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“And then a week later, my other buddy got traded. So, it was like two of my best buddies in the whole world on the team got traded in a week. So for me, it was kind of a rude awakening.

“Now, in the past two seasons, losing Hallsie and Ebs and all these different guys, it just goes to show you that it is a business. But friendships do last. I talk to Taylor all the time, I was at Ebs’s wedding … so, like I said, friendships last. Those are the types of bonds you get when you are on a team.”

Photo by AP

Talking about McDavid’s first camp as an Oiler brings back memories for Hall, back to a time 24 months ago when he, McDavid and Eberle had aspirations of bringing back the Stanley Cup to Edmonton together.

“It seems like a long time ago,” Hall recalled. “Going out for dinner with Connor, he was so bright eyed and trying to find his place on the team.

“We all knew he was the face of the team the first day he stepped on the ice for training camp. Selfishly, it’s kind of cool that I got to experience that with Connor because he’s going to be one of the best players in the game. I was there for his first training camp and I was able to spend time with him away from the rink which a lot of guys didn’t get the chance to do. That’s pretty cool for me.

“But a lot has happened since then. Connor’s a Hart Trophy winner, I’m on a different team, Jordan’s on a different team. A lot can happen in this game and it just goes to show you you have to enjoy the present at any given time.”

Photo by DAN RIEDLHUBER / Postmedia

In mid-July, Eberle got the Three Amigos back together again at his wedding, a lively event that featured Hall singing karaoke and using a guitar as a goalie stick to face shots from McDavid.