Will the Mammoth Regret Matching Barrett Hayton's Offer Sheet?

Barrett Hayton’s contract situation is at the center of the question raised by the Utah Mammoth after the team matched an offer sheet and kept the restricted free agent. On July 1, 2026, the New Jersey Devils extended a one-year, $4.775 million poison-pill offer. Utah General Manager Bill Armstrong matched it eight days later, making Hayton the seventh-highest-paid player on the Mammoth this season. Armstrong said the team sees fit beyond what outsiders may understand, citing contributions known to coaches and within the club’s structure. Hayton, drafted fifth overall, posted a career-high 46 points in 2024-25 with 20 goals and 26 assists, including seven power-play goals. However, 2025-26 fell to 25 points (10 goals, 15 assists), with an upper-body injury near season end costing him most of the playoffs. Upcoming raises and future free agents could intensify roster pressure for Utah.