Barrett Hayton Bio
Barrett Hayton (born June 9, 2000) is a Canadian ice hockey player who plays centre for the Utah Mammoth of the National Hockey League (NHL). A former fifth overall pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, he spent his early professional years with the Arizona Coyotes before the franchise was relocated and rebranded. Known for his two-way play and faceoff work, Hayton has developed into a dependable middle-six centre since breaking into the league in 2019.
Standing 185 cm tall and weighing roughly 86 kg, Hayton has built his game around a responsible defensive approach combined with growing offensive contributions. After several seasons of steady development interrupted by injuries, he signed a new contract with the Utah organization in 2024 and continues to be viewed as a key piece of the franchise’s young core.
Early Life and Background
Barrett Hayton was born on June 9, 2000, in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada. He grew up in a hockey household in the Peterborough region and first played minor hockey with the local Peterborough Petes organization. As a young player, he also skated for the Toronto Red Wings organization in the Greater Toronto Hockey League, where he scored 73 points in 59 games as a 15-year-old and quickly drew attention from major junior scouts.
Hayton later attended Upper Canada College, where he played for the school’s hockey team from 2015 to 2016. His early offensive promise and strong skating made him a top prospect in his age group. Off the ice, Hayton comes from a family with deep hockey roots, as his father Brian played defence in the Ontario Hockey League during the late 1980s.
Path to Professional Hockey
Hayton’s standout season with the Toronto Red Wings led to his selection ninth overall by the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in the Ontario Hockey League’s 2016 Priority Selection draft. He agreed to terms with the Greyhounds on June 17, 2016, and began his major junior career the following season. In his rookie OHL campaign, he posted 27 points in 63 games while gradually adjusting to the pace of major junior hockey.
The following season, Hayton’s development accelerated as he reached near point-per-game production with 60 points in 63 games. His combination of offensive skill and academic achievement earned him the Bobby Smith Trophy as the OHL’s Scholastic Player of the Year. He was also ranked among the top North American skaters by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau, setting the stage for his high selection in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft.
Barrett Hayton Career
Junior and Draft Years (2016–2019)
Hayton played two full seasons with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, serving as team captain in his final junior year. On the international stage, he represented Canada at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, where he led the team in goals scored, and later skated for Canada’s under-20 squad at the 2019 IIHF World U20 Championship. On June 22, 2018, the Arizona Coyotes selected him fifth overall in the NHL Entry Draft, and he signed a three-year entry-level contract on July 6, 2018.
Hayton began the 2018–19 season with the Coyotes but was reassigned to the Greyhounds after being scratched for the team’s first two games. He returned to juniors, resumed his role as captain, and continued to refine his game before rejoining the Coyotes for training camp the following fall.
NHL Debut and Development (2019–2021)
Hayton made his NHL debut on October 10, 2019, against the Vegas Golden Knights, recording his first NHL point with a secondary assist. Six days later, on October 25, 2019, he scored his first NHL goal against the New Jersey Devils, with the marker standing as the game-winning tally. Later that season, he was loaned to Canada’s under-20 world junior team for the 2020 IIHF World U20 Championship in the Czech Republic, where he was named captain and helped Canada capture gold.
During the same campaign, Hayton also suited up for the Tucson Roadrunners of the American Hockey League on a conditioning assignment and appeared in the Coyotes’ playoff games against the Nashville Predators and Colorado Avalanche. In October 2020, he was loaned to Finnish Liiga club Ilves, where he registered four assists in eight appearances before returning to North America.
Arizona Breakthrough (2021–2024)
Hayton split the 2021–22 season between the Roadrunners and the Coyotes, undergoing wrist surgery in January 2022 before returning to the NHL lineup in February. On September 20, 2022, he signed a two-year, $3.55 million contract with the Coyotes and played the entire 2022–23 regular season, recording career highs of 19 goals, 24 assists, 43 points, and 42 penalty minutes while centering a line with Clayton Keller and Nick Schmaltz.
The following season proved more challenging. Hayton suffered an upper-body injury against the Columbus Blue Jackets on November 16, 2023, and later sustained a lower-body injury in mid-March that ended his campaign. He was limited to 10 points in 33 games during the injury-riddled 2023–24 season.
Utah Mammoth Era (2024–Present)
Shortly after the 2023–24 season ended, the Coyotes’ franchise was suspended and its hockey operations were transferred to the expansion Utah Hockey Club. As a restricted free agent, Hayton signed a two-year contract with the Utah organization on July 8, 2024. The franchise later rebranded as the Utah Mammoth beginning with the following season, making Hayton part of the team’s foundational roster.
Driving Style and Strengths
Hayton is recognized as a responsible two-way centre with strong faceoff ability and a dependable defensive presence. His skating, hockey sense, and willingness to play in all situations have made him a trusted middle-six option. Working alongside linemates such as Clayton Keller and Nick Schmaltz has allowed him to contribute offensively while maintaining his defensive responsibilities.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the highlights of Hayton’s career are his fifth-overall selection in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, his game-winning NHL debut goal against the New Jersey Devils in 2019, and his captaincy of Canada’s gold medal-winning team at the 2020 World Junior Championship. He has also played a full 82-game NHL season and posted career-high offensive totals with the Coyotes in 2022–23.
Barrett Hayton Career Wins
Across his junior, international, and professional career, Barrett Hayton has earned recognition through awards, championships, and individual milestones rather than through a long list of playoff series victories. His most prominent win came at the 2020 IIHF World U20 Championship, where Canada captured gold and he was named to the Media All-Star Team.
Ontario Hockey League Highlights
Hayton was selected ninth overall by the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in the 2016 OHL Priority Selection and went on to become team captain. In 2017–18, he won the Bobby Smith Trophy as the OHL’s Scholastic Player of the Year after recording 60 points in 63 games.
Other Wins and Performances
Internationally, Hayton led Canada in goals at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament and played a leading role at two World Junior Championships, including a gold-medal-winning performance in 2020 where he tied the final against Russia in the third period. He also represented Canada at the 2019 World Juniors, where the team finished sixth.
Barrett Hayton Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Hayton’s father, Brian Hayton, played defence for the Guelph Platers from 1985 to 1988 and the Peterborough Petes from 1988 to 1989. After a brief professional stint in the American Hockey League, Brian transitioned into coaching with the Kitchener Rangers of the OHL before settling into a teaching role at Norwood District High School, near Peterborough.
Personal Life
Barrett Hayton grew up in the Peterborough area of Ontario, the same region where his father played and later coached. His hockey-focused upbringing helped shape his path to the professional game. He continues to be active on social media, where fans can follow his career through his official Instagram account.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 season, Barrett Hayton is expected to play a key middle-six role for the Utah Mammoth in the franchise’s first full season under its new identity. After an injury-limited 2023–24 campaign, he enters 2025 looking to recapture the form that produced his career-best 43-point season in 2022–23. A return to health and consistent ice time would mark an important step in his continued development.
Utah’s growing young core, including Hayton, will be central to the team’s efforts to establish itself as a competitive expansion franchise. With a multi-year contract in place and a clear role on the roster, Hayton is positioned to be a steady contributor both at even strength and on the penalty kill. His progress through the 2025 campaign will likely influence the organization’s long-term plans at centre.