​The Utah Mammoth locked in one of their core forwards, ensuring he won’t be departing anytime soon. A few days after the New Jersey Devils extended Barrett Hayton an offer sheet, Utah exercised its right to match the one-year, $4.775 million contract on Wednesday, guaranteeing that the 26-year-old center remains with the organization that drafted him and where he has spent his entire NHL career. “Barrett is a key piece of our team and important to what we are building here in Utah,” general manager Bill Armstrong said in a statement. “He’s strong in the face-off circle, plays both sides of the puck and can play with anyone in our forward group. We are grateful to be able to count on Barrett in our lineup next season.” Hayton himself reflected the organization’s excitement about staying with the Mammoth. “I’m fired up to get back with my teammates and remain in Utah,” he said. “I’ve been with this core group for my whole career, and it’s exciting that we have an opportunity to do something special next season in front of the best fans in the NHL.”
By exercising the right to match, Utah removed any doubt surrounding one of the club’s most versatile forwards as it continues its climb toward becoming a Western Conference contender. While Hayton’s production dipped slightly last season after a breakout year, he posted 10 goals and 15 assists for 25 points in 67 regular-season games and appeared in one playoff contest. Yet his value goes beyond the stat line. A reliable two-way center who can contribute in all situations, Hayton has become one of Utah’s most trusted forwards, particularly in faceoffs and on special teams.
The 2024-25 season stands out as the pinnacle of Hayton’s NHL tenure so far. In Utah’s inaugural campaign, he set personal bests with 20 goals, 26 assists and 46 points, while adding seven power-play goals, 15 power-play points and seven game-winning tallies. A defining moment from that season came on February 22, 2025, when he delivered the franchise’s first hat trick against the Los Angeles Kings. Earlier that year, he was named the NHL’s Third Star of the Week after scoring game-winning goals in back-to-back contests—the first time he accomplished that feat in his career.
Since breaking into the NHL with the Arizona Coyotes during the 2019-20 season, Hayton has appeared in 358 regular-season games for Arizona and Utah, registering 65 goals and 155 points. The former fifth-overall pick in the 2018 NHL Draft has steadily evolved into a reliable top-six forward after overcoming injuries early in his career. His impact extends beyond the NHL as well. Hayton captained Team Canada to a gold medal at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship, tying for the tournament lead with 12 points in seven games and earning a spot on the event’s All-Star Team. He also represented Canada at the 2025 IIHF World Championship.
By matching New Jersey’s offer sheet, Utah strengthens its roster and improves its SEO profile with a clear message to fans and analysts alike: Barrett Hayton will remain a Mammoth and will be a central figure in the organization’s pursuit of success in the coming seasons.