New Coyote ‘open-minded’ about multi-year contract

Making his way to Gila River Arena on Wednesday, new Coyotes forward Taylor Hall didn’t see the massive billboard featuring his likeness that now adorns the freeway system around Phoenix.

Hall’s mind is understandably still a bit foggy. Between arriving in San Jose at 7 a.m. Tuesday, playing a game in which he made a major impact, and flying back to Arizona for practice Wednesday, there hasn’t been much sleep for the superstar. He isn’t used to showing up to a rink in December wearing shorts. He’s staying at a hotel in Scottsdale, and was chatting with teammates after Wednesday’s practice about where he should make a more permanent arrangement for the duration of the season.

So we can forgive him for missing a billboard.

All of this is a lot for Hall, who had his introductory press conference on Wednesday at Gila River Arena. Hall, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, is here for the hockey. But there are certainly distractions off the ice.

The Coyotes have essentially erased one of those distractions by holding off on serious contract discussions with Hall and his agent, Darren Ferris. Coyotes President of Hockey Operations and General Manager John Chayka admitted this approach was a tad unorthodox, but it’s just another example of how the Coyotes are betting on themselves.

“I think we have a bit of a different view when it comes to extending the player throughout this process,” Chayka said of Hall, who averaged more than a point per game in parts of four seasons with the New Jersey Devils. “We want Taylor to want to be here, and the only way for him to understand that is for him to actually be here. We want to showcase what we’re about and what we have.

“If I just called them up and asked them to extend, I don’t think that would have been the right process.”

Hall said he had a conversation with Chayka about that very topic and that he is “open-minded” about signing longterm in Arizona.

But all parties seem to agree that the best thing for now is to play hockey, make a run at the Stanley Cup, and figure out the rest afterward.

“We’re about winning here,” Hall said. “I think that if we win and do well as a team that the other stuff is going to sort itself out. I’m definitely open-minded about everything. It’s not really my focus right now and John and I spoke about it briefly. It’s more about playing hockey, winning games and seeing where that takes us.

“When it’s time to have that conversation, we’ll do that.”

Most teams when acquiring a player such as Hall, a pending free agent at the end of the year who is less than two seasons removed from an MVP award, would have likely pushed for an extension as part of the deal.

The Coyotes, after all, gave up three prospects and two draft picks for a player who could be done with the franchise by April.

It’s a risk, but it’s one that Chayka feels is worth taking.

There are conditions picks that reflect that.

If things go south with the season and with Hall, the Coyotes will have some relief.

But this deal ultimately was made with the goal of convincing Hall that Arizona is his best situation for the foreseeable future.

“We know Taylor wants to win and that’s kind of the main criterion for him to re-sign,” Chayka said.

“We feel like we’ve got a chance to win for a long time here. The goal of this deal was certainly to get a player here for the long term that’s an elite player. It’s a bet on ourselves, but again, it’s a calculated gamble.”

The Coyotes, who could still extend Hall during the season, will likely have to navigate a similar situation with Hall, who could command an annual salary upwards of $10 million.

It should also be noted that, even if the Coyotes find the money to pay Hall, they will need to get creative in order to fit his number under the salary cap. The Coyotes are only expected to have around $6 million in space once their 2020 free agents depart and after Marian Hossa’s contract is subtracted from the sum.

Still, it’s remarkable just to observe the Coyotes in a position to contend for the services of a player like Hall.

A ground-floor rebuild from Chayka and his staff, coupled by the backing from billionaire owner Alex Meruelo, have put the Coyotes in positions that would have seemed impossible even just a couple of years ago.

“I think we’re changing the narrative here,” Chayka said.

“For a long time, it was about existential issues; we’re trying to survive. I think now everyone understands we’re trying to thrive.” built into the