There is a surprise winner of the Taylor Hall sweepstakes as the Sabres have announced that they’ve signed the winger to a one-year, $8MM contract. PuckPedia notes (Twitter link) that Hall will receive a $1MM signing bonus and full no-trade and no-move clauses.
This is certainly a surprise location for the 28-year-old as of the teams that had been rumored to be in on him, Buffalo hadn’t come up. Hall is coming off of a fairly quiet season by his standards but he still put up 16 goals and 36 assists in 65 games between New Jersey and Arizona while chipping in with six points (two goals, four assists) in Arizona’s nine postseason games.
While still productive, those numbers are still well below his Hart-winning numbers from two years ago when he had 39 goals and 54 assists with the Devils. His play since then has led to some questions of whether he has started to tail off or if it’s just a short-term dip which has made his UFA case an interesting one. Between that and the pandemic, his chances for a big-money, long-term deal were basically non-existent so he had floated the idea of being willing to accept a short-term pact in the right situation.
It appears that the right situation is with Buffalo where he’ll join a familiar head coach in Ralph Krueger. The two were together back in Edmonton for the first three years of Hall’s career from 2010-11 through 2012-13 with the winger putting up 50 points in 45 games, the third-best single-season point per game average of his career.
Hall, our number two rated UFA in our Top-50 list, should be an interesting option to play alongside Jack Eichel on Buffalo’s top line. The center surpassed the point per game mark for the second straight season and would give Hall an opportunity to have a strong year offensively and try to position himself to be in a better situation for a more lucrative deal next season. That would seemingly push Jeff Skinner down to the second line with RFA pivot Sam Reinhart, giving the Sabres two potentially strong scoring lines.
This is a deal with minimal risk for Buffalo. If it doesn’t work out, there are no long-term repercussions on the cap and as an expiring contract, he’d carry some trade value closer to the trade deadline. If Hall helps propel them to playoff contention (they’ve missed for nine straight years), it would seemingly give them a leg up on working out a new deal for 2021-22 and beyond.
Buffalo now has roughly $13.4MM in remaining cap space, per CapFriendly, the majority of which will be earmarked for their restricted free agents, highlighted by Reinhart, winger Victor Olofsson, and goalie Linus Ullmark. Kevyn Adams has made some smaller moves to begin his tenure as Buffalo’s general manager but he has now made his first big splash.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman was first to report that the two sides were nearing a deal while TSN’s Darren Dreger was first with the $8MM price tag.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Whyyyyy..?
$$$$$$$$$$
1 year $8 million.
You would take it; as would I.
winger for eichel
Even though the rest of the team may be underwhelming, Taylor Hall and Jack Eichel are a pretty nice duo. I’d expect them to challenge for a playoff spot now instead of sputtering in the lottery yet again.
Great sign.
Hey what are you doing here? Sabres fan? I am LOL… if you can believe it. Warriors Red Sox Sabres baby LOL.
After reading that Gary you are either very loyal or very crazy.
Pretty loyal. Go back to the French Connection days. Someone here said Dave Dryden LOL he was the man. Throughout the years goaltending was always the strong suit not so much today. Even Grant fuhr as he was older was pretty good for the Sabres.
Have to be loyal through the 80s and 90s and the Warriors. Wow they were crappy. Red Sox as well the 80s in the 90s were rough. It’s not until the last 10 or 15 I found a little Red Sox celebration and then the last five of course my Warriors have been fantastic.
But yeah pretty loyal I guess just like anyone.. you can’t leave your team once you become a fan. No matter what happens you can’t suddenly like another team.
Shawn are you a Sabres fan or you just came here because you can’t believe Buffalo signed Taylor Hall LOL ? Well I sure hope it works out and he has a decent year and the Sabres can make the playoffs at least. They’ve got pieces.
You can bring up the FC guys and Dave Dryden. You 100% a Sabres fan. Loyal to the end.You have my respect.
