Penguins reportedly cutting ties with 800-game NHL veteran Kevin Hayes

Based on recent rumblings from team insiders, the 34-year-old center is not expected to receive a new contract offer.

While nothing is officially confirmed until free agency opens on July 1, the writing is clearly on the wall.

Pittsburgh originally acquired him from the St. Louis Blues in a calculated trade to secure a second-round draft pick.

That transaction required the front office to absorb his modified cap hit and bank heavily on his locker room presence.

Over his NHL career, Hayes has logged 805 games and built a solid reputation as a reliable two-way forward.

That veteran pedigree completely vanished during a highly disappointing 2025-26 season.

Head coach Dan Muse could never find a permanent role for him in the bottom six.

Hayes struggled to stay in rhythm, battling frequent stints in the press box as a healthy scratch.

He produced a severely limited offensive output and rarely generated dangerous chances when he did manage to dress for game day.

With his point totals dropping, he became a major liability for a team desperate for secondary scoring.

His average ice time plummeted, reflecting a total lack of trust from the coaching staff.

He posted an ugly minus rating while his faceoff success rate dropped significantly on the year.

The transition game stalled out entirely when his unit stepped over the boards. Unacceptable.

The Penguins are fully expected to let him walk straight to the open market when the new league year begins this summer. Cutting ties is the only logical move for a front office prioritizing younger legs and cap flexibility.