New Jersey Devils offer sheet former top-five overall pick in revenge move against the Utah Mammoth
Photo credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
Tonight, the New Jersey Devils have shocked the hockey world by offer sheeting former top-five overall pick Barrett Hayton of the Utah Mammoth.
NHL free agency has started off with a bang with several teams making big moves to try and drastically improve their roster.
One of those teams has been the Utah Mammoth who signed former Islanders captain Anders Lee and also traded for Vincent Trocheck over the last few hours.
However, even bigger news has just come out of Utah as the New Jersey Devils have signed an offer sheet for former top-five pick and current second line center Barrett Hayton.
New Jersey Devils sign Barrett Hayton to an offer sheet in revenge move against Utah Mammoth
According to multiple reports, the Devils have signed Hayton to a one-year deal worth north of 4 million dollars.
The Mammoth would get a second-round pick back if they do not match this deal but the reason why the Devils even offered the contract to Hayton comes down to revenge against the Mammoth.
Even if the Mammoth do sign Hayton he could walk right to free agency after one-year still screwing over Utah in the process as well all part of the gamesmanship from the Devils at play here according to Pierre LeBrun.
According to Cam Robinson of Elite Prospects, the Devils and Mammoth had a deal in place centered around Hayton that Utah backed out of at the last moment.
With the Devils unhappy regarding Utah's last minute switch, they have now sent an offer sheet hoping to pry Hayton out of Utah anyway likely for less than what they originally offered.
With Utah's recent signings and trades the Mammoth have less than four million dollars in salary cap space which would mean they are currently unable to match the deal offered by New Jersey.
Utah will now have 10 days to clear salary cap space to try and sign Hayton or they could let him go and take the second-round selection in next year's draft instead.
As the situation plays out, it will be interesting to see if the Mammoth make bringing Hayton back a priority of if they let him walk.
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