Adam Hall (reported to have signed with Swiss team HC Ambri-Piotta)

[Trudel]

...has signed a contract in Switzerland. What can you tell me about him? Strenghts, weakness?
how do you rate his last season und why do you think hes hasnt received a new contract in NHL?

Click to read more...

 

[Striiker]

...has signed a contract in Switzerland. What can you tell me about him? Strenghts, weakness?
how do you rate his last season und why do you think hes hasnt received a new contract in NHL?

Good at faceoffs and penalty killing, bad at anything offensive related.

Here's the highlights of all of his goals, which isn't really relevant because he'll never be an offensive threat or used as an offensive player, but it's the only highlights your likely to find of him.

http://video.flyers.nhl.com/videocenter/console?hlp=8467925&lang=en

Edit: I should add that I have zero clue about the Swiss league so who knows how he'll do offensively there. Just don't expect much.

 

[LegionOfDoom91]

Hard worker & good teammate. He's good at the faceoff dot & on the PK.

However he had trouble keeping pace in the NHL last year for the most part. His skating & speed are deteriorating with age. The Flyers basically just used him as a faceoff/PK specialist.

 

[Curufinwe]

He didn't have the legs anymore for ES NHL play so this seems like a good move.

 

[Striiker]

I assume this has zero effect on Laughton making the team. I don't think Hall was getting signed whether Laughton was in the NHL or AHL.

 

[Flyotes]

I liked Hall. Happy trails.

 

[Hockeypete49]

I liked Hall. Happy trails.

Same here. I hope this helps Scott get to where he belongs.

 

[GKJ]

He'll be fine in the NLA. He'll get more ice time and a more offensive role.

 

[Sawdalite]

At the STH's Town Hall they were asked if there was a chance that they'd sign him... and Hexy, flat out and said he was not in their plans -- he didn't look real comfortable having to say it, but like Homer at GM before him, he did'nt sidestep or dodge any questions... and give the appearance of being honest.

My personal opinion is that Hall was the best bang for the buck as he killed Penalties well and was a good defensive specialist when needed, and won his share of face-offs... all at a minimum type salary and could be buried with no penalty. All that said, he was not picked up by another NHL team, so it is possible that they noticed that he did in deed lose a step in the NHL. I believe that with Umberger coming onboard, Hall's PK and possibly defensive specialty role will be taken over by him... of course, besides the PKing, his spot on wing will determine his flexibility... and Hall's spot is now open for a kid/prospect with Hall's duties being taken over by others.

I don't know how well he will do in Switzerland, but I imagine he will work his arse and do as much as his limited abilities and age allows him... IMO he was liked by the fans and I believe by his teammates, even if no other NHL GM believed he could still bring a lot of role playing to the table for such a dirt cheap price... I wish him well.

 

[Striiker]

So now that Hall is gone the PK forwards will probably be Couturier, Read, Raffl, and possibly Bellemare, Laughton, or Umberger.

 

[LegionOfDoom91]

So now that Hall is gone the PK forwards will probably be Couturier, Read, Raffl, and possibly Bellemare, Laughton, or Umberger.

I would say Umberger replaces Hall & Giroux's the 5th option similar to pretty much last year going off info we have at hand right now. Giroux very likely gets bumped down if Laughton & Bellemare make the team & prove themselves as viable PKer's.

 

[Striiker]

I would say Umberger replaces Hall & Giroux's the 5th option similar to pretty much last year going off info we have at hand right now. Giroux very likely gets bumped down if Laughton & Bellemare make the team & prove themselves as viable PKer's.

I think they'll probably whatever possible to make sure Giroux spends as little time as possible PKing.

 

[Doors]

Can someone post a link that confirms this?

 

[Delete99991]

He's one of those guys who trades on leadership and intangible stuff. Faceoffs are his only real talent, and even those are probably more hard work than anything.

Some people think you need guys like him around. In my view his skating and offense weren't good enough at the NHL level, even in a 4c capacity, no matter how solid a pro he apparently is.

 

[Flyerss]

Can someone post a link that confirms this?

http://swisshockeynews.ch/index.php...piotta-signs-adam-hall-to-a-one-year-contract

 

[dats81]

He'll be missed in the locker room. Great teammate and calming Veteran presence.

It's always good to have that kind of player who knows and accepts his role but he just didn't bring enough besides defensive zone facoffs to justify keeping him around...

