Oilers' Hall won't suit up for Canadian juniors

The Canadian men's junior team won't have Taylor Hall to help them regain gold at next year's world champion tournament.

Hall, the first overall pick in the NHL draft this past June, has decided to forgo next week's junior camp in St. John's, N.L., in order to focus on making the Edmonton Oilers for the upcoming NHL season.

The decision means Hall won't be eligible to play at the world junior hockey championship in Buffalo, N.Y., a requirement put in place by Hockey Canada, which insists all players must take part in the camp if they are to earn a spot on the team.

"Ideally we would have liked him to come to the summer camp to keep that option open, based on our policy. But his preparation for the upcoming season is focused on the NHL," said Brad Pascall, Hockey Canada senior director of national men's teams.

Hall, a former Windsor Spitfire star, competed in last season's junior tournament where he scored six goals and six assists.

Canada lost its bid for a sixth straight gold medal after losing in a heartbreaking final to the Americans.

Hall signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Oilers on July 5.

"It's an exciting day for me," the winger said during a news conference at the time. "Obviously signing an NHL contract is a big deal, and it's just the first step for me and the Oilers organization."

Under the contract, the 18-year-old will be paid a maximum base salary of $900,000 per season. Performance bonuses could boost his salary to more than $3 million a year.