Both center Barrett Hayton and winger Matias Maccelli did not return to the Arizona Coyotes’ game on Thursday night against the Columbus Blue Jackets with upper-body injuries.
Hayton, 23, suffered his injury early in the second period of the game. What specifically caused the injury is not known, but he did appear to be grimacing after scoring his goal to tie the game in the first period. He had just the goal and three shots in 7:57 of ice time as the Coyotes went on to to win 3-2.
Hayton had been off to a slow start to the season, with just a goal and two assists for three points in 15 games heading into Thursday’s game. He’s also been a very effective penalty drawer, with 63 drawn penalties and a +28 penalty differential since 2020 that’s tied for 23rd in the league.
Hayton was the fifth-overall pick for the Coyotes in the 2018 NHL Draft, and is currently in the final year of a two-year contract with a $1.775M cap hit, which will make him a restricted free agent with arbitration rights in the offseason.
Maccelli, 23, suffered his injury midway through the second period after taking a puck to the face and lost several teeth. Unless it caused more damage than that, he likely only missed the rest of the game as a precaution and won’t be out too long. He finished the game with just a shot attempt and two giveaways in 6:04 of ice time.
Maccelli has built off his strong rookie season with two goals and nine assists for 11 points in 15 games before Thursday’s game. He finished last season with 11 goals and 38 assists for 49 points in 64 games, and was fourth in Calder Trophy voting, even getting two first place votes.
Maccelli was a fourth-round pick for the Coyotes in the 2019 NHL Draft, and is in the first year of a three-year contract with a $3.425M cap hit that he signed in the 2023 offseason.
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