MEN’S HOCKEY: Yale star Curtis Hall ’22 inks entry-level deal with Boston Bruins
Fewer than two months after forfeiting his last two years of NCAA eligibility and signing with the Providence Bruins, Hall secures his first National Hockey League contract. The Yale junior plans on continuing his studies this semester and said that getting a degree is a “top priority.”
Courtesy of Don Clark
On Monday morning, the Boston Bruins announced that they had signed Yale men’s ice hockey center Curtis Hall ’22 to a three-year entry-level contract beginning in the 2021-2022 season.
In the two years that he spent with the Bulldogs, Hall quickly established himself as a notable figure on the ice. The 20 year old, who was selected 119th overall in the fourth round of the 2018 NHL Draft, tallied 38 total points with 22 goals and 16 assists during his time at Yale. In his sophomore campaign, Hall was the NCAA Division I statistical champion for game-winning goals and ranked ninth in the division with a .61 goals per game average. Additionally, the six-foot-four, 212-pound, Chagrin Falls, Ohio native led the Blue and White in goals and points, and received Second-Team All-ECAC and Second-Team All-Ivy League selections.
“I’m versatile. I played center my whole life, and occasionally right-wing in USA tournaments,” Hall told the News in a phone interview. “Me being able to play both positions gives me a good chance to get some games and show what I can do. The main goal is to be a consistent player in the Bruins’ lineup somewhere down the road.”
While this deal marks a great step forward in his hockey career, it is not Hall’s first professional commitment. The announcement comes fewer than two months after Hall had previously signed a one-year deal with the Providence Bruins, Boston’s American Hockey League affiliate and development team, earlier this year. Furthermore, the Bruins released the news on March 1, the first day in the NHL that entry-level contracts for next season are eligible for filing.
Hall described himself as a physical player with good offensive and defensive skills.
In a press release published by the Providence Bruins on Jan. 26, Boston Bruins General Manager Don Sweeney commented on the anticipated success of Hall as one of their top prospects.
“Our organization believes Curtis has a bright future with the Bruins and he has our full support as he takes the next steps with his hockey career.” Sweeney said.
The news of Hall’s signing brought excitement to many of his former teammates, including current Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguin Luke Stevens ’20.
The Yale graduate, who had secured his own professional contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins’ AHL affiliate last August, praised Hall for his talents and expressed enthusiasm for the junior’s future.
“Hallsy was a great player at Yale and really took off his second year at school,” Stevens wrote to the News. “Most importantly, he is a great guy and a great teammate. I couldn’t be happier for him and I’m sure he’ll have success at the next level.”
Yale senior winger Dante Palecco ’21 shared similar sentiments, speaking “for the whole team” with regards to the excitement they felt upon learning that Hall had signed with the Bruins. The New Jersey native not only acknowledged Hall’s skills, but he also commended him for his character off the ice and presence in the locker room.
“He does things with the puck on a daily basis that make you wonder just how he did that and it was a treat to watch him work,” Palecco said. “Definitely going to miss playing with him and having him around the locker room [and] campus, but I know he is going to have a very long, successful career and it is going to be fun to follow.”
Hall’s contract with Providence will end after the 30 games scheduled for this season. In his first game, he injured his knee and has been doing rehab since then to get back on the ice. Despite this, Hall emphasized that his time with the team was a “great learning experience.” He is currently enrolled in classes as he trains with Providence and reaffirmed that getting his degree is still a “top priority.” He also noted that his time with Providence has been “great in every aspect” and that he is looking forward to contributing “anything [he] can” to the Boston Bruins.
The three-year deal is annually worth $925,000 against the cap.
Trisha Nguyen | trisha.nguyen@yale.edu
Ángela Pérez | angela.perez@yale.edu
Correction, March 4: A previous version of this article said Hall’s contract with the AHL’s Providence Bruins, announced on Jan. 26, 2021, was signed three months ago. The article has been updated to reflect that the duration between Hall’s AHL and NHL Bruins contracts was in fact about a month and a half.
