When Buffalo surprisingly signed Taylor Hall to a one-year, $8MM contract in October, speculation already started as to whether or not the winger would make it through the year with the Sabres. If the team struggled in the Atlantic Division (the signing came before the move which now has them in the East Division), he’d become a plausible rental trade deadline candidate. However, it appears neither side has any interest in things getting to that point as Pierre LeBrun of TSN and The Athletic reported in TSN’s latest Insider Trading segment (video link) that there is mutual interest in a contract extension.
Midway through last season, he was acquired by Arizona in the hopes of pushing the Coyotes to a lengthy postseason run. Hall, meanwhile, was hoping that the change of scenery would see him improve his offensive numbers and really bolster his value heading to the open market. Neither really happened. Arizona did make the postseason and get through the qualifying round but that was predominantly on the back of Darcy Kuemper. Meanwhile, Hall’s point per game rate dipped in the desert and went slightly lower in the playoffs though he did manage two goals and four assists in nine games.
As a result, his market was much softer than expected. Two years ago, it looked as if he could be like Artemi Panarin and land a multi-year deal worth more than $10MM per year but he couldn’t come close to that. As a result, he pivoted towards the one-year pact that landed him with Buffalo in the hopes that the opportunity to play alongside Jack Eichel would allow him to improve his offensive output and give him a better shot at a stronger market this summer. Unfortunately for both Hall and the Sabres, that hasn’t happened as the 29-year-old has just one goal through 12 games heading into play on Thursday though he ranks second to Eichel in assists with eight.
That type of offensive performance doesn’t lend itself towards matching let alone beating his $8MM price tag which makes it interesting that he’d be open to an extension at this time given that his marketability isn’t as strong as he was hoping it’d be let alone the fact that the Sabres have struggled considerably this season. Him showing a willingness to sign would seemingly work in Buffalo’s favor at this point although they’d still likely need to come close to his current AAV to justify Hall foregoing another shot at the open market.
While there is mutual interest in getting something done, it will take a while before they’ll be allowed to do so. Since Hall signed a one-year contract, there is a restriction on how quickly he can sign an extension. Normally, that deadline is January 1st which is nearly three months into a typical regular season but that’s with free agency coming in the summer. Since the UFA market came in mid-October, this year’s allowable extension date is March 12th, just two months into the year. That comes one month before the trade deadline so if they can’t get a deal in place around that time, Buffalo will only have a few weeks to decide whether to keep Hall or trade him. It’s a narrow window to work with but with a shortened schedule, decisions are being made a bit quicker this season and this case will be no exception.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
I wouldn’t extend him, sabres are close to blowing it up and trading eichel. Why saddle yourself with more bad contracts, when you already have skinner on the books.
this would seem.to suggest they arent blowing it up, for better or for worse
Skinner plus Cozens to any team for cap relief, who says no? They can re-sign Hall, but Toronto has shown its impossible to win with that much money tied up in so few players. But at least they have moderate regular season success. I can’t see how the Sabres could do anything with Eichel, Hall, and Skinner eating up so much cap.
Toronto that team in first place in the nhl truly has shown it’s impossible to win
Let’s wait and see how they play the tougher US teams
How’s their playoff record? Plus the Canada only division is weak.
Wait until they go on a 3 game skid. Leafs fans will be calling for a rebuild.
I think he meant winning when it actually matters.
When it matters, the Leafs lose, pretty much every time.
Leafs are so good we talk about them on other unrelated articles and steals half the comments lol
The Canadian division is artificially boosting up their record lol, they possibly wouldn’t have made the playoffs this year in the Atlantic. Just because they’re the least mediocre team in their division doesn’t prove they are able to win
they arent dealing Cozens for salery relief
The Leafs are a top 5 team in the league regardless of division. I’m assuming they’ll disappoint me because they are the Leafs, but they have a legitimate shot at winning it all this year.
After how it’s gone so far I can’t see why either would want anything to do with the other. Buffalo will be happy to get picks and/or prospects for him at the deadline & Hall will be happy to leave.
There is a reason Hall was traded from Edmonton. After McDavid stayed at his house rumour has it McDavid was not thrilled with Hall’s partying antics. He was MVP material in New Jersey, and yet they passed on him. Arizona didn’t think he was worth keeping around. Now in Buffalo and he’s certainly not making a case for himself.
I sense a pattern.
Any team that throws a lot of money or term at Hall will regret it.
You are exactly right, so watch Buffalo do it.
Buffalo? Clearly he doesn’t care about winning. Hall is so incredibly overrated.
Hell… even the Coyotes didn’t want to keep him. They let him walk. Didn’t even offer him a extension.
It’s hard to explain the difference between a winning player and one who is not. Too long to get into now, but…
Hall is not a winning player. Nor is Eichel.
But, they are different types of not “winning player”s. Hall plays hard, but it’s channeled poorly (also the case with Stamkos). Eichel is just a whiny little _____. The idea that they gave him the “C” shows Buffalo has no clue.
It does show, however, why Tim Murray was SO upset to get Eichel and not McDavid, when it appeared either was a franchise center. Maybe he knew what a drip the kid was…
At least Stamkos is consistently good and appears to be genuinely liked by his teammates…he just hets injured a lot lol
Another ignorant comment about Eichel from the same drip. Eichel without a doubt is top 5 overall in the league playing with zero real veteran talent. Scheiffle last season said he thought Eichel was the best player regardless of point total. If you think he whines too much then show me when he’s demanded a trade from that awful team? If I’m the Rangers, Detroit, LA, Islanders, or just about any team in Hockey Im doing my best to see what deal works to get him on my team. The kid will be on a winner eventually and is definitely underrated. Each comment you make is a slow drip of unintelligent nonsense.
Drip is the insult I have consistently applied to Eichel. Not being able to find another is rather lazy and weak.
His considerable talent means little when he expects everyone else to do it for him.
He might well become a winner eventually…once he stops whining and grows up. Which will only occur after people stop apologizing for him and instead ask him to earn his contract and the C on his sweater.
Also, Crosby, Lemieux, Yzerman, etc. consistently made mediocre wingers into first line wingers. That is what truly great players do. Using his teammates as an argument only serves to undercut the assertion of his current greatness.
@billysbbalz At no time did @FWJBT question Eichel’s skill or talent. The problem lies between his ears. He has a history of throwing on ice tantrums, had at least one coach fired (Bylsma), went out of his way, as did his agent, to make sure everyone knew that he left money on the table when he signed his new deal. Only an asshole does you a solid and then constantly points out that they’ve done you a solid. Shit like that is why Eichel will never be top 5 in the league, regardless of how many points he puts up.
Let us not forget that right before the draft he said he was the #1 player in it.
As soon as he said that my thought was “bad attitude”.
I do think he would be amazing on a team that doesn’t require him to be the franchise player, Not saying this is feasible with the cap, but if he was on the second line behind someone with tenure and proven credentials like a Crosby or Stamkos. It’d put him in his place within the hierarchy and he could just play hockey.
Toronto should trade even money : nylander for eichel. They both need a new start. Quarantine won’t matter as both are not performing as they should
Leaves fan eh
Just a tad lopsided
He has 1 goal…better sign fast, Taylor.
Theres more teams in this league beside toronto, think outside the box.
wrong!