to St. Louis gives Hayes a chance to play for a team that is in contention for a Stanley Cup this season. The Blues are coming off a successful 2019-20 campaign, where they finished second in the Central Division and advanced to the Western Conference Final. With Hayes in the fold, they now have a talented forward who can help them make another deep playoff run this season.
In addition to providing the Blues with a quality player, the trade also gives the Flyers some much-needed salary cap relief. Hayes was due to make $7.14 million this season, and his departure frees up some much-needed cap space for Philadelphia. This could be beneficial for the Flyers as they look to add more pieces to their roster this offseason.
Overall, the trade between the Flyers and Blues is an interesting one that could have a major impact on both teams’ fortunes this season. For St. Louis, they get a talented forward who can help them make another deep playoff run. For Philadelphia, they get some much-needed salary cap relief and an additional draft pick in 2024. Only time will tell how this trade will affect both teams, but it’s certainly an intriguing move that could pay off for both sides.
