The Vancouver Canucks find themselves in a tough spot. The devastating injury to center Filip Chytil has suddenly created the need for another center in the team’s depth chart.
Chytil was on the receiving end of a crushing hit from Tom Wilson on Sunday during the Canucks-Capitals tilt.
Wilson leveled Chytil, leading to the team placing the 26-year-old center on IR. While the official word is an “upper-body” injury, the suspected ailment is a concussion. The club has not confirmed the official injury. However, given Chytil’s injury history, it’s a definite concern.
So, that leaves Vancouver looking for an immediate replacement. Such a replacement could come from Pittsburgh Penguins veteran center Kevin Hayes.
Hayes has slid down the Penguins’ depth chart over the years. He’s now a fixture in the Penguins’ bottom six, leading to speculation about a potential trade. While Hayes’ best days are likely behind him, he could be a decent stopgap solution for the Canucks.
Here’s what a potential trade could look like:
Canucks get:
Kevin Hayes, F
Penguins get:
2026 fourth-round pick
Guillaume Brisebois, D
The two pieces in exchange for Hayes are a sign of the Penguins’ preying on the Canucks’ need for forward depth. The fourth-rounder is much more than the Penguins could hope to get for Hayes on the open market. Meanwhile, getting Brisebois is naught more than bolstering depth at the AHL level. But Brisebois could fill in for Pittsburgh, considering the Pens are trending toward a rebuild.
Hayes Solves Immediate Need, Provides Depth Moving Forward
Adding Kevin Hayes solves an immediate need for the Vancouver Canucks. While Hayes wouldn’t likely make the top 12 in a contending team, Vancouver is desperate enough to give him a shot.
Hayes brings experience, something the current Vancouver center corps lacks. Aatu Raty and Nils Aman, while talented young players, won’t be the full-time solution for the Canucks this season.
That’s where Hayes becomes an all-important insurance policy at this point. He can step into the 2C role while Chytil recovers. The Canucks can rest assured they won’t be overwhelming their younger forwards.
Additionally, Hayes provides flexibility. Even if coach Adam Foote wanted to go with Raty as the 2C and Hayes as the 3C, he could always move Hayes up in case Raty needs to slide down the lineup.
That flexibility is something that would also come in handy once Chytil returns to the lineup.
Hayes Can Slide Down Canucks Depth Chart as Needed
So, what happens when Chytil comes back into the Canucks’ lineup?
The solution is evident. Hayes can slide down the depth chart as needed. In particular, Hayes can take over the 3C or 4C depending on the club’s specific needs.
Given Raty’s presence in the lineup, Hayes could team up with former teammate Drew O’Connor on the team’s fourth line. That would make for an interesting depth punch moving forward.
As the Canucks get injured players back into the lineup, having Hayes around would give the team a solid fourth-line option. The team is much deeper when running at full strength. In the meantime, Vancouver will need to find a stopgap solution given their current lack of depth down the middle.
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