Yale product John Hayden embarks on first season with New Jersey Devils

John Hayden was traded this summer from the Chicago Blackhawks to the New Jersey Devils. (Getty Images)

John Hayden was hanging out on June 22 with some buddies from his home state of Connecticut who are now living in New York when he received a pleasant surprise. The 24-year-old forward had just been traded from the Chicago Blackhawks to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for John Quenneville.

“It was exciting for everyone,” Hayden said. “Coming to New Jersey, it feels like a homecoming.”

Hayden, who was born in Chicago, grew up in Denver and moved to Greenwich with his family when he was eight years old, called his mom, Diana, right away.

“My mom was tearing up,” Hayden remembered. “She was happy. My brother, Will, is in New York, too, and my sister, Catherine, will be there after she finishes up school. It’s good to be around family.”