I am a Dallas fill in the blank fan Gary.Since 1975.I was 7 found out what football was. Other sports followed.Bills have finally turned the corner. To cold in buffalo for me. Might be to hot in Texas for you.NO I can’t believe Taylor in Buffalo.
You’re probably not old enough to remember the fog on the ice against the Flyers in 75 Stanley cup finals? That’s my earliest Sabres on tv memory.
I have seen grainy film from years ago. It’n YT if you look in the right place.I my shock is no flyer knocked down the bat. They could jump Mike Christie 4-1; yet not kill a bat.
I spend all night looking a buffalo goalies. It amazing how stable Buffalo has been in net in there history. Many guys who began in buffalo as a backup started in the league somewhere.
Hi Gary. You might enjoy Pro Hockey Alumni on you tube or facebook..Cool interviews.I listen to Danny Gare. Class act.
Thank you I appreciate that. Good tip. I remember Danny Gare I think he scored 50 his rookie year. We need a guy like that again LOL.
Also listed Don Luce and John Van Boxmeer.I will get to them.
Wow, Don Luce. I can still picture the trading card I had of him LOL.
Were not 10 anymore. Go enjoy the interview. Enjoy the memories.Lot of guys from the WHA as well.
Listen to Don Luce lat night/ this morning. Very nice interview.
I will check it out. Thanks again.
Who else goes on that top line Oloffsson or Reinhart? Then second line would be Staal, Skinner and one of the two mention? Then 3rd line anchored by middlestat. Not a bad top 7 group of forwards could be surprisingly good this year
Anchored by Mittelstadt? He has trouble staying up with the big Club LOL.
He want’s $ that bad? Good grief. Does he even want to win? Jack and Taylor playing in the sand box.I guess that a reason to watch Buffalo
Did he hire his agent off of Craiglist?
Keep tolling Josh Bell you make good sense
I thought he said he wanted to win!
He wanted to win the lottery. he just signed for the most $ he could get.
So much for wanting to win! Lmao!
Exactly. He didn’t get money. He didn’t get term. He didn’t sign with a team poised to win.
Is he hoping to get traded to a contender at the deadline?
Makes no sense.
That 1 year contract proves he just want’s S
@fwjbt
He gets to ride on a line with Jack Eichel for a year. He will get PAID if all goes like it should.
Look’s like he want’s $ first and for all.
Or, as has been stated, Hall was really angry when Krueger was fired in Edmonton, and had a great relationship with Krueger and really thought highly of him. Once you know THAT then this makes so much more sense.
This is a guy who has an MVP with the Devils and was moved on. Moved on, and on and so forth. If he wanted to hang with Krueger would not the contract be long term??
Taylor Hall is rumored to be poison in the locker room. Do a search for “Andrew Ference Edmonton bad habits” and enjoy… I previously posted this.
It makes all the sense in the world. He’s going to be the go-to guy and he’ll Prime himself for a nice long-term contract next winter when he’s a free agent. He has the green light all season long and they should put up decent numbers with eichel. Smart move my hall, and his Craigslist agent.
Your right as rain Josh
Wow I actually think they are gonna be a team to watch and a playoff team. They are gonna have a good pp and some solid mobile defenseman.
Good loyal Buffalo fan. Will sent the men in white coats for you shortly. Then you can have a long rest watching the sabres.
The only thing they are missing is goaltending, and hopefully the D will be better this year.
You’re an idiot
Well so much for him wanting to go to a title contender. He basically took the biggest one year deal offered to him so he can parlay that yet season into a massive contract
He must be hoping for a deadline trade. I don’t see why you give up a shot at a cup with some other teams for an extra million or mil and a half over 1 year.
Maybe he has a full NTC and can pick his spot at the trade deadline?
Maybe he wants to sign with Seattle, since they’d be the only team that might be able to afford to give him huge money?
He has a no trade or movement contract. Sa’sy in the piece above.
Probably figures playing next to Eichel gives him a shot of breaking the bank next year. Certainly a better choice than being on the Bruins second line if his only goal is to make the most money.
