Sabres.com

‘If one thing was clear listening to the three veterans during their introductory sessions with the Buffalo media Wednesday, it was an awareness regarding the roles they were brought in to play.’

‘Hall wore 4 during his junior career with Windsor of the Ontario Hockey League and kept the number through his first six NHL seasons with the Edmonton Oilers. He switched to No. 9 after joining the New Jersey Devils, where 4 was retired for Hall-of-Fame defenseman Scott Stevens, then wore No. 91 during his stint with the Arizona Coyotes last season.’

‘Hall envisioned himself playing for the Sabres even before free agency opened last Friday. He sat with his agent, Darren Ferris, and evaluated all 31 teams for their potential fits. Upon considering Buffalo, Hall told Ferris it was place he could see himself if the chance presented itself.’

‘”Well, number one is the culture that we worked so hard on last season,” Krueger said. “Here we are a few months later and we still have to admit we’re not happy with where we ended or the final results. But there was an amazing evolution within the group, within the team. I know that culture means a lot to Taylor, what’s going on in the room, what’s the relationship between the coaches and the players and the spirit. Our core spirit is strong.”‘

‘The Buffalo Sabres have signed forward Taylor Hall to a one-year contract worth $8 million, the team announced Sunday. The 28-year-old tallied 52 points (16+36) in 65 games with New Jersey and Arizona last season.’

‘Adams was also able to lean on coach Ralph Krueger, who built a relationship with Hall during their three seasons together in Edmonton, the last of which Krueger spent as head coach. Krueger was able to testify to Hall’s character and how it would mesh in the Buffalo dressing room.’

‘Montour, 26, tallied 18 points (5+13) in 54 games last season. Since making his Sabres debut on Feb. 26, 2019, he leads all Sabres defensemen with eight goals and a plus-9 rating. He ranks third amongst team defensemen in points (28) and second in average ice time (20:07) in that time frame.’

‘Girgensons, 26, tallied 12 goals and 19 points in 69 games last season, both of which represented his highest totals since 2014-15. His 11 even-strength goals tied his career high and ranked fourth on the Sabres.’

‘Rieder, 27, tallied 10 points (4+6) in 55 regular-season games with the Calgary Flames last season. He averaged 1:36 of shorthanded ice time per contest.’

‘Irwin, 32, recorded one assist in nine games for Anaheim last season after being acquired from Nashville at the NHL Trade Deadline.’