Chayka on Hayton: 'There's Not a Hole in His Game'

DALLAS --The Coyotes selected
Barrett Hayton
, a left-handed shooting center, with the fifth overall pick at the 2018 NHL Draft on Friday night at American Airlines Center.
"It's unbelievable," Hayton said after the draft. "It's very tough to put into words at this point. Really all I can say is it's a dream come true ... My mom and my dad and my sister are here. So it's a special event for me, for sure, and I'm just very excited to be able to celebrate with them with all they have done for me over the years."

Hayton said he is thrilled Arizona picked him.
"I got a great feel from Arizona through the interview process, so I knew there was a chance," Hayton said. "When I heard my name called, it was unbelievable ... I feel they have an amazing future ahead."

Hayton, 18, first turned heads at the 2017 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup in the Czech Republic and Slovakia last summer, where he played on the top line and notched three goals and three assists for Team Canada, which won the tournament. He then cemented his spot as a top-five NHL Draft pick by playing center on the second line for a very deep and talented Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, which led the Ontario Hockey League in 2017-18 with 116 points.
"He's a premium person, premium player, playing a premium position," Coyotes General Manager John Chayka said. "This draft, that's what it's about, getting those types of people. He's a foundational piece for us. We think he's a complete, 200-foot center and he does so many things well ... He's a natural center. He plays through the middle of the ice. He breaks pucks out. He contributes on the offensive side of the puck and makes a lot of plays ... There's not a hole in his game. It's tough to find those types of guys."

Hayton played key roles for the Greyhounds in all situations, and produced 60 points (21 goals, 39 assists) in 63 regular-season games last season. That total is a 33-point jump from his rookie season when he notched just 27 points (nine goals, 18 assists) also in 63 games. Hayton also chipped in eight goals and 13 assists in 24 playoff games last season, and helped the Greyhounds reach the OHL championship series. He is expected to return to Sault Ste. Marie for a third season in 2018-19.

"I can't thank the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds organization enough," Hayton said. "The development path and the group they have there and the players I've had the opportunity to play with. Just thinking of names, Colton White, he was a tremendous mentor for me in my first year, Bobby MacIntyre, Zach Senyshyn, Boris Katchouk, Morgan Frost, really all of these guys, they have helped me in my development path an amazing amount."

Hayton, who grew up in Peterborough, Ontario, also impressed with his performance in the classroom last season. He studied advanced math and science and maintained high grades while playing 87 games. The OHL noticed and awarded him its Bobby Smith Trophy as its scholastic player of the year.

Hayton, the ninth-ranked North American skater on NHL Central Scouting's final draft rankings, models his game after NHL centers Patrice Bergeron and Jonathan Toews.

"I'm a complete centerman," Hayton said. "I like to play 200 feet. I feel I play with an offensive flair as well. That's something that's a big aspect of my game that I feel is really going to take a big step here ... I feel my ability to play a complete game and my versatility in all the different situations - it's a big part of the player I am, and I think teams value that."
Some draft pundits questioned the Coyotes for selecting Hayton with the fifth overall pick instead of a few other higher-profile players who still were available. But Chayka, who watched Hayton play live 10 times during the evaluation process, firmly believes the Coyotes chose the right player for the team.
"I think everyone wants instant analysis," Chayka said. "In reality, when you go through drafts, you look back and you find out who was right and who was wrong. We feel confident in our pick. We're trying to build through the middle and we think we've got a great center ice depth, we think we've got great depth on defense and we think we've got a great goalie pipeline as well. When I look at that, and I look at how you build foundations of teams, I'm really excited about the future of this organization."
Hayton and Coyotes Head Coach Rick Tocchet will have plenty to talk about considering Tocchet also played for Sault Ste. Marie from 1981-84.