7/5/2010
The Edmonton Oilers have signed Taylor Hall, the first overall pick in the recent NHL entry draft, to a three-year entry level contract.
The Oilers announced the signing of the Windsor Spitfires' phenom during a news conference in Edmonton over the noon hour Monday. The 18-year-old forward is expected to crack the Oilers' roster this fall.
While details of the contract were not immediately made known, it's expected Hall will earn the maximum allowed for a rookie in the NHL -- that being a base salary of $850,000 for the coming season.
No doubt, Hall says he's thrilled, mainly because he can now think exclusively about hockey.
"The biggest thing for me and my family, and my agent was just to get it over with, and get it out of my head," says Hall, who is in Edmonton this week for a camp to give Oiler management and coaches a chance to look at the new crop of players wearing copper and blue. "After this camp, I can get back to Kingston, and start training, and really get ready for the season."
Oilers' general manager Steve Tambellini agrees that getting the contract done early was key, not only for Hall, but for the entire organization.
"He needs the time to be able to get back home, settle it down, get focussed on training," says Tambellini, "so that he's fresh coming into camp, obviously."
The Oilers grabbed Hall with the first-overall pick in the entry draft, June 25th, selecting him over Plymouth Whalers' superstar forward, Tyler Seguin, chosen second-overall by Boston.
(bp)
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