Philadelphia Flyers

Report: Team Showing Interest in Acquiring Flyers’ Hayes

Published

1 year ago

February 5, 2023

Sam Carchidi

Photo: AP.

Kevin Allen is a highly respected, long-time reporter who is in the Hockey Hall of Fame for journalism excellence.

So when Allen, who now works for Detroit Hockey Now and formerly wrote for USA Today, makes a claim, you listen.

Allen reports that an NHL team is showing interest in the Philadelphia Flyers’ Kevin Hayes, and wants to move him back to center.

Hayes, a center his whole life, has been shifted to left wing for most of this season.

He made the All-Star team for the first time and is having a career season, collecting 15 goals and 45 points in 50 games.

In a podcast the other day, Allen said the interest was coming from a very good team. He did not name the team.

After this season, Hayes has three more years left on a contract that has an annual $7.1 million cap hit.

Torts when asked about #Flyers’ playoff aspirations: pic.twitter.com/gDV1PBGnMn

— Sam Carchidi (@BroadStBull) February 5, 2023

The 30-year-old forward has a modified no-trade clause; he can submit a 12-team, no-trade list. The trade deadline is March 3, and left winger James van Riemsdyk is the Philadelphia Flyers player who is most likely to be moved.

Hayes and defenseman Justin Braun are among the other candidates.

In Saturday’s All-Star Game, Hayes had two assists, but the Metropolitan All-Stars fell to the eventual-champion Atlantic Division, 10-6.

The Flyers returned to practice Sunday in Voorhees after a week off. Hayes traveled from Florida Sunday morning and was at the afternoon practice.

Philly hosts the New York Islanders on Monday, one of four home games during the week.

Here were the Flyers’ lines at Sunday’s practice:

Scott Laughton centering Hayes and Owen Tippett.
Noah Cates centering James van Riemsdyk and Travis Konecny.
Morgan Frost centering Joel Farabee and Patrick Brown.
Wade Allison (!) centering Nick Deslauriers and Kieffer Bellows.

Breakaways

Allison returned after missing the last game with an unspecified injury. … The Flyers currently have 12 forwards, but with four straight home games, they may not recall an extra player. … Besides the Isles, the Flyers will host Edmonton (Thursday), Nashville (Saturday), and Seattle (Sunday) this week. The latter two games are matinees.