For nearly three days, the Buffalo Sabres remained quiet in free agency, adding only depth players.
Reports materialized last week the Sabres would pursue slick winger Taylor Hall, one of the most coveted players on the market. Still, few expected a team mired in an embarrassing nine-year playoff drought could lure the former Hart Trophy winner.
It appeared if general manager Kevyn Adams wanted to dramatically improve the Sabres, he would have to do so by making trades.
But tonight, in a stunning move, Hall picked the Sabres over his other suitors, signing a one-year, $8 million contract with a team widely regarded as the NHL’s laughingstock.
Clearly, Hall, 28, is betting on his talents. Another dynamic season – he won the Hart Trophy with the New Jersey Devils in 2017-18 – will likely land him a lucrative long-term contract next year.
For now, Hall has been reunited with Sabres coach Ralph Krueger, his former coach with the Edmonton Oilers. It’s possible Krueger’s presence helped land Hall.
Hall played one season under Krueger in 2012-13, scoring 16 goals and 50 points in 45 games during the lockout-shortened season.
The Oilers drafted Hall first overall in 2010, the same year Krueger joined the Oilers as an associate coach.
Hall stayed with the Oilers until 2017, when they traded him to the New Jersey Devils. A 39-goal, 93-point campaign earned him the MVP award.
But a knee injury dogged Hall in 2018-19, limiting him to only 33 games. Last season, he struggled before New Jersey traded him to the Arizona Coyotes.
In 65 totals games in 2018-19, Hall scored 16 goals and 52 points. He played 35 games with the Coyotes, registering 10 goals and 27 points.
The Sabres now quietly possess one of the league’s best group of left wingers, offering top center Jack Eichel and newcomer Eric Staal plenty of intriguing options.
In addition to Hall, the Sabres have Victor Olofsson, who scored 20 goals as a rookie last season, and Jeff Skinner, who scored 40 times two years ago.
Very odd move for Hall. He’s going to a team where his production and point totals will most certainly fall and then hit free agency again. I don’t get it but happy for the Sabres.
This is a fantastic move for both do u realize hall next to Eichel means they all of a sudden have three very good scoring lines and watch hall will stay with the sabres much longer than people think cause the sabres will have a very good year Adams is doing a fantastic job to turn this around fast put one thing in ur heads now the sabres are going to the playoffs and anything could happen just look at their lineup and all of a sudden it’s talented all over way to go hall go for it
Woo hoo! Great move for the Sabres! I get it that Hall is just biding his time until more money is (possibly) available next year for free agents, but so what? This should really inject some potent offense into the Sabres attack, and boost the spirits of that apparently had been flagging among certain players. Playoffs looking a bit more realistic…