Taylor Hall Signs 7-Year Contract Extension with Edmonton Oilers

The Edmonton Oilers have secured former first overall pick Taylor Hall to a long-term contract.

TSN reports that the seven-year extension will pay Hall $6 million per season.

Hall is a left winger who has seen the ice for the Oilers in each of the past two seasons after being drafted in 2010. He has 49 goals and 46 assists in his young career, thus far.

The 20-year-old had a prolific junior career and is a key part of the Oilers’ rebuilding process, which centers around three consecutive No. 1 overall draft picks. Hall was the first of the team’s future stars to be picked, followed by Ryan Nugent-Hopkins in 2011 and Nail Yakupov this past season.

Edmonton had the second-worst record in hockey this past season, earning just 74 points. This was actually a marked improvement over the past two seasons in which the team managed just 62 points and finished dead last in the NHL.

Hall’s production remained steady across his first two seasons, and with the new deal in place, the Oilers will hope that he will make a leap this season. 

If the senior member of Edmonton’s talented trio of forwards can turn into a top player, then it will set the stage for the other two players to follow suit.

The team has an excellent core of goal scorers to build around, and management has done well to secure Hall’s future. Going forward, the Oilers would be wise to continue to give their most talented players a chance to succeed, then reward them when they deliver.