Overview
- The New Jersey Devils formally tendered the one-year, $4.775 million offer sheet to Barrett Hayton on Wednesday, starting a seven-day window for the Utah Mammoth to match or decline.
- Utah’s club‑elected arbitration filing left Hayton eligible for an offer sheet, a technical detail reporters say opened the door for New Jersey’s move.
- If Utah matches the contract they cannot trade Hayton for a full calendar year and he will be an unrestricted free agent next July, which could leave the Mammoth paying roughly $4.8 million for a player they might lose for nothing.
- The Devils made a low‑asset bet to add middle‑six center depth because the worst outcome for them is surrendering a single 2027 second‑round pick if Utah declines to match.
- Offer sheets are rare in the modern NHL and observers note this play could strain relations between front offices while putting pressure on Utah’s roster and cap choices after recent signings and a trade for Vincent Trocheck.