I think this is a great move by Hall. Get paid the most you can for next year. Had a down year and pandemic. Go play with Jack E. And put up some awesome stats. Less focus on him as a scorer and more opportunities to assist to eichel. Go get a better long term deal next offseason
Well, Hall hasn’t always enjoyed the pressure. There’s very little pressure playing on a team that misses the playoffs every year
Aside from stating basic have a great year with Jack comments; This is the best comment on year. No pressure in Edmonton or NJ.Maybe he will chase $ contracts his whole career.Well said Eric
Between Hall and Eichel they’ll be the first linemates in NHL history to combine to go -100 in plus minus.
It will be close
proof that that stat is complete garbage
Jack is minus 60 for his career.Taylor is minus 42. where is the mistake?
You tell me one single GM that would pass on Jack eichel. A single one. That’s what’s wrong with that stat.
Rather Play with Eichel than McDavid …hmmm
Makes you wonder for sure
Hall is overrated but not on a 1 year deal. At worst they trade him for a 2nd round pick at the deadline. Just don’t later give him the contract you gave Jeff Skinner.
All trade protection. He got all he could get on a 1 year deal. What is a Land Crab? where are they?
The mascot at the University of American Samoa.
Thank You.
Exactly right but I think the GM that did that has been fired already. Skinner, what a bust and an 8 year contract. Wow.
right. blame the guy for wanting to maximize his earnings. you all know deep down most of you would likely do the same thing.
Taylor Hall is rumored to be poison in the locker room. I’ve heard McDavid asked for him to be traded (they lived together). He’s been moved quite a lot for an MVP player. But without names being named in the interview do a search for “Andrew Ference Edmonton bad habits” and enjoy.
I think Taylor just wants money, and is using Buffalo to raise his market value for next year as Eichel will help him do that and he’s gone. Then watch as some foolish team offers him a long term for big bucks only to see him get injured and decline horribly.
Good move by Buffalo though. They have the cap space, no obligation on their part after a year, and Eichel who is unhappy gets a really good winger (talent-wise) and might provide Bufallo with two solid lines.
You have me curious. Thanks for post
I read your post Several times about Hall. You look to be right. He has been traded and will be on his 4th team. None of which can spell Stanley cup in recent memory.Maybe he puts up big stats.Only guys who can stand up in that locker room right now are Staal and Skinner based on career. Right now if I was Skinner I would take my check to the bank and be quiet. He is stealing from Buffalo.
I don’t recall ever seeing anything stating Connor wanted him traded.
Taylor was and or is still a bit of a party animal and that is what was one of the main reasons he was moved. Well that and they desperately needed a DMan on that team. DESPERATELY. Anyone think he wanted to be close to home. I expect he will have a decent season and gets to see his family more often. Good landing spot Taylor wish you the best. Would have loved to see you come back to the Oil but just not any cash there. Next season however the Oil will have plenty of cash and could still make a reunion….Go Oil
You got me on the McDavid wanting Hall traded. I cannot (re)find anything that says that in retrospect. So it was likely some post I read… but sometimes the hearsay and conjecture comes from a place of truth. I took to believing it… foolishly… as McDavid seems to want to win. (Hockey QAnon)
There IS an official article that Tyson Barrie got a phone call from McDavid that convinced him to the Oilers for less money.
McDavid is not quiet, he makes his voice heard off the ice is what I’m getting from this.
I don’t believe his desire to win would permit as you stated “a party animal” in the rank and file.
I do not want Hall on the Oilers. Injury prone and not getting any younger.
All u saps would do the SAME THING! It’s their job! Their career! Of course the goal is to make money! Dang none of you all work for free do ya? Don’t ever want a raise? Not one person here would turn down money! Anyone that says they would are just trolls and jealous their team didn’t sign him.
Obviously money is the main driver. Some players do take less money for a long term contract, to play in a city they like or where family is, with other players they know, or on a team that is a contender for the cup.
You have to think some of these players realize the difference between 4 and 5 million is not a lot when over a career of 10 years they will be ridiculously rich so who cares. Then there are those who just want more and more and more.
