We’re now several weeks into an NHL postponement and there is still no clear timeline on when professional hockey will return. While fans of the sport have received small tidbits of news over that time, including college signings and contract extensions, the thirst for discussion has rarely been quenched.
With that in mind, we’re happy to continue our new feature: The PHR Panel. Three times a week, our writing staff will give our individual takes on a question many hockey fans have been wondering about. If you’d ever like to submit a subject for us to discuss, be sure to put it in the comments. This series will run each Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
To catch up on the previous edition, click here.
Today, we’ll each give our thoughts on the future of a pending free agent.
Q: Which team is the best fit for Taylor Hall in 2020-21?
Brian La Rose:
Hall has not done himself any favors this season when it comes to helping his market value. It wasn’t crazy to think that a big year could have had him thinking about a deal similar to the one Artemi Panarin received but now, he’ll come well short of that and has managed just 27 goals in 98 games over the last two seasons.
At this stage, Hall could still fit in on a number one line but is better off as a matchup-beating second liner and that’s where his best fit is. But the teams where he’d be in that role are largely cap-strapped and a flattened or reduced salary cap will only make that more challenging; even Arizona is going to have a hard time keeping him around unless they find a way to get some cap relief.
With all of that said, I think Columbus could be the best fit among teams that can afford him in free agency. Their cap situation is pretty clean and they have some sizable deals coming off the books in 2021 that would allow them to mitigate some of the risk of a long-term deal that Hall will likely still get. The Blue Jackets are a team on the rise with some young talent that could push Hall into more of a secondary role as his contract progresses while in the short term, he’d be an offensive upgrade to a team that has struggled to score this year.
Holger Stolzenberg:
Usually when a team goes out and acquires a star player just before that player hits free agency, I assume that the player, this time Taylor Hall, will sign a long-term deal. Or at least that’s how it feels. The only recent exception I can think of is Matt Duchene when he got traded to Columbus. However, that move seemed more like a gamble and when neither Panarin, nor Sergei Bobrovsky re-signed, Duchene opted not to.
However, I get a similar feeling from Hall. While the situation is quite different for an Arizona Coyotes team that does seem to be up-and-coming, the team struggled once acquiring Hall with a 14-17-4 record—although much of those struggles had to do with their goaltending injury issues.
Hall has been on losing teams throughout almost his entire career and likely is getting tired of it. He has appeared in just one playoff series, losing four of the five games that he played. He might be more interested at this point in his career to sign with a top playoff team because of that.
The best option might be the Colorado Avalanche. While they have a lot of money invested in Mikko Rantanen as well as Nathan MacKinnon and Gabriel Landeskog, the team should have the cap space to lock Hall up as a top-six winger who could turn the Avalanche into Stanley Cup frontrunners for many years to come.
Zach Leach:
Every team in the NHL can and will try to make a case that Hall is a fit on their roster. But which team is the best fit for Hall? At this point in his career, Hall deserves to paid his fair value and to compete in the postseason year in and year out. At first glance, the only team with the cap space and the talent level to make that happen is the Colorado Avalanche. They are the likely favorites to land Hall this summer.
However, you can never rule out the hometown team. While Hall moved to Ontario as a teen, he spent most of his childhood in Calgary. The Flames have a surprising amount of cap space this off-season for a team with a considerable amount of talent. Most expect that they could use that room to replace the potential losses of defensemen T.J. Brodie and Travis Hamonic, they could opt to go in a different direction and supplement their scoring, especially after down years from many of their top-six forwards. Consider the possibility of compliance buyouts and the removal of Milan Lucic’s contract and Calgary could have even more spending power. Hall would be able to land the contract he has earned and play for a winning team with the added comfort of a familiar city, no less. The Flames are a dark horse option, but a good fit.
Gavin Lee:
You can bet that Hall will have his eyes set on a playoff team in free agency, but how many playoff teams will have their eyes set on him? The Blue Jackets, Avalanche and Flames are all good fits if they can make the money work, but I have an outside-the-box idea that may just be my favorite fit of them all.
