Mammoth’s Barrett Hayton files for arbitration

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Mammoth’s Barrett Hayton files for arbitration

Originally posted on NHL on ClutchPoints
By Michael Whitaker, ClutchPoints | Last updated Jun 29, 2026 10:51 PM ET

Over the years, there have been waves of players in the NHL who have elected to file for salary arbitration, and the first such case for this offseason has been made public.

The first player to file for salary arbitration this offseason is Utah Mammoth forward Barrett Hayton, who was originally selected in the first round (fifth overall pick) of the 2018 NHL Draft while the franchise was still known as the Arizona Coyotes prior to their relocation to Salt Lake City in 2024.

Hayton, a pending restricted free agent, is no longer eligible to receive an offer sheet from an opposing NHL club now that he’s filed for salary arbitration.

The 1st player to file for arbitration this year is #TusksUp F Barrett Hayton.

By filing for arbitration, he is now no longer eligible to receive an offer sheet.https://t.co/hi0sFJkIAD

— PuckPedia (@PuckPedia) June 30, 2026

Born in Peterborough, Ontario, Hayton’s potential was on display as a youngster when he was selected ninth overall in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL’s) 2016 Priority Selection draft by the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. With 60 points in 63 games during the 2017-18 season, he won the Bobby Smith Trophy as the OHL’s Scholastic Player of the Year.

Taken by the Coyotes in the 2018 NHL Draft, he would play one more year with Sault Ste. Marie before getting action with both the Coyotes and their American Hockey League affiliate, the Tucson Roadrunners, in 2019-20. He’d eventually become a regular in the NHL in 2022-23, appearing in all 82 games with Arizona and scoring 19 goals with 24 assists.

He would set new career-highs with 20 goals and 26 assists in 2024-25, Utah’s first campaign since relocation. He’s coming off a two-year contract with a salary cap hit of $2,650,000.

In 358 career NHL games, Hayton has scored 65 goals with 90 assists for 155 points.

This article first appeared on NHL on ClutchPoints and was syndicated with permission.

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