Hall traded to Coyotes by Devils

Taylor Hall was traded to the Arizona Coyotes by the New Jersey Devils on Monday.

The Devils received forwards Nicholas Merkley and Nate Schnarr, defenseman Kevin Bahl, a conditional first-round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, and a conditional third-round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft for Hall and forward Blake Speers.

"I think the opportunity I have with the Arizona Coyotes is awesome," Hall said. "To jump that many points in the standings overnight and to join a team that is in first place. Hockey guys will tell you that as the season goes on and the [Stanley Cup] Playoff push is really starting to become more important, hockey becomes so fun. I've only played five playoff games, but those five playoff games, I can remember those in great detail because they were so fun and really was the highlight of my NHL career. So much opportunity for me in the next few months and really just looking forward to that, meeting with the group."

If Arizona's first-round selection in the 2020 draft is in the top three, the Devils will receive the Coyotes' first-round pick in the 2021 draft. The third-round pick in the 2021 draft will become a second-round pick if Arizona wins a round in the playoffs or Hall re-signs, and it will become a first-round pick if the Coyotes win a round in the playoffs and Hall re-signs.

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Hall, who can become an unrestricted free agent July 1, 2020, has 25 points (six goals, 19 assists) in 30 games this season. The Devils (10-17-5), next to last in the Eastern Conference, held the 28-year-old forward out of the lineup the past two games as a precaution when trade talks intensified.

"The first day was fine, missing the first game was fine, but after that, you start to think a little bit," Hall said. "Really, I was just anxious to get moved and see where I end up, and obviously it's a great spot for me. So that's what kind of transpired. It's been a whirlwind few days, but at the end of the day, it looks like I'll be playing hockey tomorrow night, so I'm happy."

The Coyotes (19-12-4), who are in first place in the Pacific Division, play at the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday (10:30 p.m. ET; NBCSCA, FS-A PLUS, NHL.TV).

Hall won the Hart Trophy voted as NHL MVP in 2017-18, when he had 93 points (39 goals, 54 assists) and helped New Jersey reach the playoffs for the first time in six seasons.

"It's a rare opportunity, potentially once in a lifetime, where you get a chance to acquire a player of this caliber, with his background, that again we think fits directly a need that we have if we want to be a contending team," Arizona general manager John Chayka said. "He's got great character, he's a good person, and he's an elite player in the League. So to check all those boxes was something we felt we couldn't miss out on if the price is right, and we felt like it was."

Hall said he had not had a chance to talk to Coyotes coach Rick Tocchet.

"I've heard a lot of really good things," he said. "I'm happy to be able to play for him. I know he's done a lot of good things with forwards in the past, and I'm a player that wants to be coached, so I'm excited for that. ... It's not about what line I play on or what power-play unit. I'm really just looking forward to winning games."

Selected with the No. 1 pick of the 2010 NHL Draft by the Edmonton Oilers, Hall had 328 points (132 goals, 196 assists) in 381 games in six seasons with the Oilers but never reached the postseason with them.

He was traded to New Jersey by Edmonton for defenseman Adam Larsson on June 29, 2016, and had 208 points (76 goals, 132 assists) in 211 games in four seasons with the Devils. Last season, Hall missed the final 47 games after he had arthroscopic surgery in February to remove fragments from his left knee.

"Like a lot of guys on our team here in New Jersey, it wasn't a great year, but I feel healthy, I feel confident that I can help any team that I was going to join," he said. "The puck hasn't gone in as much as I would like, but hopefuly that can turn around."

Hall became eligible to sign a contract of up to eight years with the Devils on July 1.

"I've been open to anything and I haven't closed the book on signing with any team prior to July 1," Hall said. "Talking to John Chayka, that's something we can discuss as time goes on, but I think both sides are really comfortable with just playing and letting the contract stuff sort itself out. Really, that's not what I'm focused on. I just want to come and help win games, get to the playoffs, and do some damage there."

New Jersey, which fired John Hynes as coach Dec. 3, replacing him with Alain Nasreddine, hosts the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday (7 p.m. ET; MSG+, PRIME, NHL.TV).

NHL.com senior writer Dan Rosen and columnist Nicholas J. Cotsonika contributed to this report