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Barrett Hayton was given a $4.775 million offer sheet by the New Jersey Devils.
The Utah Mammoth now have a very tricky decision to make on their restricted free agent center.
It's not a super common situation, either, so it's worth breaking down how this would work.
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How does Barrett Hayton's offer sheet work?
The first key is this: The Mammoth can decide to match the offer and pay Hayton $4.775 million to play for Utah in the 2026-27 NHL season.
The alternative: If Utah doesn't match, the Devils get Hayton, and they have to send a second-round pick to the Mammoth.
One key detail about offer sheets like this is if the Mammoth match the offer, they actually can't trade Hayton for the entire 2026-27 season. That would mean he leaves in free agency for nothing a year from now, versus recouping a second-round pick for him now.
The Mammoth have a week from the time of the offer sheet to decide what to do.
Their reality may have already been determined by their other moves, though. Bringing aboard Vincent Trocheck and Anders Lee in free agency solves the center position in such a way that Hayton is less important.
For New Jersey, Hayton would come to town as a player with 124 points in 264 games over the last four seasons. He's a bottom-six type center with a bit of scoring capability.
Utah might wind up being just fine without him.
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