Coming this season: Taylor Hall

Taylor Hall signed a one-year deal to join the Sabres in hopes of helping the team’s young core take the next step under coach Ralph Krueger, whom Hall had played for previously in Edmonton.

He saw the pieces falling into place upon arriving at training camp on Jan. 1. 

“Just the way Ralph wants us to play, with pace, offensively, a team that really attacks and when we don’t have the puck, obviously, a team that needs to get the puck back as quickly as possible and play to our strengths,” Hall said following his first practice with the team. “That’s a big reason why I wanted to come here was I saw that. I saw that building and I saw that firsthand today.”

Here’s a look at the Sabres forward entering 2020-21. 

Video: Coming This Season: Taylor Hall

  One big question: How quicky will Hall mesh with new teammates?

The abbreviated training camp left only 14 days for newcomers to become acclimated with new linemates. That number was less for Hall, who spent the first four practices skating without Jack Eichel while the Sabres captain nursed an upper-body injury. 

The duo did play together during Saturday’s intrasquad scrimmage and managed to connect on a goal. Eichel fended off a defender behind the net before turning and passing to Hall, who buried a one-time shot parallel to the goal line. 

“When players like Jack have the puck, you just want to try and get open any way possible,” Hall said afterward. “I’ve never scored a goal like that before. I’ve seen it happen many times. It’s a credit to him that he can make a play like that. It’s just up to me to put it in the open net.”

We covered the statistics that make Eichel the most productive centerman Staal has played with in our profile of the captain. 

Number to know: 1.05 

Hall’s points per game average over the past three season ranks 17th in the NHL. Since entering the league in 2010-11, he ranks 23rd in points (563) and 32nd in goals (218). 

Quotable

Jack Eichel on what he’s learned watching Hall over the years: “I think Hallsy’s an interesting player. He’s somebody who obviously has super high-end talent, but I think one thing that goes unnoticed is his work ethic. He’s able to track down a lot of pucks, he’s hard on the forecheck, he can be physical at times. I think he creates a lot by himself by just how fast he is, how strong he is on the puck. I think it’s going to be really important for our team to get a guy like that. I think it’ll be good in all aspects of the game.”

Watch this

Check out Hall’s goal from Eichel below in the highlights from Saturday’s scrimmage.

Video: Blue & Gold Scrimmage #2 Highlights