In 2007, long before he was the Hart Trophy winner, a World Championship gold medalist or the first-overall NHL draft pick, he was selected in a different kind of draft. Hall was the second pick in the OHL priority draft, nabbed by the Windsor Spitfires who had gone 18-43-7 the previous year. Hall would burst onto the junior scene in 2007-08 as a rookie, scoring 45 goals and 84 points in just 63 games with Windsor. He, along with a second-year head coach that had only recently retired from the NHL, turned the Spitfires into a powerhouse that would go on to win consecutive Memorial Cups in 2009 and 2010. Hall was named the tournament’s MVP both times.
That coach, who had struggled so mightily in his first year leading the Spitfires, was none other than Bob Boughner. Boughner was given the reins of the San Jose Sharks this season after Peter DeBoer was let go and now has the “upper hand” to land the full-time job moving forward. If he is hired, what better player to try and bring the Sharks back to contention than his old prodigy from the OHL?
Sure, the Sharks aren’t in a great financial situation moving forward because of some hefty contracts they have previously given out, but it’s clear that they won’t be rebuilding next year. GM Doug Wilson has always been willing to go after the big fish and perhaps bringing in another top-flight winger (along with some improved health from Erik Karlsson) could jump the Sharks right back into the playoff hunt next season.
I just don’t see how the Sharks can fit Hall in cap wise. They would have to move out some big contracts & that isn’t easy. Burns has a 3-team trade list. Couture & Kane have the same. Vlasic has a no-movement clause. Jones’ contract is almost immovable with his recent play & years remaining on his contract. I don’t see the Sharks trading Meier to add Hall. Also, the Sharks only have 8 forwards & 5 defensemen under contract for next season and they need to upgrade their goaltending. They need to fill out a roster. Spending their money on Hall wouldn’t be smart.
Gavin – you snuck in a “jump the Sharks” there! I’m onboard with Eric’s view on SJS as a landing spot for Taylor. Doug Wilson would have to use a couple of compliance buyouts on his biggest contracts, and their netminding situation should be his top focus. Seems most of us agree that Taylor still wants to go to a contender, which naturally means around 1/3 of the league as legitimate suitors (from his standpoint). Chayka has stated they’ll try hard to re-sign him, but they haven’t shown me enough to say they are on the edge of greatness, yet. The Avs will have room and a fit on the second line, so there’s a possibility. CGY may be in the mix, although sometimes going back to play for the hometown team can be dicey. CGY, however, is NOT TOR, so that probably helps. I like Brian’s idea of CBJ, on the surface, but the nagging issue that I repeatedly ask is “Why is CBJ treated like a radioactive wasteland?” Some will say Torts, but I’m not sure I believe that. No one has proffered a really solid explanation, so I’m left to wonder why. And, more importantly, what will the cap landscape look like? We have no idea…this is uncharted territory for everybody. As some have said in the media, this could be the worst time in a long time for UFAs.
The Avs have to eventually pay real money to McKinnon and Rantanen. Unless Hall is willing to do a 4 year deal or something, I don’t see it.
They have to extend Makar, too.
And I think they still need to upgrade their goaltending.
@forwhomjoshbelltolls – True about MacKinnon, although they’ve got a couple of years to work with there. Rantanen’s taken care of, but Landy’s due after next year. Agreed Makar should be top priority. Even though he’ll still be an RFA, they should do it right. Some UFAs could either be let go, or brought back on the cheap, and the RFAs could end up getting QO’d, except maybe Burakovsky, who is probably not quite worth the $3.25MM. Both Barrie’s and Orpik’s retained $ come off the books which amounts to $4.25MM. Wilson’s $2.6MM (UFA) should be cut loose, too, as well as Hutchinson’s $700K. Sammy Spin-a-Rama should be a compliance buyout, if at all possible or a trade. He is definitely NOT worth $5MM. Some $$$ are there, but it remains to be seen how the cap landscape will look. The next 2-3 years may go down in history as the “Cap Carnage” years… (I hope not)
Great reply. I agree with every bit of everything you stated. However, I believe Colorado is too set on Girard to do anything to try and get rid of that contract. That alone will likely make the Hall deal impossible, since sakic is really focusing on depth. I don’t see him trying to topload a roster like Toronto did.
