Report: Coyotes definitely interested in trading for Hall
The Arizona Coyotes are definitely interested in trading for New Jersey Devils star Taylor Hall, TSN's Darren Dreger reported on Thursday's edition of "Insider Trading."
Hall, 28, is in the final year of his current deal, which carries an annual cap hit of $6 million. He's scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in July, and Devils GM Ray Shero is reportedly listening to potential offers for the blue-chip winger.
The Devils entered the 2019-20 campaign with high expectations after being one of the most aggressive teams in the offseason. But New Jersey has stumbled to a 9-14-4 record through 27 contests and sits second-last in the NHL entering Thursday's action.
Arizona, on the other hand, has enjoyed a strong start to the season as it looks to end a seven-year playoff drought. The Coyotes have been one of the league's best defensive teams but rank 23rd in goals-per-game and could use an offensive boost.
Coyotes general manager John Chayka added perennial goal-scorer Phil Kessel in a deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins in July, and his apparent interest in Hall seems to indicate Arizona is all-in on this season; the Coyotes are currently projected by CapFriendly to have just $785,000 in cap space for 2020-21 - the first season of Hall's next contract.
Hall captured the 2018 Hart Trophy as league MVP with a career-best 93-point campaign. The Alberta native leads the Devils with 22 points this season but has mustered just four goals in 27 games.