First and foremost, screw Backup College. Their hockey program is a dwarf compared to the Irish juggernaut headed by the glorious Coach Jackson, and Bryan Rust is twice the man that Kevin Hayes will ever be.

That being said...

We would be absolute fools not to pursue this kid. He is a projected top 6 talent with a good frame (do we even have one of those in our pipeline?), and his season this past year was electric. I mean, some of that is obviously due to being on a ridiculous line with that screw ball Johnny Gaurdeau, but still. It takes skill to produce at the level he did regardless of who you're skating with.

Unfortunately, I was at the Frozen Fenway game where ND and BC faced off against each other outdoors, and I can tell you first hand that his line tore it up. Sure , that first line accounted for 3 points (2 A for Hayes) against an Irish team that always comes looking for blood when they play the Eagles, but that doesn't tell the whole story. The Eagles were dominant the entire night and possessed the puck the majority of the time, and a good portion of that was due to the first line. That first line was absolutely lethal and generated good chance after good chance. If it wasn't for Summerhayes standing on his head (and strategically kicking the net off the pins like four times) I guarantee more of those chances would have been buried and Hayes' stat line would have been even better in a very high profile, high pressure game.

Of course the real story from Frozen Fenway is Bryan Rust's two points (1 A and 1 super clutch G), but that's a story for a different time.

The point is, kid's got talent, has a good build, he can play in high profile games, and knows how to be a team player and has experience skating alongside his league's best (Gaudreau), which is a situation he'd probably be inserted in again if he were a Pen. That's probably his biggest plus. He's been there before: with the best and in a winning environment. Considering we have a terrible pipeline, on the off chance he does not sign with Chitown, we better damn well pursue this kid hard.

EDIT: Oh yeah. Forgot to end the post with this.

#CawlidgeHawky

So what is the deal with Hayes? Is it that the Blackhawks have too much forward depth and can't find room for him? Does the kid have attitude problems?

So what is the deal with Hayes? Is it that the Blackhawks have too much forward depth and can't find room for him? Does the kid have attitude problems?
- Pelle31Forever

Well I think Ryan makes a good point. Its not so much that the Hawks don't have room for him (seldom do you not have room for prospects) its more so that Hayes may want a better shot at rising through the pipeline. The Hawks have so many forward prospects and young forwards that its gonna be tough for Hayes to compete for a spot. At least much tougher than on, say, the Pens where we have no forward prospects that project to be top 6 material (calm down that was hyperbole. I know we drafted Kapanen).

As far as tude problems, I haven't heard of any and see no reason to suspect it. BC runs a tight ship. I don't expect he would have been as successful in that organization if he had a tude. In fact, can someone refresh my memory over whether or not Hayes was the captain this past year?

So what is the deal with Hayes? Is it that the Blackhawks have too much forward depth and can't find room for him? Does the kid have attitude problems?
- Pelle31Forever

He wants to play now I guess and hawks must be pretty deep on the wing

Any rumors on the Pens GM heading to Russia to meet with Malkin?

Any rumors on the Pens GM heading to Russia to meet with Malkin?
- Danformo

Mike Johnston said he was going over to meet with Malkin in Moscow, not sure if Rutherford was going too.

Mike Johnston said he was going over to meet with Malkin in Moscow, not sure if Rutherford was going too.
- rival22

Rutherford isn't going

Mike Johnston said he was going over to meet with Malkin in Moscow, not sure if Rutherford was going too.
- rival22

Hopefully everything is ok. Don't want any more talented Russians jumping ship, bad for the league

Anyone see the HUGE news today? Rossi no longer reporting on the Pens.

http://blog.triblive.com/...tisfaction/#axzz38FFIIC9y

Anyone see the HUGE news today? Rossi no longer reporting on the Pens.

http://blog.triblive.com/...tisfaction/#axzz38FFIIC9y
- thickman1178

He will still be writing about the Penguins. Personally I think he is better suited for columnist work.

Hopefully everything is ok. Don't want any more talented Russians jumping ship, bad for the league
- Danformo

Just a "get to know" meeting between a star player and a new coach.

Just a "get to know" meeting between a star player and a new coach.
- rival22

So... Vodka will be involved?

Just a "get to know" meeting between a star player and a new coach.
- rival22

Interesting.....It was that urgent, couldn't wait until end of August or Sept when training camp starts?

Interesting.....It was that urgent, couldn't wait until end of August or Sept when training camp starts?
- sammy87

It's a nice gesture.

It's a nice gesture.
- Ryan_Wilson

It's a smart move.

Interesting.....It was that urgent, couldn't wait until end of August or Sept when training camp starts?
- sammy87

He went and had lunch with Crosby last week.

