Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR 550) – It took until midnight and for several other dominoes to fall, but the Buffalo Sabres finally dealt Taylor Hall, as we went from Sunday night into Monday morning.
Hall had a no movement clause in his contract, meaning he had to approve the trade for him and Curtis Lazar to be moved to the Boston Bruins for a second round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft and forward Anders Bjork. The Sabres are retaining 50% of Hall’s $8 million salary. The team made the trade official early Monday morning.
If you’ve been listening to me on WGR Sports Radio 550 or reading my work at wgr550.com, you know I wasn’t expecting the Sabres to be able to get a first round pick for Hall. Hall hasn’t been himself since his MVP season in 2017-18, and only has two goals and 17 assists for 19 points in 37 games this season.
Sorry, but that doesn’t net you a first round pick.
I know Columbus got a first round pick for their captain Nick Foligno, but that involved two teams keeping portions of his salary, and honesty, I’d take Foligno over Hall without even giving it a thought.
Lazar has been out since April 1, missing six games with an upper-body injury. This season, Lazar was a useful bottom-six player and a good penalty killer. In 33 games, Lazar had five goals and four assists for nine points.
Hall was held out of the last four games as he waited to be traded.
Bjork played for Sabres interim head coach Don Granato with the U.S. National Team Development Program. He was a fifth round pick of the Bruins in 2014.
The 24-year-old winger has played 138 National Hockey League games, scoring 16 goals and 23 assists for 39 points. This year in 30 games, Bjork has two goals and three assists for five points. Last year, he had nine goals and 19 points.
The Sabres have already traded Jonas Johansson, Eric Staal and Brandon Montour, and now Hall and Lazar.
The trade deadline is Monday at 3 p.m. ET, and Sunday's report from David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period that Linus Ullmark is not signing an extension with the Sabres and likely testing the open market means general manager Kevyn Adams may be looking for a landing place for him.
Other smaller trades that could happen for pending unrestricted free agents on the Sabres include Tobi Rieder, Riley Sheahan, Matt Irwin, Jake McCabe, Drake Caggiula and Carter Hutton. McCabe and Hutton are both injured on a long-term basis.
Howard and Jeremy get our coverage started Monday at 6 a.m. ET. Following them will be a special five-hour edition of The Instigators, and then Schopp and the Bulldog will continue coverage at 3 p.m. ET just as the trade deadline expires.
