The New Jersey Devils are preparing to open up shop and the biggest name on the trading block is Taylor Hall. Here are the rumour updates and potential fits.
Taylor Hall has been on the trading block for the last few weeks due to how poorly the New Jersey Devils are playing. He sat out the Devils’ game as for “precautionary reasons” and will sit for his second game as everyone waits for his trade to be announced.
Back in 2017-18, Hall exploded offensively with 93 points (39 goals, 54 assists) in just 76 games played. He was awarded the Hart Trophy for the most valuable player to his team and many consider him one of the top players in the league. This season, he has 25 points in 30 games played and considering that he’s playing on one of the worst teams in the league, that’s pretty impressive.
More from Puck Prose
- Detroit Red Wings 2023 Rookie Camp Has Plenty of Ups and Downs
- This Columbus Blue Jackets rookie doesn’t want to be forgotten
- 2 trades the Boston Bruins must make to secure the Stanley Cup
- 3 reasons the Avalanche won’t win the Stanley Cup in 2024
- This is a big year for Alex Turcotte and the Los Angeles Kings
The teams that are in the mix for Hall are playoff contenders that want to push their team over the top. Acquiring an offensive juggernaut like him will not just instantly boost the team’s offense, but will also hype up the rest of the team as they know that this year is their big chance.
As for what New Jersey wants in return, they want high draft picks and young players with superstar potential. Elliotte Friedman said on his 31 Thoughts podcast that the package that the Devils receive will be based on the number of teams involved. If many teams are on the hunt, they will need to sweeten the pot to differentiate themselves from the others.
Here are three potential teams that Taylor Hall could end up with:
3. New York Islanders
Lou Lamoriello will never let anybody know that he’s interested in Taylor Hall, but his track record and his team’s needs fit the bill perfectly. Lamoriello likes to make big in-season moves if he thinks his team is going for the Stanley Cup because he believes that when a general manager makes a grand move, the locker room understands that he is giving them his blessing. Acquiring Hall is the biggest blessing you’re going to get if you’re in that Islanders’ locker room.
As for addressing a pressing need, the Islanders desperately need scoring. They have strong goaltending and defence but the team averages 2.9 goals a game which is 18th in the NHL. If they can add a former Hart Trophy winner to their lines, it will make their team a well-rounded threat. The Islanders proved last season that they have the goaltending and defence to get them to the second round. By adding Hall, they now have the offence to go even further.
2. St. Louis Blues
The St. Louis Blues believe that they have a legitimate shot of becoming repeat Stanley Cup champions. They’ve kept their core group together and are currently just one point behind the Colorado Avalanche for first in the Western Conference. And all of this winning comes without their star scorer, Vladimir Tarasenko. Tarasenko is out for five months after shoulder surgery and while the Blues have done a good job of getting scoring from all their players, adding a star will make them even better.
The Blues are an incredible team. They have arguably the best center core in the league, their defence is one of the best, and their goaltending has been solid. The addition of Taylor Hall makes them more dangerous than they already are. Doug Armstrong is not afraid of big moves and his trade history is quite impressive. Acquiring Hall would be the cherry on top for this decorated general manager.
1. Colorado Avalanche
The moment that Hall’s name was put on the trading block, everyone looked at the Colorado Avalanche. They have exploded out of the gates this season and are first in the Western Conference. With Nathan MacKinnon leading the charge, adding Taylor Hall would just be unfair.
Joe Sakic already made a bunch of moves this offseason that have made the Avalanche into the powerhouse they are right now. Trading for Hall is basically completing the puzzle. The team is high-flying and loves scoring goals. Their 3.7 goals per game is the best in the league and adding Hall will definitely push them over the top.
Lou Lamoriello, Doug Armstrong, and Joe Sakic are known to make some big moves when necessary. When a big name like Hall is on the block, these three general managers will not hesitate to pull the trigger. Taylor Hall is a player that can transform a team and wherever he ends up, they will become an instant Stanley Cup contender.