PuckSleuthCap hit
$4.775M
4.6% of $104M cap
Term
1 yr
Through 2026-27, then UFA
Clause
None
Surplus value
+$703K
vs. $5.478M market estimate
Confirmed by the public signing announcement · source
2026-27 regular season
GP
1
Goals
0
0.0% shooting
Assists
0
0 primary
Points
0
0.00 per game
TOI/GP
13:49
PP 0:00 · PK 0:58
xGF%
93.7
5v5, +37.3 vs. last yr
Game Score
-0.71
per game, goals above average
Faceoff %
—
6 W · 3 L
Plus/minus
0
Blocks 1 · Hits 0
Game log
Last 5 games · NHL API
| Game | G | A | SOG | HIT | BLK | TOI | PP | PK | FO | OZS% | GV | TK | +/- | GS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1 vs CHI · W 6-0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 13:49 | 0:00 | 0:58 | 6-3 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -0.71 |
| Apr 29 @ VGK · OTL 5-4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 12:49 | 0:07 | 0:07 | 6-8 | 33 | 1 | 1 | -1 | -0.24 |
| Mar 24 vs EDM · L 5-2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:17 | 0:00 | 0:00 | 0-1 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | -0.01 |
| Mar 22 vs LAK · W 4-3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17:29 | 1:22 | 0:00 | 7-12 | 25 | 0 | 1 | 0 | -0.18 |
| Mar 20 vs ANA · L 4-1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 14:44 | 4:37 | 0:00 | 5-7 | 100 | 0 | 0 | -2 | -0.58 |
GS = our Game Score, goals above average. FO = faceoffs won-lost. OZS% = share of his 5v5 offensive and defensive zone faceoff starts that were in the offensive zone. GV/TK = giveaways/takeaways.
Advanced metrics
5v5 unless noted · 2025-26 · 830 min · percentile vs. NHL forwards
92nd percentile
93rd percentile
91st percentile
86th percentile
68th percentile
88th percentile
51st percentile
67th percentile
92nd percentile
73rd percentile
3rd percentile
6th percentile
22nd percentile
39th percentile
xGF% is his team's share of 5v5 expected goals while he was on the ice, from our own expected goals model; HDCF% counts only high-danger chances (xG of 0.15 or more). IPP is the share of his team's 5v5 goals while he was on the ice that he scored or assisted on. Relative stats compare him with his team when he was off the ice. Goals above expected and ixG/60 use his own shots at all strengths. PDO and OZS% describe luck and deployment, so their bars are grey.
Play styleDefensive-minded play driver
Trait percentiles vs. NHL centers · 2025-26
Hayton plays a reserved, defense-first game where he prioritizes limiting chances against over creating them. He moves well and generates decent offensive volume, but struggles to set up teammates and lacks a physical presence.
- Shooting volume
- 69
- Playmaking
- 28
- Zone entries(est.)
- 65
- Forechecking
- 26
- Physicality
- 21
- Defensive impact
- 87
- Puck management
- 60
- Speed
- 79
Where he shoots from
Slot 58% · Mid-range 29% · Perimeter 13%(171 unblocked shots)
Strengths
- Exceptional defensive impact in the 87th percentile protects his team effectively
- Top-tier speed in 79th percentile enables both transitions and positioning
- Quality shot volume in 69th percentile with concentrated slot attempts
Watch-outs
- Forechecking only at 26th percentile limits offensive pressure and puck recovery
- Playmaking at 28th percentile means he rarely creates clean chances for linemates
- Physicality at 21st percentile shows minimal engagement in battles
Similar style: Ryan Donato (CHI), Steven Stamkos (NSH)
Built from play-by-play, shift data, and NHL EDGE tracking. Zone entries is an estimate (rush chances while he is on the ice) until tracking data is added.
Where his Game Score comes from
2025-26 · 67 GP · goals above average
Season total -8.5 goals, or -0.13 per game.
- Even strength offense
- +0.7
- Even strength defense
- +1.0
- Power play
- -0.1
- Penalty kill
- +0.1
- Finishing
- -7.2
- Playmaking
- -2.4
- Penalties
- -0.9
- Faceoffs
- +0.4
Game Score adds up a player's impact in goals compared with an average player given the same ice time: his share of expected goals for and against at even strength, on the power play, and on the penalty kill, plus finishing (goals minus expected goals), primary assists, penalties drawn and taken, and faceoffs. Goalies are measured by goals saved above expected.
By season
Regular season
| Season | Team | GP | G | A | P | +/- | SOG | TOI/GP | FO% | GS/GP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | UTA | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 13:49 | — | -0.71 |
| 2025-26 | UTA | 67 | 10 | 15 | 25 | +3 | 119 | 15:07 | 52.6% | -0.13 |
| 2024-25 | UTA | 82 | 20 | 26 | 46 | -6 | 155 | 16:06 | 54.1% | -0.03 |
| 2023-24 | ARI | 33 | 3 | 7 | 10 | -13 | 66 | 17:01 | 49.8% | -0.22 |
| 2022-23 | ARI | 82 | 19 | 24 | 43 | -5 | 178 | 17:30 | 51.1% | -0.03 |
Sentiment & chatter
Fans
—
Beat writers
—
Media
—
Fan, beat writer, and media scores, the 14-day trade chatter chart, and the latest mentions appear once sentiment scoring is switched on. Mentions are already being collected.
Age curve
NHL forwards · production index
At 26, forwards typically produce 98% of their peak (age 24).
From 24 seasons of NHL results, adjusted for league scoring and save percentage in each era. Shaded bars are the seasons left on his contract.
Skating · NHL EDGE
2025-26, as of Oct 2
- Top speed
- 22.8 mph
- 76th pct
- 20+ mph bursts
- 146
- Hardest shot
- 82.8 mph
- 36th pct
- Distance
- 164.5 mi
- OZ time
- 43.8%
- 73rd pct
- DZ time
- 38.1%