I think most posts are less about being hurt over not having the local team chosen by a player but over the ‘perception’ of pure greed. People put “stars” (sports included) on pedestals and project their values on them. Taylor said he wants to win, and then joins Buffalo, so he comes across as disingenuous and that upsets the high ideals people want in their “stars”.
When Taylor hall said “I want to win”, he meant draft lotteries.
Well said.!!
That’s another year Halsy won’t play a playoff game. I actually thought he was serious when he said he wanted to win haha isn’t my face red!!!
Comment #51: “… $8MM contract, $1MM signing bonus and full no-trade and no-move clauses.” Taylor I just spent 2+ hours fixing a fence and you did this??? What in the Wide, Wide, World-O-Sports were you thinking??? I’ll take the over on -100+ for both T-Hall & Eichel, as the absolute value of that will be the amount of lake-effect snow he’ll have to deal with there! And, it’s not about the money, it’s about going to Buffalo! You could be below the .500 line for the entire shortened season! Just ask Duane from Buffalo!
I would not be surprised if some other UFA joins him in Buffalo 1 or 2 deal like a Hoffman but time will tell…
Unless They are crazy like Hall; I don’t see it. I don’t want Mike Hoffman anywhere near my hockey team.Talk about poison in a locker room. He is the word for it. 2nd worst goalies in the NHL save Chicago. Maybe Don Edwards or Dave Dryden could help you in Buffalo..There has to be a deeper reason Hall has being traded so much. Worried about his own stats?. Defense lacking for sure. Is he that big a party animal still?
Everybody who is stating that Taylor Hall took Buffalo’s offer just for the money, I believe, are very wrong. Yes he will be making 8 million for the year but his estimated salary on a long term deal was around 8.3 to 8.5 million. In reality, a short term, one to two year deal should have been for more money, something in the neighborhood of 9 to 10 million so actually, one could say, the Sabres got the number 1 free agent skater on the cheap. He came to Buffalo for a couple of reasons. 1) To play with Jack Eichel (top 5 to 10 center). 2) Ralph Krueger, Buffalo’s head coach.
3) Hall wanted to be a number 1 winger and with the Sabres he will be their first line winger. On other teams who would have been interested there was no guarantee of that.
So, he now has a great situation with a top of the line center to provide him the opportunity to get a lucrative long term contract next year with either the Sabres or, once again, in free agency. This is a great deal for the Sabres and for Taylor Hall, without a long term contract, an ideal situation. Can’t wait for the season to begin! Go Sabres!
Everybody who is stating that Taylor Hall took Buffalo’s offer just for the money, I believe, are very wrong. Yes he will be making 8 million for the year but his estimated salary on a long term deal was around 8.3 to 8.5 million. In reality, a short term, one to two year deal should have been for more money, something in the neighborhood of 9 to 10 million so actually, one could say, the Sabres got the number 1 free agent skater on the cheap. He came to Buffalo for a couple of reasons. 1) To play with Jack Eichel (top 5 to 10 center). 2) Ralph Krueger, Buffalo’s head coach.
3) Hall wanted to be a number 1 winger and with the Sabres he will be their first line winger. On other teams who would have been interested there was no guarantee of that.
So, he now has a great situation with a top of the line center to provide him the opportunity to get a lucrative long term contract next year with either the Sabres or, once again, in free agency. This is a great deal for the Sabres and for Taylor Hall, without a long term contract, an ideal situation. Can’t wait for the season to begin! Go Sabres!
Guessing the offers weren’t there from the teams he liked, so he decided to take the best offer to help reestablish his elite value. If the Sabres are bad, he gets a strong say in where he goes, which will likely be to a place that has a good chance to win (as he wants).
If the Sabres wind up being buyers at the deadline, he’ll likely be a big reason why, so that’s something else to put on his resume: Elite season, helped make the Sabres a playoff team.
Seems like a win/win, no?
Maybe a win for Taylor Hall.Buffalo has the second worst goalies in the NHL. Lot of 5-4 6-5 games coming