Arizona Coyotes sign forward John Hayden to 1-year deal
Oct 9, 2020, 1:08 PM | Updated: 1:10 pm
John Hayden #15 of the New Jersey Devils skates against the Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena on February 25, 2020 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
The Arizona Coyotes signed forward John Hayden to a one-year contract Friday afternoon.
The terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Hayden, 25, played in 43 games for the New Jersey Devils last season, registering three goals and one assist.
A fourth-liner known for his physicality, Hayden had 77 penalty minutes for the Devils, which ranked in the top-20 across the league. He also had four fighting majors.
“We are very pleased to have John join our organization,” Coyotes GM Bill Armstrong said in a press release. “John is a big, tough, physical winger who is difficult to play against. He is also a smart player with good hockey sense. He will add size and grit for our forward group.”
Hayden was originally drafted 74th overall in the third round of the 2013 NHL Draft by the Chicago Blackhawks. He spent his first three NHL seasons with the Blackhawks, playing in 113 games and amassing 22 points.
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The Coyotes are undergoing their first offseason with a new front office after they cut ties with former general manager John Chayka in late July. Former St. Louis Blues assistant general manager Bill Armstrong was hired in mid-September.
Last season, Arizona made the playoffs via an expanded format for the shortened season, with a record of 33-29-8. After taking out the Nashville Predators in five-game series to advance to the Stanley Cup Playoffs, they were beaten handily by the Colorado Avalanche in five games.