 

[BackToTheBrierePatch]

good guy and a good teammate. thought the Flyers may go in another direction tho. wish him the best.

 

[Garbage Goal]

He's one of those guys who trades on leadership and intangible stuff. Faceoffs are his only real talent, and even those are probably more hard work than anything.

Some people think you need guys like him around. In my view his skating and offense weren't good enough at the NHL level, even in a 4c capacity, no matter how solid a pro he apparently is.

Just my take but I don't think you're supposed to expect any modicum of offense from a fourth liner other then the abilities to forechecking and pressure the play into the offensive zone. It's why it's a fourth line to begin with. Hall definitely also didn't just have face-off ability as his only tangible asset. He was also excellent on the PK and defensively.

Like others have said he just lacks the speed and skating to keep up well enough to even contribute to aforementioned forechecking and offensive zone pressure.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Bill Meltzer wrote an article posted today on HockeyBuzz which describes the player and personality...

http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog/Bill-Meltzer/Meltzers-Musings-Hall-to-Switzerland-Quick-Hits/45/61613

 

[Random Forest]

Just my take but I don't think you're supposed to expect any modicum of offense from a fourth liner other then the abilities to forechecking and pressure the play into the offensive zone. It's why it's a fourth line to begin with. Hall definitely also didn't just have face-off ability as his only tangible asset. He was also excellent on the PK and defensively.

Like others have said he just lacks the speed and skating to keep up well enough to even contribute to aforementioned forechecking and offensive zone pressure.

You shouldn't expect offensive ability from a fourth liner, but you should certainly expect decent puck skills.

Yeah, it's nice that he was reliable defensive guy without the puck on his stick, but the problem is that he never did anything but play defense because he couldn't do a thing with the puck.

That's absolutely not what you want from your fourth line. Hall was a very deceptive player in that he appeared very responsible...but he was actually a total liability. He's a "great defensive presence", but if he's never doing anything but defending, it doesn't matter. That's the reason he's no longer in the NHL.

EDIT: And funny enough, Rinaldo has the total opposite problem as Hall. He's actually a pretty damn good skater with decent puck skills but thinks the game so poorly. Zadam Hallnaldo would be a terrific fourth liner. Unfortunately, both players are terrible options separately.

 

[Garbage Goal]

You shouldn't expect offensive ability from a fourth liner, but you should certainly expect decent puck skills.

Yeah, it's nice that he was reliable defensive guy without the puck on his stick, but the problem is that he never did anything but play defense because he couldn't do a thing with the puck.

That's absolutely not what you want from your fourth line. Hall was a very deceptive player in that he appeared very responsible...but he was actually a total liability. He's a "great defensive presence", but if he's never doing anything but defending, it doesn't matter. That's the reason he's no longer in the NHL.

EDIT: And funny enough, Rinaldo has the total opposite problem as Hall. He's actually a pretty damn good skater with decent puck skills but thinks the game so poorly. Zadam Hallnaldo would be a terrific fourth liner. Unfortunately, both players are terrible options separately.

I literally said all of that about his skating, speed, and ability to forechecking/pressure in my second paragraph. I agree.

 

[Trudel]

thanks for your informations, here's the confirmation of the transfer:
http://www.hcap.ch/it/article/2934/e-lo-statunitense-adam-hall-il-quarto-straniero-biancoblu

 

[SwissLeaf]

Bill Meltzer wrote an article posted today on HockeyBuzz which describes the player and personality...

http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog/Bill-Meltzer/Meltzers-Musings-Hall-to-Switzerland-Quick-Hits/45/61613

Thanks for the link!

 

[chupanibre]

Can't say I'm going to miss him a whole lot, as he didn't bring that much to the table in my eyes, but good luck Adam! Hope Switzerland is good to you.

 

[Sawdalite]

I wish some people would keep in mind that he was a very reasonably paid and adequate role player on a team that had its back pressed against the Cap wall... one that could be buried at any point, had they wanted, without any Cap hit remaining... He was a very good bang for the buck when you consider that the buck was extremely low. We are not talking about a key player or highly projected prospect... He was here as long as the Organization believed he fit the role well enough and helped the in their Cap control, and was allowed to leave with dignity.

Personally, I always have a special place in my heart for the unheralded grunts of the Flyers who are good and loyal soldiers and cause no problems... You will find that many past ones have been rewarded post career within the Organization in one capacity or another.

FWIW