Utah Mammoth general manager Bill Armstrong made it clear why the club moved quickly to match New Jersey’s offer sheet for Barrett Hayton.
The Devils put forward a one-year, $4.775 million deal for the restricted free agent on July 1, leaving Utah with a choice: match or take the compensation. Utah matched, even though plenty of Mammoth fans were not eager to see that happen.
Armstrong’s explanation centered on the return. In an interview with KSL Sports, Cole Bagley said the Devils “were trying to steal a player and weren't offering a lot back.” If Utah had let Hayton go, the team would have received only a second-round pick.
That wasn’t enough for Armstrong, who pointed to the odds attached to that kind of draft capital. A second-round pick has a 30% chance to play in the NHL, according to Armstrong.
“We need a player that's a proven NHL player,” Armstrong said.
The decision also reflects the reality of Utah’s roster. Matching the offer still leaves the team with roughly $4 million in salary cap room, enough to chase help elsewhere if needed. And the contract itself isn’t overwhelming for a player who can handle a lot of different jobs.
Still, Hayton’s production has not matched the billing that came with being the No. 5 overall pick in the 2018 NHL Draft. He scored 10 goals and added 15 assists in 67 games last season, down from 20 goals and 26 assists the year before.
Even with that dip, Utah clearly valued keeping a proven NHL body over gambling on a second-round selection. The Mammoth also believe their depth is among the best in the league, which made the choice easier to justify.
Whether it pays off is the part that will be answered later. Hayton is 26, and Utah is betting on the player it already has rather than the uncertainty of what a draft pick might become.
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