Prospect Info: #5 OA - Barrett Hayton - Center - Back to the OHL

[Coyotedroppings]

I don't have the ability to look at a 17 year old and project his game when he's 22. I don't know how they do it. The hockey talking heads seem to have the chops for it, so when they look at the Coyotes pick as a reach, I worry.

Panger said "scouts" told him that he's a player you build a team around.

 

[IPreferPi]

So, by me attending hockey games for the last 40 yrs. or so is flattering myself?

Superfluously adding that when the context was pretty clear about draft prospects? absolutely.

 

[Brock]

Not sure if this has been posted yet or not, but some more info on Hayton for you.

My scouting report:
OHL Prospects: My Final Top 50 OHL Players for the 2018 NHL Entry Draft - Part 4: 10-1

Notes from my media/scout polls:
OHL Prospects: Final Media/Scout Poll for the 2018 NHL Draft

 

[hbk]

Mild outrage? The forum experts have been throwing pitch forks. You said yourself that you liked Tkachuk, but were secretly hoping we draft D or C. You got your wish.

I'm feeling good. I think we learnt so much about this organization on this pick. I'm honestly excited to watch him develop.

 

[Matias Maccete]

Quotes from the article Brock posted.

"Quite possibly the best all-around player in the draft class. Everything Hayton does, he does with a relentless work ethic. He’ll chase down the opposition in all three zones and creates turnovers almost at will. He has excellent vision and knows where he should be on the ice and how to get there. I think some in the hockey industry were expecting greater offensive numbers from Hayton, but he wasn’t always put in the top offensive situations with the Greyhounds depth. He has the skill set to be a top offensive producer, but as we have seen in the past in the Soo with the likes of Morgan Frost and Zachary Senyshyn, it’s the draft year plus one that the big offense production begins." - Dominic Tiano

"Came into the league as a rookie known for his tremendous shooting ability but has now developed into a well-rounded do it all type of centre. As a pro prospect he may lack a standout trait but scouts love how complete he is as a player. He was the Hounds best forward by a notable margin in the playoffs and that will not go unnoticed. His ability to create ice and make plays in tight is fun to watch." - Anonymous

"He's underrated by many and a legitimate top-ten prospect for me. His smarts, puck skills, character and poise are all elite. His skating isn't great, but he has the mindset to work on it hard over the next few years and turn it into an asset much like John Tavares did in the years after he was drafted. I expect an offensive breakthrough next season in the Soo when he's handed the top offensive role." - Grant McCagg

"The best 200 foot player coming out of the OHL for this draft. After watching him all year I wonder if he ever ends up a true #1 centre at the next level but I could see him being a very good #2 centre who can play in all situations." - Peter Kneulman

 

[Alberta Yote]

Strome, Galchenyuk and now Hayton. Dawn Braid will be earning her money.

 

[zerekstar]

It sounds like Chayka did his homework on the guy so I'm going to trust him and the scouts.

 

[SR]

In our position I think drafting a center was a complete need. however comparing the two, Zadina was the better player. It also may appear that Zadina may develop into a 40+ goal scorer, which is also a need. I would have to think our scouting staff knows what they're doing.

I just dont see how this bodes well for our immediate future as a team that needs results more than any other team out there. I guess a plus would be that the team feels either 1, they will continue their tenure in managment and scouting if the team goes to Houston, or 2, that they feel the team will still be in AZ when this kid is ready to produce, who knows.

Also, whats this mean for Strome? He has been given ample time to develop and become a fixture down the middle, but hasnt made any impact whatsoever in doing so. In his defense this certainly buys him more time if they choose to stick with him since I dont see Hayton being ready for another 2-3 years.

Akil Thomas (from what I have read) has similar upside to Hayton, maybe not as much, but certainly has the intangibles to be a 1/2 center, no? I am sure we could have traded up to get him, too.

If we could have walked away with Zadina, and another project center in the second round, I think we would have been better off, but what do I know.

Heres hoping Chyka and co know more than we do.

 

[zLiMbiLLY]

I'll root for Hayton!

Dont be too surprised. He is a KID, yet so mature and dedicated with the style he plays. He may not turn heads just now faced against Zadinas offensive production in a draft, but he will do sooner or later.
With Galchenyuk added up front a big gap got filled. Then there's FA up ahead.

 

[XX]

 

[BUX7PHX]

Here's a shift by shift look at him from late April in the OHL playoffs. Game goes into 20 minute OT so there's about 33 minutes of icetime.

Barrett Hayton vs Kitchener | Apr 29 2018

Someone had mentioned that they thought this was an average game played by Hayton. To be honest, I will still take that.

