Marriage between Taylor Hall, Buffalo Sabres not as crazy as it seems

Both sides have plenty to gain.

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Taylor Hall opened a lot of eyes when he signed a one-year, $8 million contract with the Buffalo Sabres in free agency. And it’s not hard to see why.

Hall didn’t get the long-term, big money commitment that usually follows big-name free agents; let alone one with a Hart Trophy in his back pocket.

He also didn’t sign with a team that is ready to win – something he previously stressed as important.

While Hall signing in Buffalo did take me by surprise, there are plenty of reasons a marriage – whether it ends up working or not – could be beneficial to both parties.

Why it makes sense for the Sabres

• The Sabres have not made the playoffs since the 2010-11 campaign. They have not won a playoff series since way back in 2006-07. That’s almost 10 years of completely meaningless games and nearly 15 years without any clear measure of success. For perspective, I was a 12-year-old playing online browser games on dial-up internet the last time the Sabres were really relevant. That kind of drought is almost unfathomable given more than half the teams make the playoffs every season. Even more so when considering the NHL is a salary cap league that prides itself on parity. Sabres fans are understandably desperate for any kind of traction and – after missing out on a *24* team playoff – sitting idly would be indefensible. The Sabres had to go out and chase some difference makers. Taylor Hall is that. He may not be the MVP player we saw in New Jersey a couple of years ago but he just put up 52 points in 65 games during a ‘down’ season. He can still change games.

• Every year Jack Eichel performs at a high level – he has averaged 78 points per 82 games for his career – and ever year he is watching at home while the game’s brightest stars play for the Stanley Cup. That has to be infuriating for a player as good, and competitive, as Eichel. I think that is why we have heard rumblings of discontent. It isn’t that he doesn’t want to be a member of the Sabres; it’s that he doesn’t want to be a member of the Sabres if they’re going to, well, suck every year. Eichel is locked up long-term so he doesn’t have much control over the situation. If the Sabres want him, he has to play. With that said, I think both parties realize it is in their best interest to have success – or take a step towards it – sooner than later. The Sabres don’t benefit from having a captain who wants to be elsewhere because he’s sick of losing. Things can only end poorly if they reach that point, which is why it is imperative the Sabres do everything they can to prevent it from happening. Getting an impact winger – one who will help get Eichel excited to come to the rink every day – is a good start.

• Honestly, I love the one-year term for Buffalo. If Hall lights it up alongside Jack Eichel, and looks anything like the 2017-18 version we saw in New Jersey, the Sabres will probably be a competitive team. Not a contender, but competitive. That would keep Eichel, and Sabres fans, happy while increasing the likelihood of Hall sticking around long-term. If Hall is good but not great – or there are some flareups with his knee – and looks like his peak is behind him, then the Sabres can sleep at night knowing they didn’t give big term/money to a depreciating asset. That’s usually not a luxury you get when signing a name-brand player, especially in free agency.

• Let’s say things don’t work out as planned next season. Maybe Hall is only a 55-point guy. Maybe due to remaining holes on the roster, or an abundance of injuries, the Sabres just aren’t good. Whatever the case may be, the Sabres are out of the playoff picture at the deadline and they want to move on. Hall surely would, too, for the opportunity to play in the playoffs before hitting free agency. That would mean the Sabres have hold of one of the biggest named rentals on the market. Perhaps the biggest; Hart Trophy winners aren’t available every day! They could deal Hall for quality prospects/picks that could help the Sabres as they move forward. And all it would cost the Sabres to get those assets is ~75% of Hall’s salary of the season. Call me crazy but I think it’s worth it.

• Put simply, there doesn’t appear to be a down side for the Sabres here. If Hall plays well, and the Sabres enjoy success, they have a good shot at keeping him – and making their superstar happy in the process. If things don’t work out, they can wash their hands and ship Hall out for assets that will help the organization in the long run.

Why it makes sense for Hall

• Jack Eichel is a point generating machine. He has averaged 87 points per 82 games over the last three seasons on the back of high-end efficiency. If you’re playing with Eichel, you’re going to produce. And Hall will be glued to Eichel all season long. As much as we always hear people stress there is more to being a good player than producing points – there is! – GMs sure tend to pay a lot for point producers. There are very few places I’d rather be than on Eichel’s wing in a contract year. Hall has a real chance of putting up 75-80 points, if not more, and re-establishing his value as a top player in this league.

• Buffalo’s top power play unit should be one of the very best next season. They already had a potent top unit featuring the likes of Eichel, Sam Reinhart, Victor Olofsson, and Rasmus Dahlin. Now they’re adding Taylor Hall, who ranks 10th among *checks notes* 331 eligible skaters in power play points/60 over the last three seasons (per NaturalStatTrick). He should help maximize an already high-end group. I really think the sky is the limit for him production-wise next season.

• Buffalo is not Toronto (where Hall lives). It is, however, in close proximity. Hall will close to his friends and family, and will be playing in a division where visits to and from Toronto happen pretty regularly. I know COVID throws a massive wrench in things but if and when the virus spread slows down, being closer to friends and family will be a nice luxury.

• My understanding is Buffalo offered as much, or close to as much, as any team in the league. Hall did get a big payday – at least for the short-term – and he is joining a coach he has a great relationship in Ralph Krueger. Put another way, he got his money and landed in a spot where he knows the coach will put him in the best possible situations to succeed (which will set him up for another pay day). He gets to play on an elite top line, familiarize himself with the city, and see what kind of traction the Sabres can make before committing to the organization long-term. Once he signs long-term – be it in Buffalo or anywhere else – he is essentially stuck so he has to make sure it is the right fit. This test drive, so to speak, allows for that.

• Everyone has poked fun at Hall for suggesting he’d like to play for a contender, only to sign with a team that hasn’t made the playoffs in almost a decade. I get it. I’d probably join in if it were a long-term deal. But it’s not! There isn’t much risk here for Hall. If the Sabres, powered by a fantastic top-6, make some headway this season and get in the playoffs (or at least come close), maybe Hall will stay. The core of Eichel, Dahlin, Olofsson, Reinhart, Dylan Cozens, etc. is young and improving, after all. If the season is a disaster and the Sabres are written off by the deadline, Hall can hand pick his next destination(s). He has a NMC, thus all the control. Should he make it clear he is not going to re-sign, Buffalo will obviously trade him. And he’d have full control over that process. If he wants to handpick the three best teams in the league at the time, he can do so. And then he can sign wherever he chooses again next summer when looking for another contract. Hall essentially gambled on Buffalo’s top players being enough to get to the dance this year. If it’s not, he gets what he needed (money and, undoubtedly, a lot of points) and can try again elsewhere in a year.

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