Coyotes take center Hayton at No. 5
Prospect tallied 60 points last season in the OHL
The Coyotes selected center Barrett Hayton with the fifth overall pick in Friday’s NHL draft in Dallas.
Entering the draft as the 11th ranked prospect in the draft, according to TSN’s Bob McKenzie, and the second-ranked center, Hayton is regarded as a two-way center who totaled 60 points (21 goals, 39 assists) in 63 regular-season games with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL).
“I can’t lie,” Hayton told reporters shortly after being drafted. “This was the organization I wanted to go to most. ... It’s a dream come true, for sure.”
Hayton also tallied 21 points (eight goals, 13 assists) in 24 playoff games with the Greyhounds this season. He was awarded the Bobby Smith Trophy, given annually to the OHL’s scholastic player of the year, for the 2017-18 season.
Before Hayton, the Coyotes had not spent a first-round pick on a center since drafting Dylan Strome third over-
all in 2015. Strome was also drafted out of the OHL.
“I got a great feel from Arizona through the interview process, so I knew there was a chance,” Hayton said. “I feel they have an amazing future ahead.”
The selection of Hayton, the first Canadian player taken in the draft, yielded surprise from many due to the fact that Czechborn winger Filip Zadina – who was ranked by many as the third-best player in the class – was available to the Coyotes at No. 5.
Zadina, who played in the QMJHL for the Halifax Mooseheads, tallied 82 points in just 57 games this past season and was selected sixth overall by the Detroit Red Wings after the Coyotes sided with Hayton.
It may have been Hayton’s position that won the Coyotes over.
“He’s a premium person, premium player, playing a premium position,” said Coyotes President of Hockey Operations and General Manager John Chayka after the first round.
“This draft, that’s what it’s about, getting those types of people. He’s a foundational piece for us.”
Hayton, who will likely return to the Greyhounds next season, seemed to agree.
“Yeah, I feel my ability to play a complete game, my versatility in all the different situations was, well, it’s a big part of the player I am,” Hayton said. “And I think teams value that.”
Chayka said Hayton was the player they had been actively targeting with the pick and, despite his composite ranking being below their No. 5 selection, the Coyotes felt as though there was a significant chance of losing out on Hayton if they traded down.
“When he was there, we were taking the pick,” said Chayka, who added that he’s been locked in on Hayton since Christmas and watched each one of his games. “You always want to maximize the asset, but you want to walk out with the guy you think you can build your team around. And I think he’s one of those guys.”
Although Chayka said Hayton still has some physical maturing to do before he could potentially impact the NHL game – such a thing is true for most players who hear their name called on draft night – he did not give a timetable on when Hayton could make the jump to Glendale.
Regardless, Hayton feels similarly and understands he has some improvements to make in order to mold himself into the player he wants to be.
“Just getting more explosive,” Hayton said regarding his area for improvement. “Also, with the way the game’s being played, playing with a higher pace. You see the NHL style now, especially in the playoffs, the pace is so high.
“So, it’s just training my mind to just constantly play at that high pace.”
Swedish defenseman Rasmus Dahlin was selected first overall by the Buffalo Sabres and Russian-born winger Andrei Svechnikov went No. 2 to the Carolina Hurricanes. Finnish center Jesperi Kotkaniemi went third to the Montreal Canadiens.
Forward Brady Tkachuk, who is the youngest son of former Coyotes captain Keith Tkachuk, was selected fourth overall by the Ottawa Senators. Brady was born in Scottsdale while his father served as captain of the Phoenix Coyotes from 1997 to 2000.
Brady’s older brother, Matthew, who was also born in Scottsdale, was the sixth overall pick in 2016 by the Calgary Flames and has played the last two seasons there.