If he’s still left unsigned, a year from now Taylor Hall will be garnering a lot of attention as an unrestricted free agent.
The 2018 Hart Trophy winner struggled with injuries in 2018-19 and played only 33 games (scoring 37 points), but would be in line for a significant payday should he get to July 1, 2020 unsigned. The New Jersey Devils can sign him to an extension as of July 1, but don’t be surprised if there’s no deal right away.
“I’m in contact with (Devils GM) Ray Shero, and he and I communicate regularly, and out of respect to the process, I really can’t provide any details or any conversations that we engage in,” Hall’s agent, Darren Ferris told NHL.com. “It’s a decision the player will have to make in time, and there’s no pressure into making it. It’s just a discussion that is going to be ongoing.”
Hall has made one playoff appearance in his career, which came in 2018 with New Jersey when they were the surprise eighth seed, but were eliminated in five games. Heading into his age 28 season, Hall’s lack of playoff games has led to speculation that he may prefer to leave the still-rebuilding Devils – or at least wait and see how the next season goes – before committing to them long term.
On Monday, The Fourth Period reported that Hall wasn’t interested in re-signing with the Devils right now, but both Shero and Ferris denied that was the case.
“No idea where they got that from aside from a ‘source,'” Shero told NHL.com in a text message. “Nothing on our end has changed and I have never heard differently from Taylor or Darren Ferris.”
Added Ferris: “I’m not going to speak to it because it’s all fictitious and I’m just not going to respond to any of those questions out of respect to the conversations and discussions that are going on.”
Hall is coming into the last season of an eight-year deal with a $6-million cap hit signed with Edmonton in 2012 which, at the time, counted for 10 per cent against the cap. Should next year’s cap rise to $83 million, that would be equivalent to an $8.3-million hit today. With a Hart Trophy on his mantle, Hall could expect to get even more this time.
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