Utah Matches New Jersey's Offer, Retains Barrett Hayton

The Utah Mammoth have retained 26-year-old Canadian forward Barrett Hayton by matching an offer sheet from the New Jersey Devils. Hayton, a restricted free agent, had just completed a two-year contract worth an average of $2.65 million per season. After the Devils extended an offer, Utah exercised its right to match, signing Hayton to a one-year deal worth $4.775 million.

"Barrett is an important part of what we're building here in Utah," said General Manager Bill Armstrong. "He's strong at faceoffs, plays well on both sides of the puck, and can play with any of our forwards. We are glad to rely on Barrett again next season."

In the 2024-25 regular season, Hayton recorded 25 points (10 goals, 15 assists) in 67 games, along with 54 penalty minutes and a plus-3 rating. Due to an injury, he played only one game in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Hayton was drafted fifth overall in 2018.

Utah finished seventh in the Western Conference with 92 points in 82 games, losing to the Vegas Golden Knights 2-4 in the first round. The Devils, with 87 points, placed 13th in the Eastern Conference.