Somehow, he is just constantly involved, with or without the puck. I had mentioned his pace from the last video - same thing here, sometimes you think he could be faster, but he plays very controlled and knows when to turn on the jets. The fact that he is always around the puck and the play with maybe an above average skating ability makes me excited to think what can happen if his skating can improve, which our scouts appear to think is more muscle and filling out related, as opposed to a problem with his skating stride.

I think that what Chayka said may ring true - he has some offensive polish, but makes so many heady plays that points aren't necessarily the first thing with Hayton. In fact, I think one could argue that putting him with a top playmaker and distributor like Keller will help to create the points, while still providing his all-around game.

I am starting to like this pick more and more.

 

[GiveAFlyingPuck]

So we're looking at a 30-47-5, 65 point season due to this pick? Sounds like we lose 15 games based off picking Hayton.

 

[Foggy1097]

Only one winger taken in the entire draft for us. Chayka and staff are playing things correctly if you ask me. You draft C, D, G because that's the backbone of every successful organization and you need a pipeline of them. Wings are fill in, complimentary players 90% of the time and they are easier to acquire. Our draft results prove this pretty plainly if you ask me...

 

[LuckyNumber11]

Definitely hard to get excited about this pick when we could've had Zadina, but Hayton does sound very sticky

 

[Grimes]

One thing I like the most about the pick is the value of centers in the trade market. You simply do not move top 6 centers without getting another one in return (Brassard for Z trade), or an astronomical return (Duchene trade). There are arguably less than 62 top 6 centers in the league. There are arguably 130-150 top 6 wingers. Scarcity of position will always make it the most valuable trade piece. We could easily be moving Dvo + Merkely for Zadina in a few years if Detroit faces center issues. But if all goes right and Zadina and Hayton are both 60 point players, Zadina would not return Hayton by himself. Here's to everything going right, like it usually does for this franchise....

 

[johnchayka89]

We picked the best available player willing to play and stay in a hockey market such as ours.

That trumps everything else.

 

[CanaFan]

Just a minor comment from an outsider (Vancouver fan) but Hayton reminds me a lot of when we took Horvat at 9 in 2013 and the meltdown 80% of our board had over passing on a sublimely talented and highly ranked winger (Nichushkin). As time has gone on to show it was a smart pick and that well rounded centres with offensive upside like Horvat and Hayton can be worth the reach. Not that it is a guarantee it’ll work out the same but I wouldn’t be surprised either.

Good luck.

 

[Etch]

Well said, RT.

Also worth throwing in there that a guy ranked top 3 on our list should not require an extra season (post draft) without being buried behind Frost to figure out whether he's actually worth it or not.

 

[XX]

We picked the best available player willing to play and stay in a hockey market such as ours.

That trumps everything else.

I see we are just making stuff up now.

 

[BigDoaner]

Missed the draft last night because I was at a clients house for dinner. Snuck out to the bathroom a little after 8 to see what happened. I was pissed when I looked. After reading this thread I’m a little less pissed but still not happy. Was really wanting 1. Zadina, 2. Hughes 3. Wahlstrom.

Feeling a little bit better with how he’s one of the youngest in the draft and comparisons to Bergeron.

Reading he was buried on the team with hard match ups and little power play time but when the older players where in tournaments, he got first line minutes and was at 1.6 ppg. I’m trying to be an optimist and am telling myself, if he were in a different situation, he would have had around 100 points this season

 

[RemoAZ]

One year of maturity when you're still a teenager can make a huge difference. This is a projection pick all the way though. It's not who the player is now. Not sure if it will work out and don't understand passing on the guy that slipped that brings the scoring we so desperately need but I don't think you can judge the pick solely by his numbers last season. He's obviously the guy the organization wanted. Just have to wait and see now.

 

[RemoAZ]

Wow the board is still acting weird. Every time I refresh the posts reorganize and some disappear.

 

[Bonsai Tree]

We picked the best available player willing to play and stay in a hockey market such as ours.

That trumps everything else.

What? I'm not in to self flagellation. We control a rookie for about 6 to 8 years. That's plenty of time to warm to the market that you play in.

 

[Foggy1097]

If Holland wasn’t completely senile by now and had any sense he would have passed on Zadina as well and taken Hughes. They have literally zero quality D and that’s the backbone of good teams. Instead they took the flashy winger and I’m sure they’ll end up regretting it....

 

[Grimes]

If Holland wasn’t completely senile by now and had any sense he would have passed on Zadina as well and taken Hughes. They have literally zero quality D and that’s the backbone of good teams. Instead they took the flashy winger and I’m sure they’ll end up regretting it....

Well thats when we can find a way to move POJ for Zadina and get both Zadina AND Hayton. If only...