:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72406294/1482476790.0.jpg "Kevin Hayes trade: Flyers to send center to Blues for draft pick, per report")
The Philadelphia Flyers are trading center Kevin Hayes to the St. Louis Blues for a 2024 sixth-round pick, per NHL Network's Kevin Weekes. Hayes, 31, had a modified no-movement clause in his contract with the Flyers. Hayes still has three years remaining at a cap hit of around $7.1 million. Weekes mentions there could be another component to the deal, which is likely to be the Flyers retaining some salary.
The Flyers have the seventh overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, which will take place on Wednesday night with the first round and wrap up on Thursday afternoon with rounds 2-7. Philly has had a busy offseason with the new braintrust of Daniel Briere, Keith Jones and John LeClair. This summer is big for the franchise as it tries to move forward in its rebuild and back into contention in the East.
Clearing some of Hayes' salary gives the Flyers a bit more flexibility with the cap heading into free agency. Noah Cates and Morgan Frost are both restricted free agents and should get bridge deals. Philly will eventually need to sign D Sean Walker, who was acquired as part of the three-team trade involving D Ivan Provorov. Forward Owen Tippett will also need a new deal as a RFA after the 2023-24 season.