Coyotes receiving trade interest in Barrett Hayton

With the Coyotes shaking up their roster so much in recent months, there are perceived to be very few untouchables on their roster.  To that end, Sportsnet’s Jeff Marek reported in a recent 32 Thoughts segment (video link) that teams are calling Arizona regarding center Barrett Hayton.

The 21-year-old was the fifth-overall selection back in 2018 but has yet to really establish himself in the NHL.  Hayton has played in 34 games with the Coyotes over his first two professional seasons, recording just three goals and four assists while logging a little more than 11 minutes a game on average.  Considering his age, it’s not entirely disappointing but it’s also safe to infer they were hoping he’d be a regular at this point.

That isn’t the case this season either as he didn’t make the team out of training camp and has started the season with Tucson of the AHL where he has been held off the scoresheet in their first two games.  Hayton spent the bulk of 2020-21 with the Roadrunners but didn’t fare particularly well offensively, collecting just six goals and four assists in 26 contests.

That has led some teams to inquire if the Coyotes would be willing to move him; Marek clarified that Arizona isn’t bringing him up for discussion nor has Hayton asked to be moved.  For the time being, it appears he’ll be sticking around but as it looks less and less like he could be a focal point of their rebuild, it stands to reason that at some point, Hayton could be made available and given how hard center help is to get, they’d still be in a position to land a notable return despite the youngster’s struggles so far.