John Hayden (born February 14, 1995) is an American professional ice hockey center and Captain for the Coachella Valley Firebirds of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Seattle Kraken of the National Hockey League (NHL).
Early life Hayden was born in Chicago, Illinois but immediately moved to Denver, Colorado before settling in Greenwich, Connecticut with his family when he was eight years old. As a youth, he played in the 2007 and 2008 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournaments with the New Hampshire Nike Bauer minor ice hockey team, and then with the Detroit Honeybaked team. He attended Brunswick School before committing to play hockey at Yale University.
Playing career Hayden was drafted by his hometown team, the Chicago Blackhawks in the third round, 74th overall in the 2013 NHL entry draft, after playing two seasons within the USA Hockey National Team Development Program in the United States Hockey League (USHL).
Upon the completion of his collegiate career, captaining the Bulldogs as a senior in the 2016–17 season, Hayden embarked on his professional career in agreeing to a two-year, entry-level contract on March 15, 2017. He immediately began his contract by making his NHL debut against the Ottawa Senators on March 16. In his second game he scored his first NHL goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs on March 18.
In his first full season with the Blackhawks in the 2018–19 season, Hayden played in a fourth-line role, contributing with 3 goals and 5 points in 54 games.
On June 22, 2019, at the 2019 NHL entry draft, Hayden was traded by the Blackhawks to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for John Quenneville. In the 2019–20 season, Hayden played in 43 games for the New Jersey Devils, playing in a fourth-line forward role recording 3 goals and an assist. As an impending restricted free agent, Hayden was not tendered a qualifying offer from the Devils and was released to free agency on October 8, 2020.
On the following day, Hayden was signed by the Arizona Coyotes after agreeing to a one-year, $750,000 contract. In his lone season with the Coyotes in the pandemic shortened 2020–21 season, Hayden made 29 appearances, posting 2 goals and 5 points.
As an impending restricted free agent, Hayden was not tendered a qualifying offer by the Coyotes, releasing him as a free agent. On July 29, 2021, Hayden was signed to a one-year, two-way contract with the Buffalo Sabres.
On July 14, 2022, Hayden was signed as a free agent to a one-year, two-way contract with the Seattle Kraken.
On June 25, 2025, a promotional film shoot to promote youth hockey featuring Hayden and Seattle Kraken's mascot, Buoy, was interrupted when a grizzly bear aggressively approached the group while Hayden fly fished in Alaska's Katmai National Park and Preserve. The group waded away from the bear as it approached before the bear eventually turned around.
Personal life Hayden is the son of Diana and Mark Hayden. His brother, Will attended Wake Forest University and his sister Catherine plays for the University of North Carolina field hockey team.
While attending Yale, Hayden majored in political science where he balanced his coursework while playing for the Blackhawks and graduated in 2017. He also worked as an intern for the Pelican Breeze apparel company.
Career statistics
Regular season and playoffs Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 2009–10 Brunswick School USHS 28 15 14 29 10 — — — — — 2010–11 Brunswick School USHS 26 21 9 30 18 — — — — — 2011–12 U.S. National Development Team USHL 36 8 7 15 51 2 0 2 2 2 2012–13 U.S. National Development Team USHL 24 11 9 20 51 — — — — — 2013–14 Yale University ECAC 33 6 10 16 18 — — — — — 2014–15 Yale University ECAC 29 7 11 18 10 — — — — — 2015–16 Yale University ECAC 32 16 7 23 26 — — — — — 2016–17 Yale University ECAC 33 21 13 34 62 — — — — — 2016–17 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 12 1 3 4 4 1 0 0 0 0 2017–18 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 47 4 9 13 54 — — — — — 2017–18 Rockford IceHogs AHL 24 5 12 17 7 13 3 0 3 2 2018–19 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 54 3 2 5 27 — — — — — 2019–20 New Jersey Devils NHL 43 3 1 4 77 — — — — — 2020–21 Arizona Coyotes NHL 29 2 3 5 37 — — — — — 2021–22 Buffalo Sabres NHL 55 2 2 4 84 — — — — — 2022–23 Coachella Valley Firebirds AHL 47 17 16 33 58 10 1 1 2 16 2022–23 Seattle Kraken NHL 7 2 0 2 7 — — — — — 2023–24 Coachella Valley Firebirds AHL 65 15 11 26 73 18 9 4 13 10 2023–24 Seattle Kraken NHL 2 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 2024–25 Coachella Valley Firebirds AHL 43 11 16 27 34 6 2 1 3 14 2024–25 Seattle Kraken NHL 20 1 1 2 31 — — — — —2025–26Coachella Valley FirebirdsAHL6713112412712044202025–26Seattle KrakenNHL30002————— NHL totals 272 18 21 39 323 1 0 0 0 0
International Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM 2012 United States U17 5 0 1 1 0 2013 United States U18 7 1 1 2 6 2015 United States WJC 5th 5 1 0 1 2 2022 United States WC 4th 10 0 1 1 4 Junior totals 17 2 2 4 8 Senior totals 10 0 1 1 4
Awards and honors Award Year College All-Ivy League Second Team 2014–15 All-ECAC Hockey Second team 2015–16
References
External links