Does Hayes still fit in Flyers' plans? ‘We'll find out in a couple of days'

VOORHEES, N.J. — At 30 years old, Kevin Hayes went to his first NHL All-Star Game this month and is on pace for a new career high in points.

So one might say he is a 6-foot-5 center very much in his prime.

"Center?" Hayes asked with a smile Tuesday.

Er, forward.

Back in June 2019, Chuck Fletcher's first major investment as Flyers general manager was trading for Hayes' contractual rights and signing the center to a seven-year, $50 million deal. The Flyers brought in Hayes to be a long, disruptive, 200-foot type of player down the middle of the ice.

They're no longer using him that way.

This season, under first-year head coach John Tortorella, Hayes has played on the wing almost exclusively since the end of November.

The Flyers are in a major transitional season. The focus is on the future — a restart of sorts — as the club is set to sell at the NHL trade deadline for a third straight season. This year's deadline is Friday at 3 p.m. ET.

Does Hayes still fit in the Flyers' plans?

"I can argue all I want to anyone. I have zero say in it," Hayes said. "I guess, I'm 30 years old, having a career year, I think that's a good thing. I'll argue that it is. I don't know if they see me as a center here in the long run. I've read that they need centers."

A 30-year-old that possesses all-situation ability and is scoring at the best clip of his career is a pretty nice thing to have for a team that already lacks talent. Hayes has 48 points (17 goals, 31 assists) through 60 games, putting him on path to break his career-best mark of 55. He might also come close to matching his career high of 25 goals.

It's possible the Flyers could be better in the future when Hayes is still at his best and helping push them forward.

On the flip side of the question, the Flyers know their process toward contending again will take time. They want to get younger and cap space is a valuable commodity. On a team looking at the future, Hayes turns 31 years old in May and has a big contract. After this season, he has three more years left on his deal, which has a $7,142,857 annual cap hit.

On Monday night, Hayes' name surfaced on a top-50 trade target list by Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli.

Hayes will seek interest from contending teams and the Flyers will listen. His value is high right now and the Flyers have to make a read on whether his future still matches their future. They may have to debate that in the summer, too.

"It's a fair question," Fletcher said Tuesday. "It'll depend on market and opportunity and fit. I've expressed to teams, look, we're open to ideas and we're willing to listen on lots of different types of scenarios. Without addressing Kevin specifically — because I don't know if it's fair to single out names — clearly we'd like to get even younger if we can. If we can do that, then we're going to try to do that.

"Most of the calls I've had have been about players on expiring contracts, the rental players if you will. That seems to be the main focus of most of the calls I've had. In saying that, we're willing to listen on just about anything if it makes sense."

What has complicated the outside read on Hayes' future in Philadelphia has been his weird year. He has produced at a career-high pace, but he hasn't played his natural position for most of the season and hasn't killed penalties like he has in past seasons. Tortorella highlighted defensive struggles for why he moved Hayes from center to winger. The coach has also benched Hayes for a full third period twice and a full game once.

"Kevin and I have talked right on through this," Tortorella said in January. "There has never been a confrontation. There's been honesty. And I appreciate that from Kevin. He's been honest with me, too.

"For a veteran guy and some of the things he's gone through, I think he has handled it well."

Hayes has respected Tortorella.

"Torts and I are fine," Hayes said. "He has an opinion on my game, I have an opinion on my game, we meet in the middle.

"I'm not discouraged I'm in trade rumors, no. You can argue it's a good thing. You can argue it's a bad thing. Try to just stay even-keeled about it. Whatever happens, happens. There are worst things in life."

Hayes said he hasn't had any conversations with Fletcher about the possibility of a trade.

"This time of year, I haven't heard much," Hayes said. "I'm not too concerned. If I get traded, that's a decision that they make. I love it here, some of my best friends are on this team. They invested in me a couple of years ago and I've tried to invest in the city.

"I love my teammates, I love the city, I love the fans, the organization's great. But that's more for management and coaches to choose and pick who they want here. I know as much as you guys know. I'm probably reading the same things that you guys are reading and writing."

He'll know his immediate future soon.

"What's today, Tuesday?" Hayes said. "We'll find out in a couple of days."

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