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5 Reasons New Jersey Devils Should Sign Taylor Hall

By Nick Villano

NEWARK, NJ - MARCH 4: Taylor Hall #9 of the New Jersey Devils warms up prior to taking on the Vegas Golden Knights at the Prudential Center on March 4, 2018 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images)
NEWARK, NJ - MARCH 4: Taylor Hall #9 of the New Jersey Devils warms up prior to taking on the Vegas Golden Knights at the Prudential Center on March 4, 2018 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images) /
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Taylor Hall – New Jersey Devils (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Taylor Hall – New Jersey Devils (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

Taylor Hall’s Value Is At An All-Time Low

If the Devils were to agree to a contract with Taylor Hall before the season, we would have been thrilled if they got him for $9 million per season. Jeff Skinner just signed for $9 million per season. 59 players got Hart Trophy votes last season, Skinner’s best, and zero went to him. He still got that huge contract, and it is only a slight overpay at the time (although it looks worse now).

With the coronavirus pandemic looking like it’s going to destroy the NHL salary cap (or at the very least, keep it the same, which is around $4 million less than expected), a lot of teams won’t have money to spend. The Devils, even if the cap FALLS to $80 million, will have around $25 million in cap space. With some expected moves, and only really Mackenzie Blackwood and Jesper Bratt to re-sign, they will have money to spare.

Now, what is Hall going to ask for, after a cap that has fallen and him coming off a less-than-stellar season? He’s not going to get $9 million, we can guarantee that. So, how low will he go? His agent Darren Ferris seemed like he pushed him to free agency, but it might be a mistake. Too much has happened, and the risk did not pay off like it did for his other client Mitch Marner.

Hall has said he isn’t going to take a short-term deal, and wants to get clarity. He wants to play for a team for a long time, but what team is willing to pay him more than $7 million per season on a seven-year deal? Maybe the Colorado Avalanche, but they’ve said before paying Mikko Rantanen more than $9 million that they didn’t like the idea of paying someone more than what Nathan MacKinnon is making. Beyond that, the options are Buffalo (four forwards signed next season for a combined $29.5 million), Florida (losing a ton of talent, so interesting option actually) and Montreal (look at the cap space, it’s a legitimate option surprisingly). Everyone else is rebuilding, and Hall doesn’t have the familiarity with any other team like the Devils.

If the Devils can sign him for $7.5-8 million, it’s a huge win. It’s a risk overall, but so is every free agent contract. This could be the one time it’s worth making the push and the Devils actually having a shot.

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