Good articles thrown up by Craig on The Athletic, here's some interesting stuff:
This was more of a meet-and-greet.
“It’s important for Darren and Taylor to understand the full scope of everything we’re doing here and hear what our plans are, so I introduced him to Alex,” Chayka said Monday. “Part of our process in bringing Taylor here was showing him what we’re about and hearing our vision.”
Ferris came away from that dinner impressed.
“Alex is a super guy with a super family and a really fresh approach,” Ferris said Monday. “I think he is going to do really well for the city of Phoenix, for Arizona and for the Coyotes.
“He cares. He really has this passion that I like. Again, it’s refreshing. He gets it. It’s not too often that you meet owners who really get it. Sometimes, they’re just buying teams as a business. For him, he cares about the players and the city and the team and winning. He’s committed, and I’ll tell you, I think he will do it. I can see why he’s successful in business.”
“I think Taylor has really enjoyed his time there so far,” Ferris said. “He has expressed how the team has treated him — the ownership, coaches, management — it has all been positive.
“He really likes the group of players there, and he really likes (coach Rick) Tocchet. As I told you, Tocchet is one of my all-time favorites in this league. I think he is a hell of a coach and he understands today’s game, and I think him and Taylor really relate well.”
Hall hasn’t had a lot of time to acclimate to Arizona since the Coyotes
acquired him from the New Jersey Devils on Dec. 16, but when the All-Star break arrived, he took a trip to Cabo San Lucas with a large group of Coyotes, including Derek Stepan, Alex Goligoski, Christian Fischer, Nick Schmaltz, Lawson Crouse, Vinnie Hinostroza, Jordan Oesterle, Clayton Keller, Christian Dvorak and Jakob Chychrun.
“It was great to spend time with them away from the rink and the hustle and bustle of the season,” Hall said before the Coyotes beat the Canadiens on Monday. “We got some sun and some relaxation, and my girlfriend has really liked a lot of the (girlfriends and wives of players) on the team, so that has been a good thing as well.
“To be honest, everything has been awesome besides, lately, the winning part. That’s the last part of the equation, but I’m pretty confident that we can turn things around and make a serious push for a playoff spot and hopefully contend for our division. It has been a lot of fun to join this group. I didn’t know what to expect when I was traded here, but it’s an awesome group of guys, and the off-ice staff and management have been great in assisting me and helping me get used to everything.”
“You can’t beat the weather,” he said. “My girlfriend’s parents just visited. I’ve got a buddy coming in next week and then another buddy three weeks after that. They never wanted to come visit me in Edmonton, but they all want to come to Arizona.”
The Coyotes made Hall’s transition as simple as possible by shipping his car and all his belongings. They even found him a home suitable for an NHL star.
“They set me up at Auston Matthews’ house,” Hall said, laughing. “It’s a nice spot, and I know him a little bit. They said it might be available for rent. It’s in Phoenix, on the Phoenix-Scottsdale border, with a pool house. It’s got everything you need and more, so it has been great. They have made it easy for me to come in and play. Hockey is all I have to worry about.”
“I like the group here a lot,” he said. “There’s a lot of skilled, young players, a general manager that I think is going to be here a long time that has a unique vision and looks at things in maybe a different scope than other people, and new ownership that really seems passionate about building something. All of those things are really positive, and then a coach that I have got along with really well and I feel like we see the game in a similar way. When I talk to Toc, I always feel like we’re on the same wavelength.
“When my agent and I came here and said we were open-minded, it wasn’t just lip service. It’s true. It’s definitely a place you’d have to really, really consider for sure, and I think this time frame has been good for them, too, to see what I’m like as a player and what I’m like as a person. It’s a two-way street. I’m not just some top auction prize. I view it as a partnership. If they want me, then they’ll make that known and we’ll go from there, but I am definitely open to it.”