"Sidney Crosby a blue!" "Pens will never rebuild": NHL fans react as Penguins complete trade for Kevin Hayes 

The Pittsburgh Penguins have acquired Kevin Hayes from the St. Louis Blues according to various reports. The move was finalized early Friday morning amid day two of the NHL draft, which also saw Utah acquire Mikhail Sergachev in a stunning deal that raised eyebrows around the league. In the case of the Penguins, the team also notably acquired a 2025 second-rounder as well.

In return, St. Louis will be receiving future considerations. So far, the move has drawn some pretty mixed reactions from the NHL community, with many Pittsburgh fans unsure of what the move means for the team going forward.

While Hayes has had some productive years in the past, last season saw him struggle to maintain his efficiency on defense. The 32-year-old predominantly played on the Blues' third line, where he finished the season with 13 goals.

Despite that, his defense left quite a bit to be desired as he heads into the second to last year on his 7-year $50 million deal signed prior to the 2019-20 season. While it was no secret that Pittsburgh needed to bolster their forward group, it will be interesting to see if Hayes can bounce back from last season.

After Frank Seravalli broke the news, NHL fans reacted quickly.

"wow sidney crosby a blue! nice!" - One wrote

"Caps and Pens will never rebuild" - Another added

Other fans weren't sold on the move.

"and this will make a difference in Pittsburgh how?!" - One wrote

"Getting rid of him is great for the Blues, he’s literally a boat anchor on the ice, always 5 strides out of the play." - Another added

Many seemed to indicate they believed the Blues won this trade.

"Love this for the Blues! Don’t care about the return." - One added

"They just keep getting older" - Another wrote

Looking ahead at the rest of the Pittsburgh Penguins' offseason after acquiring Kevin Hayes

After missing the playoffs last season, it's no secret that the Pittsburgh Penguins will be looking to improve this offseason. While Hayes may not turn them into Stanley Cup contenders, the move notably added a second-round pick to the team's war chest.

With night two of the draft underway, the Penguins will have several opportunities to find diamonds in the rough late in the draft. In addition to the second-round selection they made early Saturday morning, the club will make the 111th overall pick in round four, and the 175th overall pick in round five.

Last but certainly not least, the team will make the 207th pick and the 223rd pick, both of which will fall in the seventh round. The expectation is that the team will look to bolster their defense this summer, as well as their forward group.

In addition to building through the draft, the team will have some room to maneuver within the salary cap. While acquiring Hayes certainly won't free up any cap space, he adds depth to the team's forward unit and brings veteran leadership that could be a difference-maker for the team's young skaters.

With trades flying all around the league, it seems highly unlikely that the Penguins are going to be a one-and-done team this offseason. With things just starting to heat up, and the start of free agency right around the corner, it will be interesting to see how things play out.