Kevin Hayes Trade? ‘We Still Think He Can Help,’ Flyers GM Daniel Briere Says

Kevin Hayes is mentioned in many hockey trade rumors in North America and probably beyond. The Philadelphia Flyers forward might go to Columbus or Boston or somewhere.

Staying with the Philadelphia Flyers didn’t seem in the cards.

Not so fast … perhaps.

Flyers general manager Daniel Briere, cards tucked close to the vest, didn’t sound like a Hayes trade was imminent at a pre-draft news conference at the Flyers Training Center in Voorhees on Thursday.

“Nothing has really changed on that,” Briere said. “We still value Kevin. We still think he can help. It’s tough to tell at this point. He’s a big, 6-foot-5 centerman. 

“They’re not easy to find. It’s not like free agency is really deep with centermen. To replace him would be tough as well. Right now, my stance hasn’t changed on that.”

Trade Or No Trade?

Briere didn’t say he would either trade or not trade Hayes on Thursday. You wouldn’t expect Briere to publicly weaken his bargaining position and announce a need to trade Hayes.

Trading requires a partner and a worthy return. A Kevin Hayes trade could happen later today and no one would be surprised. Of course, it could happen at the draft in Nashville next week.

Trading Hayes was considered part of the Flyers’ announced rebuild. He is a 31-year-old who scored 18 goals last season for a team that has missed the playoffs the past three seasons.

Hayes has value around the league and for the Flyers now, his greatest value might be what he brings back in a trade.

Hayes said at the end of the season he thought he would find out around the draft if he would be returning to the Flyers for the 2023-24 season.

“I picked up the message that was sent months ago,” Hayes said at the team’s breakup day. He has a $7.1 million cap hit for the next three seasons.

“I don’t know if they want guys making the money I’m making, playing 10 minutes a night.

“I don’t make those decisions. They do. And I’m sure they have to make them pretty quickly with the draft coming up.”

Later in the interview, Hayes said: “It is what it is. They need to go younger if they want to win. That’s how you win in this league. You’ve got to rebuild, and that’s what they’re in now.”

Briere On Hayes

On April 18, Briere said this about Hayes: “He’s got a lot of value. I know at times, it might have not been the way he wanted the season to go, but we can’t forget he’s still a really good player.”

Briere also commented about Hayes’ shrinking playing time in the second half of the season.

“We’ll figure out what needs to be done with Kevin, and if he’s here or somewhere else,” Briere said after the season. “We are assuming he’s going to be part of the team next year. We’ll see as the summer develops, and if there’s different opportunities there.”

Historically, trades tend to happen at the draft, when all of the general managers are together in one place and face-to-face meetings can happen at a moment’s notice. You can bet Hayes’ name will be brought up in conversations at the draft next week in Nashville.