Barrett Hayton’s future with the Utah Mammoth is hanging by a thread, and on this episode of SLC Puck, Austin Facer makes the case for Utah to let him walk. With Hayton signing a 1-year, $4.775 million offer sheet from the New Jersey Devils on July 1, the Mammoth are running out of time before the July 9 deadline to decide whether to match.

Austin digs into why this is such a weird, tense spot for Bill Armstrong and the Mammoth. Hayton had 25 points in 37 games last season after posting 46 points in 82 games the year before, and Utah has to decide if that production is worth nearly $5 million when the roster is already shifting into win-now mode. Vincent Trocheck and Anders Lee are in, T.J. Iginla is pushing for a spot, and the roster fit for Hayton looks shakier by the day.

There’s also the funniest wrinkle in the whole thing: New Jersey’s offer came in just $667 below the next compensation threshold, meaning Utah would get a 2027 second-round pick instead of a much bigger return if they decline to match. Austin also jumps into PuckPedia GM mode, builds out his preferred opening-night lineup, and explains why moving on from Hayton could leave the Utah Mammoth with over $8 million in flexibility for the season ahead.

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