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Morning, folks!
Hope everyone’s having a nice long weekend and/or painless start to the work week. It’s been a busy few days for the Oilers, and the league generally, so we’ve got a lot to link to today.
But, quickly, Taylor Hall’s signing in Buffalo makes total sense, doesn’t it? Secure the bag in the short-term, play guaranteed minutes beside Jack Eichel, and hit Unrestricted Free Agency again next summer when teams like Edmonton have $20MM+ coming off the books and everyone’s had another year to adapt to this new reality.
Put a pin in this one for some time before the 2021-22 season.
Also, don’t underestimate Hall bouncing back this season. Not only will he play full-time with the best center he’s ever had (sorry Nuge), but he’ll have had an offseason of training - something he didn’t get after his injury last year:
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As long as he doesn’t get hurt in Buffalo, he’ll be in the perfect position to come home to Edmonton. Can’t wait.
Taylor Hall, signing with... BUF?! is one of the top wingers in the NHL, an incredible playmaker. His numbers nosedived this year, but it was almost entirely in the first half of the season with NJ. He's still got it. #Sabres pic.twitter.com/4NKoRQ5WZf
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) October 11, 2020
Click through that tweet and you’ll see that Hall did find a way to eat into that deficit with intelligence. His numbers did bounce back in Arizona. But that only makes sense, right?
because we are talking about taylor hall, i'd like to take a moment to remind you boat-license-joke-makers that he is literally the hockey-smartest player in the league right now and you can quote me on that
— Hannah Stuart (@HockeywthHannah) October 12, 2020
There was also this bit of information, from yesterday afternoon:
— Nick Alberga (@thegoldenmuzzy) October 12, 2020
I don’t know about you, folks, but I’m seeing an Oilers team that’s maybe about the same as last year’s group? Hard for me to say that they’re definitely better. today than they were in March. What do you think?
2020 Copper & Blue Free Agency Live Thread (Copper and Blue)
Edmonton Oilers Re-Sign G Mike Smith (Copper and Blue)
Oilers Sign D Tyson Barrie To One-Year Deal (Copper and Blue)
Oilers Re-Sign Tyler Ennis (Copper and Blue)
Oilers Add Organizational Depth in F Seth Griffith and G Anton Forsberg (Copper and Blue)
Edmonton Oilers Sign F Alan Quine (Copper and Blue)
Oilers Sign Kyle Turris For Two Years (Copper and Blue)
NHL Draft 2020: Day 2 Recap (Copper and Blue)
Torn And Frayed (Lowetide)
With 3 Signings In 3 Days, Ken Holland Transforms Edmonton Oilers’ 3rd Line (Journal)
Best Of The Rest: Top Available NHL Free Agents By Position (Score)
Just Like We All Expected, Taylor Hall Signs With The… Buffalo Sabres? (Oilersnation)
The NHL Is Reportedly Considering An Outdoor Game At Lake Louise (Oilersnation)
On The Best Edmonton Oilers Offseason I Can Remember (Oilersnation)
Edmonton Oilers 3rd Line Center Search Concluded - Kyle Turris (Because Oilers)
Barrie Signs With Oilers; ‘Wasn’t About Money’ (ESPN)
Rage In The Cage (Lowetide)
Barrie Had Sights On Oilers Before Free Agency Started (Sportsnet)
Oilers Re-Sign Mike Smith To One-Year Deal (Oilers Rig)
Driver’s Seat (Lowetide)
CBC Radio Active: Free Agency Day For The Edmonton Oilers (The Super Fan)
Edmonton Oilers Address Major Hole, But Still Shopping Free Agent Market (Oilers Rig)
OILERS NOTES: Ennis Returns Stays Home For Another Season (Sun)
Turris Ecstatic To Return To Canada And Join Oilers (Sportsnet)
Report: Benning Joins Predators On 2-Year, $2M Deal (Score)
Money Well-Spent (Oilersnation)
Oilers Bring Back Mike Smith For Another Season: Lowetide (Athletic)
Oilers Sign Defenceman Tyson Barrie To Team-Friendly Deal (Athletic)
Lowetide: Oilers Sign Kyle Turris, Tyler Ennis In Early Hours Of Free Agency (Athletic)