Every NHL team has that one player who you can’t help but think will enjoy a breakout campaign, and for the Utah Hockey Club, it might just be Barrett Hayton. Hayton, who will be entering his age-24 season, has put up some decent campaigns with the former Arizona Coyotes, starting in what was nearly a full season in 2021-22.
That year, Hayton played in 60 contests, recording 24 points, 10 goals, and 16:07 of average total ice time. In what was essentially his first full season in the NHL, Hayton also fared well in the faceoff circle, winning 415 and 48.1 percent of his draws.
The trend continued in 2022-23, when Hayton appeared in all 82 games for the first time in his career, finishing with 19 goals and 43 points. He also took part in over 1,200 faceoffs, winning 628 and 51.1 percent of them.
Barrett Hayton could enjoy a renaissance with the Utah Hockey Club
Injuries derailed his 2023-24 campaign, negating what might have otherwise been a breakout season for Barrett Hayton. He saw time in just 33 contests, putting up 10 points and three goals with just a 4.5 shooting percentage. Hayton also took a step back in the faceoff circle, winning 208 faceoffs and losing 210 of them, good for just a 49.8 win percentage.
That said, Hayton still played top-six minutes for Arizona last season, and his career average total ice time sits at 16:01. He’s also proven to be a somewhat physical player, logging over one hit per game in 2021-22 and 2022-23, respectively, even if that aspect of his playing style further regressed last season.
But he’s still young enough for what should be an upstart team like Utah to have enough faith in Hayton to play him in the top-six this year. If he regains the form he enjoyed in 2022-23, look for what should have been a breakout year in what was the Coyotes final season in the desert instead take place in 2024-25, during the Utah Hockey Club’s first year in Salt Lake City.