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Utah Hockey Club Centre’s Play Improving In Second Line Role

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After many games of struggling, the Utah Hockey Club decided it was time to change up the team’s second line. The injury to Dylan Guenther complicated things, while Josh Doan was recalled from the Tucson Roadrunners to take his place. Also, Matias Maccelli earned promotion to the line after being stuck in the bottom-six due to his own struggles. However, the recent stand out of the second line has been Utah centre Barrett Hayton. The former fifth overall pick in 2018 has found a groove with Maccelli and Doan as his wingmen. He’ll need to continue playing this way with Utah still in the hunt for a wild card spot. 

Change is Good

With Utah winning three of its last four games, Hayton has played a prominent role during the span. Prior to that, Hayton couldn’t find his footing on Utah’s top line, even with the likes of Clayton Keller and Nick Schmaltz by his side. Although he was demoted to the second line, Hayton has picked up his play in recent games. He has eight points in the last five games, four goals and four assists. Two of the four goals were game-winners in back-to-back games against the Winnipeg Jets and Minnesota Wild respectively. He leads Utah in that category with five.

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Prior to this stretch, Hayton recorded just two points in the previous nine games despite being on the first line. The 24-year-old has 12 goals and 14 assists for 26 points in 48 games, with 22 of his points having come at even strength. That’s good for fourth among Utah forwards. Hayton’s also third on Utah in faceoff win percentage with 54%. Interestingly, the demotion has worked out for Hayton. 

Utah felt something wasn’t clicking for him on the first line, so the change was made and it’s paying off. The move improved Hayton’s plus/minus rating, which is at a +9 or tied for second on the team with Olli Maatta. However, the biggest difference is he’s putting up more points and has found some chemistry with Maccelli and Doan. Hayton doesn’t get much power play time, but that hasn’t stopped him from reaching another level as of late. Perhaps he’ll earn a promotion back to the first line if his play keeps growing, but the second line currently seems to be the perfect place for Hayton. 

How This Helps Utah

Hayton’s resurgence might be very important for Utah going forward. The team doesn’t have a lot of centre depth or players in the position that put up points regularly. Logan Cooley has been the only one filling that role this season as Utah’s second leading scorer, right behind Keller. The likes of Nick Bjugstad and Kevin Stenlund are unlikely to fill the scoresheet, so Hayton getting points is a positive sign. Cooley is the clear number one centre in Utah’s lineup, but Hayton could become a good secondary to him. 

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Compared to Bjugstad and Stenlund, Hayton has more points than each combined. Bjugstad scored 22 goals last season, but only has five this year, making it a very down year for the 32-year-old veteran. Stenlund doesn’t usually play the role of goal scorer, so the second line spot behind Cooley has Hayton’s name all over it. If Hayton can build on his recent success, it will benefit Utah and give the team another layer of scoring. 

As mentioned, Utah has playoff aspirations and the team isn’t far out, four points to be exact. So, the team will need Hayton to keep producing points if they wish to keep those hopes alive. A playoff appearance would be a great way to start the team’s inaugural season in Utah. 

Main Photo: Terrence Lee-Imagn Images

The post Utah Hockey Club Centre’s Play Improving In Second Line Role appeared first on Last Word On Hockey.