Report: Taylor Hall negotiating new contract with Coyotes
This summer’s biggest free agent could be off the market before the offseason even begins.
HockeyFeed
According to a report from NHL insider Craig Custance of The Athletic, pending unrestricted free agent Taylor Hall is in negotiations with the Arizona Coyotes to stay in the Grand Canyon State.
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Sounds like Coyotes and Taylor Hall have re-engaged in contract talks. Although I think it’s new CEO Xavier Gutierrez running point on negotiations and not GM John Chayka. Hall would be the top UFA forward if he hits the market.
Hall of course was traded to the Coyotes prior to the 2020 NHL Trade Deadline from the New Jersey Devils in exchange for a 2020 conditional first-round draft pick, a conditional 2021 third-rounder, along with forward prospects Nate Schnarr, Nick Merkley and defenceman Kevin Bahl.
In 35 games with the Coyotes, Hall has 10 goals and 27 points, putting his season totals up to 16 goals and 52 points in 65 games split between the Coyotes and Devils. That’s impressive, but it’s a far cry from the 39 goal, 93 point campaign that Hall put up in 2017-18… a campaign that earned him MVP honours as the NHL’s Hart Trophy recipient.
While there’s some concern about Hall’s health and his declining production, it’s clear that he’s still the most intriguing free agent in this offseason’s class, especially at the forward position. Alex Pietrangelo, Torey Krug and Tyson Barrie will headline the free agent field on defence, but outside of Hall and second tier free agents like Mike Hoffman and Mikael Granlund there’s no big names up front.
As you might imagine, the Coyotes should have plenty of cap space this offseason even with retired Chicago Blackhawks superstar and recently Hall of Fame honoree Marian Hossa still on the payroll. The Coyotes have had no trouble taking on big contracts over the past while taking on Phil Kessel ($6.8 million) and Derek Stepan ($6.5 million) and signing captain Oliver Ekman-Larsson to an eight year, $66 million contract worth a whopping $8.25 million per season. We can only speculate on Hall's next contract and what they Coyotes may offer up in negotiations, but it's not out of the realm of possibility to expect a $10+ million annual offer.