Hall's free-agency priority 'probably all winning'

After 10 seasons and only 14 games of NHL postseason experience, Taylor Hall wants to spend the next chapter of his career in the playoffs on a more regular basis.

"I think, honestly, it's probably all winning," the Arizona Coyotes forward said Friday when asked what's most important as he heads to unrestricted free agency for the first time in his career, according to NHL.com's Nick Cotsonika.

"Any player at this stage in their career that has had the career that I've had, 10 seasons, only make the playoffs twice, that's really what I'm after," the 28-year-old said. "So we'll see what happens there."

The Coyotes have made the playoffs just once in the last eight years, but Hall isn't ruling out a return to the desert.

"I think the Coyotes have a bright future," he said. "They have some great guys, some good young players. When I get around to crossing that bridge and I kind of come to what I want to do, we'll see."

Hall understands he likely won't get paid as much due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has caused the league to institute a flat salary cap - rather than a rising one - for multiple years. That's placed a premium on winning.

"But yeah, I'd say it's pretty much all winning," he said. "I don't think the money's going to be what it was maybe before COVID or before the season, but that's fine. I think we get paid a lot of money to play a game, and we'll see what happens."

Hall recorded 16 goals and 52 points in 65 regular-season games. He added six more points in nine playoff contests. He and St. Louis Blues captain Alex Pietrangelo are expected to headline this offseason's free-agent class.

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