The Utah Mammoth have made a significant move in the NHL by retaining center Barrett Hayton, matching the New Jersey Devils’ offer sheet and signing him to a one-year contract worth $4.775 million. The Devils initially tendered the offer on July 1, showing their interest in the 26-year-old player.
Understanding the Offer Sheet Process
Under the NHL’s right-of-first-refusal rules, the Utah Mammoth had a deadline to match the offer, which they successfully did by Wednesday. Had they chosen not to match the offer, the Mammoth would have received a second-round draft pick as compensation from the Devils.
Team management has emphasized Hayton’s importance to the squad, describing him as a core piece of the team. His experience, two-way play, and contributions that may not always be visible on the scoreboard add significant value as the club aims to contend for a championship. The Mammoth stated that they considered multiple scenarios before concluding that retaining Hayton was the best decision for the team’s future. Hayton expressed his enthusiasm about staying with the Mammoth and rejoining his teammates.
Last season, Hayton recorded 25 points, featuring 10 goals and 15 assists, across 67 regular-season games for Utah. Although he did not score in his lone Stanley Cup Playoff appearance, he has demonstrated his capability in the NHL. Drafted fifth overall by the Arizona Coyotes in 2018, he has accumulated a total of 155 points (65 goals and 90 assists) in 358 career regular-season games, with the Coyotes and Mammoth, and has yet to register a point in four playoff games.
Notably, Hayton was the first player to receive an offer sheet this offseason. Following his signing, the Philadelphia Flyers made headlines by extending a five-year, $90 million offer sheet to center Leo Carlsson. The Anaheim Ducks now face a decision: match the offer or accept four first-round draft picks as compensation.