It would be cool though, imagine the PP units…
@M34 – Yeah, I’m not sure who there blundered on the potential for Girard. If he continues to serve fat, juicy pizzas up the slot for the opponents to slam home, he’ll need a one-way trip to Robidas Island. Regarding the PP Units, yeah that would be pretty impressive and imposing. The mind boggles! Agree about the top-load strategy. TOR has not shown it to work, and I think if the Atlantic wasn’t so weak, they’d be in a world of hurt. And, it wouldn’t make sense to move somebody who has good chemistry out just to bring Taylor in, even if it’s $$$ for $$$.
Arizona or Edmonton.
Don’t rule out the Oilers. He’s never seemed to get over being dealt out of there.
As a Blue Jackets fan and season ticket holder, I’ll pass on Taylor Hall. No disrespect intended, but I’d rather put our money and resources elsewhere. Seth Jones is two years away from being a UFA and I’d like to keep him if at all possible. If Hall were a little more consistent than I’d say “maybe”, but too many guys get overpaid in the NHL based on a couple of good seasons As far as the free agents who departed after last season, Matt Duchene wanted to stay, but the Blue Jackets didn’t want to give him the $10 million that Nashville was offering per year and give up the additional first round pick to Ottawa. When you consider Duchene and Nyquist had very similar numbers this year and Columbus only paid Nyquist $4.5 million, moving on from Duchene was the right move. Dzingel was a bad fit in Columbus. He was asking for 6 years at $5.5 million per and wound up getting 2 years at $3.4 million and that looks like an overpay. Bobrovsky may have stayed, but the Jackets didn’t want to match the 7 year $70 million contract he was getting in Florida. Bobrovsky got paid $11 million this year and now he and Florida’s ownership are on the outs. Florida is stuck with a bad contract that won’t age well. I’m not taking anything away from the current Blue Jackets goaltending tandem, but Columbus defensemen do such a good job of insulating the goalie that it’s much easier to play goalie in Columbus than it is for most teams. That’s why Merzlikins and Korpisalo were so good this year and Bobrovsky so marginal. The truth is you don’t need a $10 million dollar goalie to win the Stanley Cup. A $4 or $5 million dollar goalie will do just fine. Finally there’s Panarin. Yes, he is missed. Badly at times. The Jackets did everything they could to retain him, but he told ownership and management last season that he grew up a Rangers fan and his dream was to play for them. That’s hard to compete with. I think Chicago knew that was his eventual plan, that’s why he was so easily had in a trade two years ago. Whatever, I’d rather have two years of Panarin than 5 years of Brandon Saad.
@Baji Kimran – Good stuff, there! It’s almost like we’re inhabiting the same body, to which I should apologize for the bad hair. :) On the more serious side, you are the exact type of person I would search out for the answer to this: “Why is CBJ considered toxic to UFAs or UFAs to be” ? I’m not encountering negative comments toward either Torts or Jarmo, so what is it about CBJ that makes it appear as an undesirable destination? Is it the perception of not being able to compete in the Metro due to payroll? Is it the state income tax rates? Do you have an idea that hasn’t been floated out here before? I’d love to hear your take.
Columbus isn’t a bad place. It may not have a “sexy” reputation, but many former players still live here and many current players make their homes here year round. For married players raising a young family, this is a desirable place to be. To young, unattached players seeking the “bright lights and big city”, Columbus just isn’t that exciting. It also didn’t help much that the Jackets had little or no success on the ice the first 12 years or so, which I blame much of that on MacLean, the first GM. About the only thing he did right was bring in the cannon to give the club an identity. The last 6 years haven’t been bad though, making the playoffs 4 times, but running into juggernauts like Pittsburgh, Tampa and Washington when we got there (although we did beat Tampa). I think the Boston series last year may have been different had Bobrovsky made a key save late in game one. I’m not blaming him for the loss, but Boston scored a tying goal with just a couple minutes left in the third period and won the game in overtime. had Bob made that save, the Jackets win that game, then the next two and lead the series 3-0 and it’s pretty much over. One good sign- Zach Werenski didn’t hold out this year and he was the first one not to do that. I think the perception is changing. Bottom line: when you win, everybody wants to play for you. There’s a good future in Columbus.