It's a smart move.
- powerhouse

so long as he doesn't fly over ukraine.

so long as he doesn't fly over ukraine.
- ChrisMS

My friend is flying to Dubai for business. They are not flying over Ukraine, he will however have to fly over Iraq and Syria...

My friend is flying to Dubai for business. They are not flying over Ukraine, he will however have to fly over Iraq and Syria...
- Ryan_Wilson

Friendly part of the world these days.. Well, pretty much since the dawn of civilization.

Interesting.....It was that urgent, couldn't wait until end of August or Sept when training camp starts?
- sammy87

He should have went earlier, maybe he could have gotten a fishing trip out of it.

My friend is flying to Dubai for business. They are not flying over Ukraine, he will however have to fly over Iraq and Syria...
- Ryan_Wilson

There is no surface to air threat over Iraq or Syria.

Hey you know what a nice gesture is, supplying rebels of the country you partially annexed SA-11 missiles.

First and foremost, screw Backup College. Their hockey program is a dwarf compared to the Irish juggernaut headed by the glorious Coach Jackson, and Bryan Rust is twice the man that Kevin Hayes will ever be.

That being said...

We would be absolute fools not to pursue this kid. He is a projected top 6 talent with a good frame (do we even have one of those in our pipeline?), and his season this past year was electric. I mean, some of that is obviously due to being on a ridiculous line with that screw ball Johnny Gaurdeau, but still. It takes skill to produce at the level he did regardless of who you're skating with.

Unfortunately, I was at the Frozen Fenway game where ND and BC faced off against each other outdoors, and I can tell you first hand that his line tore it up. Sure , that first line accounted for 3 points (2 A for Hayes) against an Irish team that always comes looking for blood when they play the Eagles, but that doesn't tell the whole story. The Eagles were dominant the entire night and possessed the puck the majority of the time, and a good portion of that was due to the first line. That first line was absolutely lethal and generated good chance after good chance. If it wasn't for Summerhayes standing on his head (and strategically kicking the net off the pins like four times) I guarantee more of those chances would have been buried and Hayes' stat line would have been even better in a very high profile, high pressure game.

Of course the real story from Frozen Fenway is Bryan Rust's two points (1 A and 1 super clutch G), but that's a story for a different time.

The point is, kid's got talent, has a good build, he can play in high profile games, and knows how to be a team player and has experience skating alongside his league's best (Gaudreau), which is a situation he'd probably be inserted in again if he were a Pen. That's probably his biggest plus. He's been there before: with the best and in a winning environment. Considering we have a terrible pipeline, on the off chance he does not sign with Chitown, we better damn well pursue this kid hard.

EDIT: Oh yeah. Forgot to end the post with this.

#CawlidgeHawky
- Victoro311

I might be sensing just a tinyyy bit of sarcasm haha. #InRustWeTrust

Im all for Kevin Hayes. I think he may need a year in the AHL thought and it seems like he want to go straight to the NHL. I guess we will see. I don't know if he's physical at all but with that frame he could probably ease his way in with the Pens without jumping into the top 6.

If Sutter turned down four years at 3.5, what's next? How is this a recoverable negotiation if he's turned down four offers? Seems like the majority here don't care for him that much anymore either. The pieces are in place to replace him, so without waiting what happens with him?
- Topshelf Mountain

I agree. At this point he's being a bit too greedy for to say he's just trying to get his market value. I think it makes sense to see his trade value...hes replaceable, might be too expensive, etc....but how much value does he have if he's not under contract?

I might be sensing just a tinyyy bit of sarcasm haha. #InRustWeTrust

Im all for Kevin Hayes. I think he may need a year in the AHL thought and it seems like he want to go straight to the NHL. I guess we will see. I don't know if he's physical at all but with that frame he could probably ease his way in with the Pens without jumping into the top 6.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Hey man. Gotta rep my boy. You know, this year I'm actually living in the house that the ND hockey team lived in last year, so I like to tell everyone that Rust banged a chick in my room. Its my claim to fame, so I have a lot riding on him making the Pens' roster in a few years

Anyways, I wouldn't be so sure about Hayes not being able to make our roster at some point this year. He was one of #CawlidgeHawkey's finest last year, and he's had four full years in BC's top notch hockey program in a rigorous hockey east conference. That may not be as impressive as the beloved OHL to some, but its definitely no cake walk. The Hockey East may be the most stacked single sport conference in all of NCAA sports except for maybe the SEC in football or the ACC in Tennis.

I think, if he were to sign with the Pens, it wouldn't be unrealistic that he'd spend half the season in WBS, get called up for an injury (looking at you, Beau), and then stay on the roster kinda like what Gibbons did this past season.

I'm a big fan of Hayes. Think Rutherford should make a play to get him, if possible. He would have a chance to make an early impact a forward, especially with our depleted depth. Gadreau, Hayes and Arnold might have been the second best college hockey line I've seen.