Barrett Hayton Excited About Playing Playoff Hockey After Injury – Hockey Writers – Utah Mammoths

Barrett Hayton had to be the only person in the world who wasn’t excited to watch the Utah Mammoth vs. Vegas Golden Knights series. Despite a physical injury since March, the striker had to watch the first four exciting games from the top of the press box.

“I enjoy watching those games,” said Hayton.

Considering that, moreover, Hayton was coming off a disappointing season. Ignoring his 33-game season that was cut short in 2023-24, the pitcher had consecutive 40-plus seasons. It looks like the former fifth-round pick has finally found his footing. However, he produced only 25 points in 67 games in the contract year.

Despite being considered a game-time decision before the crucial Game 6, Hayton is determined to get out of the press box and make the most of the playoffs. That includes helping the Mammoths extend their season.

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Hayton’s final regular season game was March 24 against the Edmonton Oilers. Before Wednesday, it had been a month since he skated in a hockey game. Going straight into playoff hockey after being out for such a long time, is no easy feat.

Not to mention leading up to his final game of the regular season, Hayton wasn’t playing great hockey. He had three points in his last 10 games after a strong February. After a rough day, when it was first announced during the morning swing that he would not play, then he was listed before Game 5, Hayton focused the same way he did in March.

“I was focused,” Hayton said. “As for my game, I was just trying to play like I always do. When you come back from an injury, you try to get up to speed and all that with practice and skating throughout the process, because when you get on the ice, you’re ready to rock. Game 5 of the playoffs…I’m very focused from the right side to jump in.”

Entering the playoffs, Hayton was one of three former Arizona Coyotes players who had played in the playoffs back in 2020 (Nick Schmaltz was injured during the team’s run on the bubble). However, unlike Clayton Keller and Lawson Crouse, Hayton did not play every game.

The 2019-20 season was Hayton’s rookie year. In fact, he only played 20 games before the season was suspended. In the playoffs, he played in only three games, twice in the playoff series against the Nashville Predators and in the first round series against the Colorado Avalanche. Hayton didn’t have a single point in those three games and finished the playoffs as minus-three.

However, that doesn’t mean Hayton hasn’t played in the big games before. During his three seasons with the Soo Greyhounds, the team made the playoffs all three years. In 44 playoff games, Hayton had 39 points, 16 of which were goals. Also, he captained Team Canada at the 2020 World Juniors, where he helped his country win gold, scoring the game-tying goal in the championship game.

It’s not like Hayton wasn’t on the team. As mentioned, watch the first four games of the series near the press box.

“I’ve been watching the last four games very closely,” said Hayton. “I’ve been watching a lot of playoff hockey my whole life, so I was ready for it. I was excited to be there, and it was fun to compete with the guys.”

Hayton played about 13 minutes in Game 5. Those were the minutes he usually got in the regular season, but considering the game went into double overtime, it may not have been the ice time he wanted. However, it was his first game back, and it is clear that he is not at 100%. No one is in the playoffs.

However, Hayton wanted to go. Mainly because whoever wins Game 5 will have a chance to eliminate the other team on Friday. He wanted to come back as soon as possible, and his recovery reached a point where he was ready for Wednesday’s game.

“To be honest, I wanted to come back early, and I was lucky to get out of the last game,” said Hayton.

He finished the game as a single, but again, it was his first game in a month, and his first NHL playoff game in nearly six years. Hayton played mostly on the third line alongside Alex Kerfoot and Michael Carcone. However, he changed again in the fourth line.

“I felt like we could do everything, special teams and whatnot,” Hayton said. “You go out there with different guys, different situations. I felt like whoever we were out there, we did a good job of playing with pace, trying to play fast in the neutral zone and try to tilt the ice as much as we could.”

100 Percent Health Competition

It was clear that Mammoth was working slowly with Hayton who is not well in the game. He had the second-lowest ice time on the Mammoth and the fewest third shifts. However, head coach André Tourigny liked what he saw from the front while fully admitting that Hayton is not playing at full health.

“I liked his game,” said Tourigny. “I think he’s a well-organized guy. He plays good defense. He’s always in the right place. He competes. He didn’t hurt himself in that game. Let’s say there’s a percentage of your life, and at the level he’s at, to see if he’s comfortable playing at that level. He’s not 100% sure … but his decision.”

There is a big difference between regular season games and postseason games. In the playoffs, the game is more intense. There are many hits and defensive plays. These are two things Hayton does well. He had 34 hits and 29 blocked shots during the season, a style of play that carried him into Game 5. Although he didn’t score a lot, he did have a block. Not to mention that he also scored two goals.

Hayton brings a lot of speed, too. During the regular season, he was in the 76th percentile in the NHL in top speed, clocking in at 22.76 miles per hour (MPH). In comparison, Beck Malenstyn was number one in the league with a top speed of 24.94 MPH. It is a huge tool that Mammoth has used in the playoffs that have won them in other games.

“You can see how intense the game is,” Hayton said. “There’s not a lot of ice; you have to be able to take the pressure off, play fast. It’s different in terms of the regular season. I think at the end of the day, it’s the same game, and you have to treat it that way.”

Going into Game 6, Hayton is on a game-time decision. However, if he has anything to say about it, he will be on the ice at 8 PM, helping the Mammoth avoid elimination. Being in the press box was something Hayton has experienced a lot in his career and something he doesn’t want to know anymore, especially in the play-offs.

“It’s the worst feeling in the world watching games and not being able to go out there, compete, not be able to help the team,” Hayton said.

For hockey fans and hockey players around the world, the playoffs are the best time of the year. No one wants to miss out on playing postseason hockey. For Hayton, he’s glad he got that in Game 5, and he’s looking forward to facing it again in Game 6.

“This is the best time of the year,” Hayton said. “It was good to be back out there, competing with the guys. We’re working hard, and it’s good to be back out there.”

Game 6 may be Hayton’s last chance to impress Mammoth management enough to sign his new contract, which will be signed this summer. However, for Hayton, he hopes he and his team can do enough to get another chance to do just that with Game 7 in Las Vegas on Sunday.