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Kevin Hayes said he has something to prove with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Last season, the forward had a career-low of 29 points (13 goals and 16 assists) in 79 games while playing for the St. Louis Blues. This followed his participation in the 2023 NHL All-Star Game with the Philadelphia Flyers, where he contributed only seven points (one goal and six assists) in his last 28 games.

On June 28, 2023, the Philadelphia team made a trade with St. Louis, sending Hayes in exchange for a sixth-round pick in the upcoming 2024 NHL Draft. The Blues, on the other hand, traded Hayes along with a second-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft to the Penguins on June 29, in return for future considerations.

Hayes affirmed that his confidence remains unscathed despite the past two seasons. He intends to showcase exactly that in Pittsburgh.

He expressed, “I firmly believe I can thrive in this league. I am determined to demonstrate this to both my teammates and the coaching staff.”

Hayes has a remaining contract of two seasons from the seven-year agreement he made with the Flyers on June 18, 2019, which was worth $50 million with an average annual value of $7.14 million. As part of the trade to St. Louis, Philadelphia will be retaining 50 percent of his salary.

According to Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas, the plan is for Hayes to begin the season as a center. However, Hayes, who also has experience playing as a wing, mentioned that he won’t have a clear understanding of his role until closer to the September training camp.

The 32-year-old is determined to make the most out of wherever he ends up.

Hayes expressed his desire to return to his desired position in the league by establishing a strong bond with the coach, earning their trust, and showcasing his abilities in various game situations. As a predominantly pass-oriented player, Hayes aims to transition towards adopting a more shoot-oriented mindset.

In Pittsburgh, I believe the opportunity will enable me to uplift and enhance the abilities of the players I collaborate with, ultimately making them better in my presence.

Hayes, as he embarks on his 11th NHL season, boasts an impressive tally of 415 points (168 goals and 247 assists) across 713 games played for the New York Rangers, Winnipeg Jets, Philadelphia Flyers, and St. Louis Blues. Notably, he has achieved two 20-goal seasons, registering 25 goals during his tenure with New York in 2017-18, and then following up with a commendable 23 goals for Philadelphia in 2019-20.

However, he has been let go by two teams within the past two seasons.

“In Philadelphia, I agreed to a seven-year contract. Unfortunately, I had a difficult year due to injuries during the 2021-22 season,” Hayes remarked. “Towards the end of my time in Philly, I didn’t have the same perspective as the coach, John Tortorella, but that’s completely understandable. When I joined St. Louis, I never quite found my ideal role. I don’t want to label them as undergoing a rebuild because I don’t believe they are, and when that notion was mentioned last year, it wasn’t well-received by my teammates. It seems like I just didn’t quite fit into their overall plan, I suppose.”

Hayes expressed his excitement and inspiration as he heads to the Penguins.

He expressed that being on two different teams within two years definitely dealt a blow to his ego. He mentioned that he is generally a confident individual and has been a part of the League for a significant amount of time. He has experienced successful seasons and understands what it takes to adapt his game to succeed in this league. He believes that his move to Pittsburgh will provide him with a favorable opportunity to achieve that.

Rather than viewing it as a boost to my ego, I see it as an opportunity to motivate myself and prove to both teams that I still possess the ability to perform and succeed in this league.

Hayes emphasized multiple times that finding comfort is of utmost importance to him, and he remains assured that he will discover it in Pittsburgh.

There’s the core three of centers Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, and defenseman Kris Letang, who have played together since 2007-08 and won the Stanley Cup three times (2009, 2016, 2017). Mike Sullivan has been coach since Dec. 12, 2015.

After spending nine seasons with the Rangers and Flyers in the Metropolitan Division, Hayes expressed his enthusiasm for returning to play in that division.

Hayes reflected, “It’s quite amusing how the two teams I was a part of in the Metro have become significant rivals with Pittsburgh. Consequently, there was always a subtle animosity present when competing against these teams. However, the tables have turned, and now I find myself harboring a sense of disdain towards the other teams.”