Seattle Kraken Agree to Terms with John Hayden on One-Year Contract

SEATTLE, Wash. - July 1, 2023-Today the Seattle Kraken (@SeattleKraken) announced that they have agreed to terms with forward John Hayden on a one-year, two-way contract ($775k AAV).

Hayden, 28, split the 2022-23 season between the Kraken and their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Coachella Valley Firebirds, earning four NHL recalls through the course of the NHL season, scoring two goals in seven games with the Kraken. Hayden spent the rest of the 2022-23 season with the Firebirds, totaling 33 points (17 goals, 16 assists) in 47 regular-season games and setting AHL career highs in goals, assists, points, game-winning goals (three), power-play goals (four) and games played. After suffering an injury, he returned to play in the final 10 Calder Cup Playoff games with the Firebirds, scoring one goal and adding one assist in those games.

The six-foot-three, 223-pound forward has recorded 37 points (17 goals, 20 assists) and 290 penalty minutes in 247 career NHL games with the Kraken, Buffalo Sabres, Arizona Coyotes, New Jersey Devils and Chicago Blackhawks. He has played in 71 career AHL games with the Firebirds and the Rockford IceHogs, registering 22 goals, 28 assists and has added five points (four goals one assist) in 23 Calder Cup Playoff games.

Before turning pro the Chicago, Illinois, native played four seasons at Yale University (2013-14 to 2016-17), producing 91 points (50 goals, 41 assists) in 127 games en route to being named to the ECAC Second All-Star Team as well as the All-Ivy League First Team roster as Yale's captain in 2016-17.

Hayden has represented the United States in several international competitions, including the World Championship (2022), the 2015 World Junior Championships and the 2013 U-18 World Junior Championships (silver medal).

He was originally drafted by Chicago in the third round (74th overall) of the 2013 NHL Draft.