Penguins place Kevin Hayes on injured reserve with upper-body injury
On Monday, the Pittsburgh Penguins announced that they placed forward Kevin Hayes on injured reserve with an upper-body injury.
In response, the team recalled forward Samuel Poulin from its American Hockey League affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
The Penguins have recalled forward Sam Poulin from the @WBSPenguins (AHL).
Forward Kevin Hayes has been placed on Injured Reserve. pic.twitter.com/nVGmvMsBzQ
Hayes’ injury is retroactive to Nov. 5, when he made his latest appearance in Pittsburgh’s shootout loss to the New York Islanders. The 32-year-old has missed the last two games, including the Pens’ 4-2 victory over the Washington Capitals last Friday.
Per IR rules, the earliest Hayes would be able to return to the lineup on Wednesday against the Detroit Red Wings. However, the team doesn’t seem too optimistic. While speaking to the media on Sunday, head coach Mike Sullivan revealed that Hayes would be out week-to-week.
It has not been the most glorious start to the 2024-25 season for Hayes, who returned to Pennsylvania when the Pens acquired him from the St. Louis Blues via trade back in June. He played in each of the team’s first 14 games but only scored a goal and four points over that span. His last point came as a helper on Oct. 22 in a shootout loss to the Calgary Flames.
Hayes still has one more year remaining in his seven-year contract that he signed with the Philadelphia Flyers in June 2019.
Poulin was taken 21st overall by the Penguins in the 2019 NHL Draft. However, the 23-year-old has spent most of his professional in the minors. Though he made his NHL debut during the 2022-23 campaign, Poulin has played just six games with Pittsburgh, including just three last season. So far this season in the AHL, the former Sherbrooke Phoenix captain has scored three goals and nine points in 11 games.
The Penguins (6-8-2) sit sixth in the Metropolitan Division, and are scheduled to host the Dallas Stars on Monday night.