Blues Make Moves: Trade for Hayes, Release Brown and Samorukov

Blues Acquire Hayes for a Draft Pick

After a long 72 hours of rumor and speculation, the St. Louis Blues and Philadelphia Flyers finalized the trade sending slightly disgruntled Kevin Hayes to the Note for a 2024 6th-round pick. The Flyers will also pay half of Hayes’ $7.1 million salary over the next three years.

At first glance, this is a big win for GM Doug Armstrong and the Blues. Only now they have their own unhappy defenseman, Torey Krug.

Krug, who came to the Blues in 2022 as a free agent after fan favorite and captain Alex Pietrangelo left to join the Vegas Golden Knights, was rumored to be part of the initial trade talks between the two teams.

According to numerous sources and tweets, Krug, who signed a six-year deal with a 6.5 million dollar AAV, with a full no-trade clause, invoked said clause. Over the weekend, it appears that Krug may have removed any mention of the Blues from his socials.

While Hayes comes to St. Louis as a low-risk option, the dissension in the locker room may be the cost. St Louis could still move Krug between now and the start of the season on October 12th. However, the deal could easily mirror the one they just made. With GM Armstrong retaining half of his salary for the next four years.

Blues Non-tender Brown and Samorukov

St Louis did not tender a contract to Logan Brown F, the son of former Blues defenseman Jeff Brown, making him an unrestricted free agent (UFA). Brown arrived in the Gateway to the West via a trade with the Ottawa Senators in September 2021.

In his two seasons with the Blues, Brown played in 69 games netting 17 points (6G, 11A) and a minus-17 rating. Poised for a breakout year, Brown showed high potential during the 2022 preseason, however, an injury set him back and he could not recover that promise during the season as he dressed for just 30 games and was placed on IR three times.

The Blues acquired Dmitri Samorukov from the Edmonton Oilers for Klim Kostin at the start of the 2022-23 season. He spent most of it with the Springfield Thunderbirds, playing in 69 contests and logging 20 points (4G,16A). He appeared in just two games with the Blues, logging no points and one penalty. Following the season, St. Louis did not offer him a contract, making him a UFA.

2023-24 Scheduled Announced.

The NHL released their schedule for the 2023-24 and the St. Louis Blues will open the season in Dallas on October 12. St. Louis’ home opener will follow on October 14th against the Seatle Kraken.

Guy Bensing

@bluenotereport

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