Maple Leafs in pursuit of Taylor Hall!

We all remember when Taylor Hall signed as a free agent this past summer, agreeing to a on a one-year, $8 million deal with the Buffalo Sabres. The guy was clearly after money, hoping to perform well and get more the following year as an unrestricted free agent, wherever that may be. However, the Sabres did poorly and were big seller at the trade deadline, moving Hall to the Boston Bruins, where he found immediate success. 

He therefore wonder if he should go after a lucrative deal or simply play for a top contender for good money. Hall is believed to be interested in staying in Boston, however, he may get a better offer from the Toronto Maple Leafs themselves! 

According to TSN’s Darren Dreger, the Maple Leafs are in the mix to go after Hall this summer. Toronto holds about $9.3 million in cap space with nine pending unrestricted free agents, including goaltender Frederik Andersen and forward Zach Hyman, per CapFriendly. 

“But there’s outside interest as well, including from the Toronto Maple Leafs, which may surprise some. Toronto has interest, I’m sure, if they can’t get Zach Hyman signed, or depending on what happens with Freddy Andersen,” said Dreger. 

The Bruins might be looking for a way to get Hall back, he who said he saw a fit with Boston and wasn’t looking to maximize his value in free agency.

However, GM Kyle Dubas can be quite convincing with free agents looking to play for a contender and Hall, a Canadian-born player, might be tempted to play up North with a Cup-contending team. 

Hall has 228 goals and 596 points in 680 career games since being selected first overall by the Edmonton Oilers in the 2010 NHL Draft. This was just his third time reaching the postseason in his 11-year NHL career this season.

It all depends too on what the Leafs decide to go with Zach Hyman, who might cost too much to remain in Toronto. Recent reports also revealed how the Maple Leafs were interested in Tyler Bertuzzi of the Detroit Red Wings at the trade deadline, but a deal never came through seeing that he was sidelined with injury. He might be back on Dubas' list. 

A lot happening in Toronto, no doubt!