The 2018 NHL Draft isn’t deep with centers, but Barrett Hayton is still a pretty special talent
If you’re looking for a center in the 2018 NHL Draft, the pickings are fairly slim. However, Barrett Hayton is a unique talent with a lot of upside. For a variety of reasons, most of them beyond his control, he hasn’t shown too much of it. But it’s definitely there.
A lack of centers in the draft combined with the importance of them in the NHL should lead to Hayton being a top 20 pick. He should be able to justify being picked high if he develops properly and falls into the right situation.
Prospect Profile
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Height: 6’1″ (185 cm)
Weight: 185 pounds (84 kilograms)
Team: Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)
Country: Canada
Position: Center
Handedness: Left-handed
Date of birth: June 9, 2000
OHL Statistics (regular season): 63 games, 21 goals, 39 assists, 60 points, 32 penalty minutes
WHL Statistics (postseason): 24 games, eight goals, 13 assists, 21 points, 16 penalty minutes
Average Prospect Ranking*: 15.75
All profile info is courtesy of Elite Prospects.
* Average prospect ranking is the collective average of a prospect’s four major rankings (McKeen’s, Hockey Prospect, Future Considerations, ISS Hockey)
Strengths
Hayton excelled in a shutdown role for the Greyhounds. His defense is among the best in the class. Hayton’s high hockey IQ, strong work ethic, and quality size give him a very high floor. He’s also one of the youngest players in the 2018 draft. Despite this, Hayton finished with 44 five-on-five points, which put him in the top 10 among players under 18 years old.
He was asked to do a lot defensively and still nearly put up a point per game. Though Hayton did this on an extremely good team, it’s still very promising to see. He has an impressive shot and should grow confidence in it moving forward.
Weaknesses
As I mentioned earlier, Hayton didn’t put up impressive point totals compared to the rest of the draft class. Let’s discuss why. First of all, he was behind Morgan Frost and Hayden Verbeek on the Greyhounds depth chart. This is why Hayton didn’t get optimal utilization and was used more as a shutdown center.
I’m not sure if his safe game is more due to his role or because that’s who he is as a player. That said, it’s worth noting he did very well when he was given top minutes while Frost was playing at the 2018 World Juniors. Hayton has the potential to be great. But it is a bit concerning he has yet to show that.
What They’re Saying About Him
"“He has excellent vision and makes most defenders miss when he’s controlling the puck below the circles. Hayton’s a strong skater with excellent balance.” – Steve Kournianos (The Draft Analyst)“At 6’1”, he has some size and plays heavy on the puck with a relentless work ethic and forecheck.” – Dominic Tiano (OHL Writers)"
Highlights
Overall Outlook
I wish Hayton was a 2019 prospect. Then it would be more obvious what kind of player he is with (hopefully) more playing time with the Greyhounds. That said, Hayton is a skilled player who transitioned flawlessly into a shutdown role. He’s not an impressive skater, which is why he likely won’t be a top 15 pick. But I think whoever drafts him will be happy.
Next: Post-Lottery 2018 NHL Mock Draft
Player Comparison
Stylistically, he reminds me a lot of Patrice Bergeron. Obviously, Hayton will likely never be an elite center like the four-time Selke Trophy winner. But he’s a shutdown center who’s capable of putting up points. I think in a larger role, the comparison will become far more justified.
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