That approach seems to be working well. Hayton (6-foot-1, 191 pounds) had 63 points (21 goals, 39 assists) and a plus-24 rating in 63 games.
Hayton, No. 6 in NHL Central Scouting's midterm list of North American skaters eligible for the 2018 NHL Draft at American Airlines Center in Dallas on June 22-23, not only has shone defensively, he also took advantage of Katchouk and Raddysh playing for Canada at the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship to demonstrate his offensive ability.
Promoted to the wing on a line centered by Frost, Hayton had 10 points (four goals, six assists) in eight games between Dec. 13 and Jan. 5.
"Certainly I got a bigger role while they were at the World Juniors, and I tried to use that opportunity not just to make up for their absence, but to also to adjust my thinking," Hayton said.
In addition to improving his production, Hayton also seized the opportunity to demonstrate his adaptability by quickly making the adjustment from center to wing, a position he played at points last season when he was an OHL rookie.
"It says a lot about his intelligence," Bannister said. "He studies the game very well and does not focus only on his position, but also on that of his teammates. He understands that each player is a moving part. No matter if he is playing center or on the wing, he reads the game really well and is aware of everyone else's responsibilities."
Sault Ste. Marie begins its first-round OHL playoff series against Saginaw on Friday. It is considered the favorite after finishing 23 points ahead of any other team in the standings.
That came after Sault Ste. Marie finished second in the OHL standings last season. It's hard to imagine a better way of instilling a winning mentality in a young player like Hayton.
"When NHL teams evaluate a player, they want to see where he comes from," Bannister said. "I believe that Barrett grew up in a culture where defeat is the exception. In the near future he will be part of our leadership group, and our team culture is in good hands with players like Barrett."