In the 2018 NHL Draft, the Arizona Coyotes, the predecessor of the Utah Mammoth, got the 5th overall pick. The Coyotes used the pick to draft Barrett Hayton, who is now among the top centers for the Utah Mammoth. Hayton's career has been up and down, with Hayton never truly reaching his potential so far. As the offseason begins, the Mammoth have a decision to make on their former 5th pick overall.
Hayton is soon to become a free agent
This offseason, Hayton is set to become a restricted free agent. Hayton is eligible for salary arbitration, meaning he can definitely still be in Utah for the 2026-27 season. At the very least, Hayton could definitely have a one-year deal, but the Mammoth and Hayton need to determine whether or not they will commit to each other for many seasons. If Hayton wants, he could seek a small deal and seek to become a free agent after the 2026-27 season, likely seeking more money after what he would hope is a good performance next season.
Essentially, in sports, when players can't secure a big bag of money for whatever reason, they may at times seek 1-2-year deals, hoping to prove themselves over those years to secure a bigger deal. It is possible that Hayton does this. One thing is for sure, though, Hayton probably isn't securing more than 5 million a year. Meaning that both sides may look at a shorter-term deal. A long-term deal may actually benefit the Mammoth more than Hayton, considering he cannot ask for too much money, and the Mammoth aren't really willing to pay him too much either.
Is Hayton worth re-signing?
The Mammoth must also ask themselves if Hayton is even worth the money. Hayton looked like he might finally blossom into a star after the 2024-25 season, when he scored 20 goals and added 26 assists. However, in the 2025-26 season, he scored only 10 goals and added 15 assists. Hayton has shown 20+ goal potential multiple times in his career. However, Hayton is no longer a 22 or 23-year-old player; he is 26. The time for a breakout may be over. If Utah doesn't want to risk money on a center who they think may not add much, then that could make a lot of sense.
This offseason, one of the team's main goals is to trade for a good backup goalie, which is why they are interested in a Detroit Red Wings goalie. But the team must also address some of their free-agent situations, including that of a player they thought might become a star. The career of Hayton most certainly isn't over, but it seems like his potential is only falling. This offseason, the Mammoth need to do many things, but addressing Hayton will be important for the young team. Ultimately, the Mammoth and Hayton just need to decide for themselves if a deal should be reached. Even though his career so far has been disappointing, Hayton still has some potential left in the tank.
Add us as a preferred source on Google