@Baji Kimran – Thanks! That is just the kind of insight I’ve been looking for. I don’t know if you’d agree that it’s almost like current players are looking at the CBJ of the past, not the present. And, as you said, it’s almost like a small-town feel, not the “Bright lights of the big city” type of deal. I get that kind of draw, but it is a dame shame more players aren’t more willing to go there. And, for the record, I love hearing the cannon, even via interweb radio!
Expansion takes forever for the seeds to grow (it usually take a generation, honestly) but here we are…an engaged and knowledgeable fan. Good to see.
And having been to and through Columbus a few times, it’s very nice if you aren’t looking for Manhattan or Miami.
Matt Duchene is a dog. Be glad you didn’t get stuck with his kennel bill.
PS- If you ever heard Doug MacLean’s stories of working there, he was nickled and dimed to doom. Not saying he did a good job even under the circumstances, but no one was going to succeed until the ownership got focused on winning.
@forwhomjoshbelltolls – Glad to see I wasn’t the only one not to see gold in Duchene. And anyone who regularly listened to HC12 on SN590 got to hear the “horror” stories from Dougie Mac trying to run an expansion team. If you didn’t know better, you might swear he was talking about an ECHL team. Good stuff!
One other thing I should mention is the cancer that was Jeff Carter. Carter spent one half of a season in Columbus, but did a lot of damage. First, he cost them Jakub Voracek and two draft picks in the trade. The picks turned out to be Sean Couturier and Nick Cousins. Then as soon as he arrived he did everything he could to get traded. He ran down the city to his teammates and other players around the league and did a lot of damage in the process. When they finally got rid of him they didn’t get nearly as much in return (Jack Johnson, Marko Dano). But Columbus can’t be that bad. Cam Atkinson, Nick Foligno, Gus Nyquist, James Wisniewski, Jared Boll, Jody Shelley, Jean Luc Grande-Pierre are examples of current and former players who make their homes here year round. Rick Nash even lived in Columbus year round AFTER he was traded. John Tortorella has a home north of the city where he raises dogs and horses and says he is staying here after he’s done coaching. The place can’t be that bad.
True that. The smartest thing they ever did was bring in John Davidson. The smartest thing Davidson ever did was hire Jarmo Kekelainen. The smartest thing Jarmo ever did was hire Tortorella.
@Baji Kimran – Can’t tell you why, but I probably wouldn’t have voted for Jeff Carter as a cancer in the clubhouse. That’s pretty big and explains even more. Further evidence that the grassroots campaign of “Columbus ISN’T that bad, dammit! UFAs ALWAYS welcome (unless you plan on being another Jeff Carter!)” should be put in full gear. I knew about Rick Nash’s well-chronicled fondness for the city, and it really seemed like if he could have commuted from Columbus to NYC he would’ve done it.
Vegas was first team to do the expansion draft in right manner , they weren’t scared to take in players that other teams basically gave up on a few free agents and good trades, and with the Washington they couldn’t beat that juggernaut of a team but they did play a mean series and pushing Ovechkin and the Caps to seven games and if not for a few bad breaks would have been first to win as expansion franchise, was hoping to see what they were about with nice additions before all the chaos of the pandemic in the world.
Remember, G, Vegas was given unprecedented ability to be able to pirate numerous good/underrated players at will, with others obtained through “somewhat sketchy” negotiation tactics. No previous expansion team had that ability. Naturally, they had to pay through the nose for that “privilege”, though. And, Vegas gets to sit on the sideline for the upcoming (eventually) Expansion Draft, at least that’s what is planned “for now.” And, of course, we’ve heard that many GMs had “seller’s remorse” about how they went about that last Expansion Draft. Kinda like the league didn’t fully explain what they could or could not do (accidentally/on-purpose)…