Hall, 28, was the most coveted unrestricted free-agent available from this league, and he spent the weekend listening to pitches from at least half a dozen teams.
The Sabers’ selection is a surprise move, with Hall saying his No. 1 priority is a chance to win the Stanley Cup. The Sabers have not, since 2011, created the longest drought in the NHL.
In August when asked what he thought was the most important as he shaped his free-agent decision, Hall told reporters: “I think, honestly, it’s probably winning all.”
Hall has played in only 14 PostShane games in his 10-year NHL career.
At Buffalo, Hall is expected to play alongside Jack Eichel on the wing.
Hall is familiar with Sabers coach Ralph Krueger, who briefly played for him in Edmonton in the 2012–13 season.
Recently, ESPN quoted a source as saying that the offers of all teams were open in short or long term deals. However, a one-year commitment represents the largest trend in this year’s free-agency period. Many players are taking short-term deals, a reflection of the uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus virus epidemic, along with a salary cap of $ 81.5 million.
Hall won the 2018 Heart Trophy as the league MVP with the New Jersey Devils. The Devils failed to make it the following season, and they traded Hall to the Arizona Coyotes in December, as the Devils were not in playoff status and realized they were unlikely to sign Hall to a long-term contract.
Edmonton, the No. 1 pick of the 2010 draft, spent the first six years of his career trading for New Jersey in 2016 with defenseman Adam Larson. In 10 NHL seasons, Hall has scored 218 goals and 563 points in 627 career games. He scored a career-high 39 goals in his 2017-18 MVP season.
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