from Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News,

This was a major move for the Buffalo Sabres and first-year General Manager Kevyn Adams. No one in the hockey world had any inkling it was coming.

The Sabres sent shockwaves through the league Sunday night, instantly transforming their head-scratching free agency period into a huge windfall by signing left winger Taylor Hall – the 2018 Hart Trophy winner with the New Jersey Devils – to a one-year, $8 million contract.

Hall, who finished last season with the Arizona Coyotes, was considered the top free-agent forward available in the league and immediately slots in to Buffalo's top line at left wing with center Jack Eichel.

"Awesome signing," Eichel said in a text to ESPN's John Buccigross.

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