The Utah Mammoth has matched the offer sheet that the New Jersey Devils tendered to forward Barrett Hayton. 

The Devils clearly would have loved to add Hayton to the front of their lineup, but it was not meant to be this season. Sunny Mehta is a big fan of the player, but he won't be adding him to his group any time soon. 

Instead, Hayton will receive $4.775 million on a one-year deal to continue playing with the NHL's newest franchise. He will be allowed to sign an extension after January 1st if he so pleases. If he doesn't extend, he will be an unrestricted free agent next offseason. 

Utah is not permitted to trade Hayton until July of next year, following the offer sheet match. They see him as a solid two-way player who helps them in all three zones, so not being allowed to trade him will not be much of an issue. 

As for the Devils, they must pivot. There are other means of adding top-shelf forwards out there, and Sunny Mehta is already proving he is ready to act. Will there be another offer sheet, trade, or free agent signing? Only time will tell, but the roster as it is today may not be how it looks come opening night. 

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