Hall talks expected to get serious in August

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It is July 31st and Taylor Hall remains unsigned past this upcoming season with the New Jersey Devils. GM Ray Shero and his agent Darren Ferris have been in contact throughout the Summer, but things have been relatively quiet in the past few weeks since coach John Hynes said he is committed to team for this season regardless of new contract or not. Assistant GM Tom Fitzgerald told reporters yesterday that Hynes traveled to Toronto to meet with Hall and did not divulge on more after that but things are going well for him.

It is obvious that the closer that we draw to training camp, the more serious talks will get. Hall did not want to rush into anything after the season in regards to his future in New Jersey. He wanted to wait and see what Ray Shero did this Summer to improve the team. Now that it has been a very busy Summer for Shero adding the likes of Jack Hughes with the number 1 pick, forward Wayne Simmonds, defenseman PK Subban and acquiring forward Nikita Gusev from Vegas. Hall was very impressed with the additions up to Gusev, whom he is yet to comment on.

The silence will drive some fans crazy at times, but make no mistake, Shero is definitely keeping touch with the Hall camp. I believe talks will go down to the wire, but my position is that the team should trade him if they are unable to reach a deal prior to training camp to not risk losing him for nothing like the Islanders did with John Tavares. 

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