Arizona Coyotes Developmental Camp

Richard Morin | The Republic | azcentral.com

Rob Schumacher/The Republic

Barrett Hayton is everything that Coyotes President of Hockey Operations and General Manager John Chayka loves in a draft prospect.

Hayton, whom the Coyotes drafted fifth overall in the NHL draft on Friday, plays a premium position (center) and plays a responsible, 200-foot game.

And while his offensive production might not be explosive, it’s the “underlying data” that placed Hayton so high on the club’s draft board.

“Everyone wants that one thing that kind of jumps off the page at you and it’s easy to see and grab onto,” Chayka said on Monday. “What makes him special is that he’s really good at everything.

“Being that playmaking center through the middle of the ice that is a dedicated 200-foot guy, that’s why those centermen that are like that are impossible to acquire.”

With the fifth overall pick, the Coyotes had options. There were players with more flashy offensive numbers and those who were ranked higher by pundits than Hayton.

{{props.notification}} {{props.tag}} {{props.expression}} {{props.linkSubscribe.text}} {{#modules.acquisition.inline}}{{/modules.acquisition.inline}} ... Our reporting. Your stories. Get unlimited digital access to exclusive content. Subscribe Now

But, as Chayka put it, “there was no reason not to take him.”

Richard Morin, azcentral sports

Making his first-ever trip to the Valley of the Sun, Hayton was introduced to the media prior to the club’s first day of prospect development camp on Monday at Gila River Arena.

“It’s amazing,” Hayton said. “Obviously flying in Sunday, mid-afternoon and kind of getting the view from the sky and the city. It’s a beautiful area and now I’m just getting into the rink and groundings of it all.

“It’s definitely been a whirlwind, especially with the quick turnaround and coming here. It’s something I’m just trying to take in stride and it’s something you dream about from a very young age.”

The Coyotes watched every one of Hayton’s games with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) last season and, in turn, got a clear view of how he plays the game – consistently.

Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

The Greyhounds were loaded with talent last season and represented the OHL in the Memorial Cup championship. Two of Hayton’s teammates, Rasmus Sandin and Mac Hollowell, were also selected in this year’s draft.

Chayka said that, despite the other highly touted prospects, Hayton was the “engine” of his team and consistently embodied everything the Coyotes were looking for over the course of the year.

“We felt like we were drafting a high-end character person,” Chayka said of Hayton. “As a 17-year-old to be used in all situations – the big face-offs, the big penalty kills, top unit power play – across the board he was really relied upon both in the room and on the ice.

“We hope he brings that to the next level. If he can, he’s a special player.”

Hayton said he leaned on teammate Morgan Frost, who was drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in the first round last year, for advice and tips for how to prepare for draft day.

Now, after a weekend flight from the draft in Dallas to development camp this week in Arizona, Hayton is just looking forward to taking the next step in his development.

“I think it’s still ongoing,” Hayton said of getting acclimated to his new reality. “Obviously it’s a pretty quick turnaround coming here and I think that’s great to come in and get the surroundings.

“They just stressed that (camp is) a learning experience. They want you to get the most out of this week. Obviously it’s a development camp, so that’s their focus. They want you to make the most of (it), just learning from the whole experience.”

Rob Schumacher/The Republic

Hayton, along with 36 other Coyotes prospects, will continue to participate in camp on Tuesday (9:00 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.) and Thursday (9:00 a.m. to 1:45 p.m.) before taking part in an intra-squad game on Friday (6 p.m.) at Gila River Arena. All events are free and open to the public.

Hayton, 18, understands that taking part in his first prospect development camp is a big step. But he also understands that there is a lot more work in store for him.

“It almost feels like you’re prepared for it; it’s a goal of yours to get into the NHL as soon as possible,” Hayton said. “It’s really just the tip of the iceberg, being drafted. I feel like it’s just an opportunity to start toward your real dream. What it really means is there’s a lot of work ahead.”

Coyotes announce new affiliate

The Coyotes on Monday announced a new one-year agreement with the Norfolk Admirals as their new ECHL affiliate.

The club has previously been affiliated with the Fort Wayne Komets in the ECHL, which is a tier below the American Hockey League (AHL). The Coyotes’ AHL affiliate is the Tucson Roadrunners.

READ MORE

View | 8 Photos

Arizona Coyotes draft party – 2018