Hayden doesn’t necessarily possess the physical tools to make him a high-end prospect in this year’s draft, but that certainly didn’t stop him from scoring like on as he finished tied for the tournament lead in scoring with 7 points in 4 games. He makes up for his lack of elite tools with very high-end processing and puck distribution, consistently making quick and accurate reads to connect plays in transition and allow his line to play with pace and tempo up the ice. He’s a really smart off-puck player in the offensive zone as well, anticipating play at a high level to pick off passes along the end boards and set up teammates in the middle of the ice off the turnover. He was a very effective rush playmaker as well, consistently threading passes through traffic while in motion that found linemates in the middle of the ice and allowed his line to generate dangerous chances off the rush.

Hayden’s intelligent puck distribution was on full display in this one, consistently setting up his teammates for scoring chances with accurate passing and quick processing ability. He was able to connect on plenty of passes in the neutral zone, threading pucks through sticks and bodies to teammates in space who could then gain the offensive blueline. He showed good anticipation in the offensive zone as well, picking off passes along the boards before executing quick counterattack passes to the middle of the ice that lead to a few dangerous chances. He assisted on the game-tying goal late in the third when connected on a backhand saucer pass to the middle of the ice that was buried by Benjamin Veitch.