St. Louis Blues & Philadelphia Flyers Finalizing Trade

Since before the 2023 NHL Trade Deadline passed, Kevin Hayes has been one of the biggest names in the rumor mill. Now, it appears that the veteran forward is finally going to be dealt, as Jeremy Rutherford of The Athletic has reported that the Philadelphia Flyers and St. Louis Blues are finalizing a trade centering around Hayes.

Hayes’ name has been picking up a lot of steam in the rumor mill these last few weeks, so a move seemed inevitable. However, multiple teams were linked to him, so a destination was hard to predict. Yet, given this latest report, it appears that Hayes is St. Louis bound.

The Blues are looking to bounce back from a poor 2022-23 season. This is not a club that is rebuilding, so it makes sense that they are reportedly bringing in Hayes. He will serve as a quality top-six forward option for them in 2023-24 and onward once this move is finalized.

In 81 games this past season with the Flyers, Hayes posted 18 goals and 54 points. The Massachusetts native was also an All-Star for the first time in his career.

It will be intriguing to see what the final trade ends up being, but stay tuned for updates. 

Photo Credit: Eric Hartline - USA TODAY Sports