BY: PATRICK KOSTER
The Buffalo Sabres stunned the hockey world by signing superstar left-winger Taylor Hall on Oct. 11.
The one-year, $8 million deal puts the 28-year-old on a team that finished sixth in the Atlantic Division last year (30-31-8) and just three points out of the NHL bubble hockey qualifying round.
With an unimpressive record, it may leave some fans wondering: why Buffalo?
“When you sign a one-year contract you’re obviously betting on yourself,” Hall told NHL.com. “I’m betting on myself, but I’m betting that the Sabres can improve and have a good hockey season. I truly believe that. If I didn’t I wouldn’t be here.”
Hall sees something most don’t. He sees the Sabres’ potential and wants to run with it – hopefully to the first playoff berth in nine grueling seasons.
But one year isn’t a big gamble for him. If nothing pans out, Hall can pack up and take his talents to a more Cup-driven team.
As for the role he’ll play with the Sabres, it comes as no surprise. He’s going to be Jack Eichel’s scoring sidekick.
Hall netted 52 points (16 goals, 36 assists) last season with the Arizona Coyotes and New Jersey Devils, and 6 points (2 goals, 4 assists) in the playoffs. With seven 50+ point seasons and the likelihood of Eichel and Victor Olofsson as linemates, Hall is due to make this his eighth season over 50.
“He’s the best player on the team, there’s no doubt about it,” Hall said about Eichel on NHL.com. “And if he’s your best player, you have a good chance at making a playoff run. Surround him with the right pieces and right attitude, and then you see what can happen.”
Hall is the missing piece Eichel needs. Hall-Eichel-Olofsson will be a premier line in the NHL. But where does that leave the rest of the team?
The second line will likely end up being Jeff Skinner and Sam Reinhart, with newly-acquired veteran Eric Staal at center. Staal proved he can still be a top center with 47 points last season. This is a very solid second line that together produced a total of 120 points (55 goals and 65 assists) last season.
As for the third line? This is where there might be some trouble. The Sabres have let Dominik Kahun slip into unrestricted free agency (why?), but have resigned Tage Thompson, who has yet to really be productive. It is unsure where Thompson will fit in – if he will.
For Tobias Rieder and Cody Eakin, they are likely candidates for wing and center spots on the third line. This should help provide a veteran presence for Dylan Cozens, who could make is his rookie debut this season. He compiled 85 points with WHL’s Lethbridge Hurricanes last season.
However, is it in the Sabres’ best interest to have Cozens make the jump to the NHL with less-productive linemates? Someone like Kyle Okposo would provide a veteran presence that could help develop more scoring chances for Cozens early on. That would mean shifting Rieder down to the fourth line.
But even then, the fourth line is left to Rieder, Zemgus Girgensons and Curtis Lazar, who together totaled a measly 39 points last season. Casey Mittelstadt could be thrown onto the line, but that may only slightly improve it.
Sabres fans shouldn’t expect much from the third and four lines. But the Hall signing, as of now, shows a clear division from the top six forwards and the bottom six.
It’s exciting that a player like Hall signed with the Sabres. It is likely that giving Eichel a weapon like Hall to work with will make this team much more exciting. But, let’s not forget, a hockey team isn’t made up of only one or two good lines.
While the Hall news keeps everyone happy for now, it will be interesting to see what and if the Sabres do anything to help improve their other lines.
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