Coyotes GM 'having some discussions' with Taylor Hall's agent

Arizona Coyotes general manager John Chayka and Taylor Hall's agent Darren Ferris are using the NHL's hiatus to discuss the forward's future.

"Obviously, our intent was always to get through the season and not having any conflict with Taylor's play. This leaves us in a bit of a limbo where it's obviously not technically the end of the season, but it also wouldn't conflict with his play to talk," Chayka told The Athletic's Craig Morgan.

"All I would say right now is that both sides are gathering information and having some discussions. Where that goes, I'm not entirely sure today. As we talk, we'll see where things go."

Chayka added that although the two sides have spoken, they haven't exchanged figures.

Hall is scheduled to hit unrestricted free agency at season's end. The Coyotes sent three prospects and two conditional draft picks to the New Jersey Devils for the former Hart Trophy winner back in December.

How the conditions of those draft picks play out is foggy given the uncertainty surrounding the league's return. The Devils will receive Arizona's 2020 first-rounder unless it's a top-three pick, which, in that case, it would become a 2021 selection. However, Arizona winning the lottery is not likely. The conditional third-rounder would become an additional first-rounder if the Coyotes win a playoff round and Hall re-signs. It becomes a second-rounder if just one of those things happen.

Chayka added that deputy commissioner Bill Daly and the NHL league office have a lot on their plate and have yet to sort out these details.

Hall racked up 16 goals and 52 points in 65 games split between the Devils and Coyotes in 2019-20. Arizona projects to have just over $4 million in cap space this summer, according to CapFriendly. Barring a larger-than-expected cap increase, money would need to be moved for Hall to re-sign in the desert.