Could the Arizona Coyotes keep Taylor Hall without gutting the roster?

With how unique the situation is and will be, could the Arizona Coyotes re-sign Taylor Hall without gutting their roster?

With an eye on ending a long playoff drought, the Arizona Coyotes acquired Taylor Hall from the New Jersey Devils in December. The 2018 Hart Trophy winner is set to become a free agent this offseason, so it was an all-in move for general manager John Chayka.

After the NHL season was suspended in March, the Coyotes used that time to start discussions with Hall’s agent about a new contract. It’s unclear how things have progressed, but recent comments from head coach Rick Tocchet to ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski suggest Hall won’t just sign a one-year deal this summer and hit what should be a better market in 2021.

“You’re talking about a guy who, before this, was going to make a ton of money,” Tocchet said on the “ESPN On Ice” podcast. “With this whole pandemic, like he told me, he doesn’t want to go through another year trying to play on a one-year contract. He wants to get settled somewhere. So, he’s got a lot of different options that he’s gotta weigh.”

That said, Tocchet thinks the Coyotes have a strong chance to keep Hall around.

“I’m not saying he is going to sign here, but I definitely think we’re a team he’s very interested in staying with.”

The NHL salary cap doesn’t climb each year like it does in other sports, but a rise for next year is now more likely to stay at or near this year’s $81.5 million number. The Coyotes were going to be up against the cap anyway, but that margin is sure to be tighter.

The Devils covered half of Hall’s $6 million cap hit for this year when the trade happened, but that cap hit is probably near the floor for him on a free agent deal.

So Chayka needs to clear some cap space to have any chance to sign Hall. Can it be done? Here are some ideas.

Trade or buy out center Derek Stepan

At 29-years-old, Stepan is in decline (35 points over 72 games in 2018-19, 28 points in 70 games this season). Next year will be the final year of his contract, so maybe Chayka can find a taker for at least a chunk of that $6.5 million cap hit.

Trade winger Michael Grabner

Grabner has never been a scorer, and at 32-years-old (33 in October) that isn’t changing. But he has been a positive plus-minus player, and as a depth forward he has some value. Next season will also be the final year of his contract, with a $3.35 million cap hit the Coyotes would surely like to clear out. A late draft pick might be all they’d need.

Trade or buy out defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson

Arizona’s cap sheet is filled with no-move and no-trade clauses, and the veteran blue liner Hjalmarsson is on the list with a $5 million cap hit for 2020-21 (the last year of his contract). But maybe he can be convinced to waive it, or a buyout could be in the cards.

The Coyotes can make room to sign Hall in other ways, but they will have to get more creative and make some tougher decisions in regard to trades, buyouts and trying to get no-move clauses waived.

It’s not impossible, but the odds Hall will be back in Arizona with a roster that has the same core players it does now is patently unlikely.

Follow FanSided NHL for more news, analysis, opinion and unique coverage about hockey in all forms throughout the entire 2019-20 NHL season and beyond.