Hall expects 'gracious' ovation in return to Edmonton

For the first time in his career, Taylor Hall is set to step onto the ice in Edmonton as a visiting player.

The New Jersey Devils, to whom Hall was traded this past offseason, visit the Oilers on Thursday, giving Hall the opportunity to reacquaint himself with the Edmonton faithful.

It's a reunion he believes will be free of emnity.

"I think I’ll get a good applause," Hall said, per Jim Matheson of The Edmonton Journal. "In the past when guys have come back and played they’ve always been gracious to them. I don’t think it’ll be any different.

"That’s the kind of people that are here in Edmonton. I really enjoyed my time here and the way they treated me."

At the same time, Hall admits there won't be much to celebrate.

"It’s not like we had Stanley Cup parades in Edmonton. There was a lot of losing, a lot of dark times but through all of that, I really enjoyed my time here," he said.

Hall appeared in 381 games for the Oilers after being selected first overall in 2010, recording 132 goals and 196 assists for a point per game average of 0.86.