Philadelphia Flyers’ Attempt to Trade Kevin Hayes to St. Louis Blues Hits a Roadblock
The Philadelphia Flyers’ plan to find a new home for center Kevin Hayes this summer seemed to be on track when they appeared close to a deal with the St. Louis Blues. However, the trade is now in limbo as a result of a hold-up with the Blues. Here’s what you need to know about the situation.
According to multiple sources with direct knowledge of the negotiations, the Flyers, who have been in rebuilding mode, intended to send Hayes and defenseman Travis Sanheim to the Blues in the trade. To make the financials more manageable for St. Louis, Philadelphia would retain a significant portion of Hayes’ $7.14 million cap hit for the next three seasons. NHL rules allow the Flyers to retain up to 50 percent of Hayes’ cap hit in each of his remaining years. The trade was also supposed to involve a Blues defenseman and a first-round pick going to the Flyers in exchange for Hayes (with retention) and Sanheim. However, one of the sources revealed that the Blues player invoked his no-trade clause, throwing the future of the deal into uncertainty.
The Flyers’ motivation for making this trade stems from their shift towards a full-fledged rebuilding strategy under new GM Daniel Briere. Sanheim, who signed a massive eight-year, $50 million extension last year, is seen as a less-than-perfect fit for the team’s rebuilding plans due to his age (27) and the length of his contract. Hayes, on the other hand, had a solid statistical season for the Flyers, recording 18 goals and 54 points in 81 games. Despite his performance, he struggled to maintain a good relationship with Philadelphia coach John Tortorella, who benched him and moved him to the wing for extended periods.
The hold-up with the Blues lies in the fact that five defensemen on their roster have either a full no-trade clause or a modified no-trade clause in their contracts. Torey Krug, Colton Parayko, Nick Leddy, and Justin Faulk have full no-trade clauses, and it has been confirmed that none of them have been asked to waive their clauses. Marco Scandella has a modified no-trade clause but does not have the power to veto a move to the Flyers as Philadelphia is not on his list. This leaves Krug, who may not find a move to a rebuilding Philadelphia franchise appealing given his desire to play for a winning team and the remaining years on his contract.
If the deal eventually goes through, it is expected to be much smaller than initially discussed. Names like Sanheim, Tony DeAngelo, and Scott Laughton were previously mentioned but may no longer be part of the trade. The main issue revolves around Hayes’ contract, which has three years remaining with a $7.14 million cap hit. Even with Philadelphia retaining a portion of that, the Blues would likely have to send salary back to the Flyers. The Blues are willing to include one of their late first-round draft picks in the trade, but they would only want to send a first-round pick to Philadelphia to unload a big contract. It is possible that the Blues are exploring the option of involving a third team in the trade, which could potentially be Krug’s final destination if he agrees to waive his no-trade clause.
As the negotiations continue, the future of the trade remains uncertain. Flyers fans and Blues fans alike will be eagerly awaiting updates on whether the deal will ultimately go through and what the final terms will be.
[Required reading: Why Kevin Hayes could be summer trade casualty of Flyers’ rebuild after bounce-back season, Kevin Hayes trade destinations: Seven teams that could (or should) be interested]
What specific off-ice issues and disciplinary incidents has Hayes been involved in that have created friction within the organization?
Opes were high that the trade with the Blues would bring the Flyers some much-needed cap relief and assets for their rebuild. Hayes’ contract has been a burden for the team, especially considering his inconsistent play and off-ice issues. The 29-year-old center has had several disciplinary incidents over the past season, which has created friction within the organization. With an eye towards the future, the Flyers were eager to move on from Hayes and start fresh with new talent.
However, the hold-up with the Blues defenseman invoking his no-trade clause has thrown a wrench into the plans. The exact identity of the player in question has not been revealed, but it is believed to be a significant factor in the trade’s downfall. The Blues will now have to look for other potential trade partners, while the Flyers need to reassess their options and continue their search for a new home for Hayes.
The delay in completing this trade is certainly a setback for the Flyers, who had hoped to clear cap space and acquire assets to help fuel their rebuilding efforts. It remains to be seen what other potential trade partners may emerge or if the Flyers will need to explore other avenues to offload Hayes and his hefty contract.
In the meantime, the Flyers will continue to work towards their goal of building a competitive and cohesive team for the upcoming season. With new GM Daniel Briere at the helm, the organization is embarking on a new era and is committed to making the necessary moves to bring success back to Philadelphia.
While the trade with the Blues may have hit a roadblock, the Flyers remain focused on finding the best possible outcome for the team and its future. The situation is fluid, and fans will undoubtedly be keeping a close eye on developments as the offseason progresses.
