The divorce between Taylor Hall and the Buffalo Sabres

The divorce between Taylor Hall and the Buffalo Sabres was finalized on Sunday night as the Sabres traded him to the Boston Bruins.

Forward Curtis Lazar will accompany Hall to Boston, while Anders Bjork and a second-round pick in the 2021 National Hockey League (NHL) draft are sent to the Sabres.

Hall's stay in Buffalo ultimately did not prove to be very fruitful. Having agreed to a one-season contract for $8 million last October, he scored two goals and totaled 19 points in 37 games. He also had a -21 rating.

As life sometimes makes things strange, the Bruins' new acquisition will drive to Boston to face his former Sabres teammates on Tuesday. Admitting he didn't enjoy his time in Buffalo, he wants to look forward.

"Obviously, it didn't go well," he said in a video conference. Now, I don't expect to show up here [in Boston] and burn everything in my path. I just want to be here and win games. I want to be part of a winning team."

Besides, in his new organization, Hall won't necessarily be the player to watch. The Bruins are still banking on the likes of David Pastrnak, Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand to give opposing goalies trouble. The pressure on his shoulders should be less than in the past.

"That's one of the main reasons I wanted to play here. I'm happy to be here. I've been the main focus of a few teams before and I could never get used to the idea," he said. Then, on the free agent market, I chose Buffalo, a club with Jack Eichel, a better guy than me. I wanted to be a big part of that group and be on a successful team. But it didn't work out. But I'm really happy to be going to Boston, where there are great field hockey players, guys who have had great careers and I can learn from them. I'm 29 years old, but I think I can grasp some concepts at this age to improve as a player and leader."

Drafted by the Edmonton Oilers first overall in the 2010 amateur auction, the Albertan has totaled 220 goals and 582 points in 664 games since his debut. Most notably, he won the Hart Trophy, awarded to the league's top player, in 2018 while playing for the New Jersey Devils.

Source: AFP