Hall-ted

Some bad news came over wire yesterday afternoon when the Edmonton Oilers found out that their franchise forward and top player, Taylor Hall, would miss at least four weeks with a knee injury. Hall suffered the injury when his knee collided with the knee of Eric Gryba in last Saturday’s afternoon tilt against the Senators.

After serving a two-minute minor, Hall joined an offensive rush and had his knee buckle up on him. Hall left the ice and didn’t return to the game. He returned to Edmonton on Sunday, and got an MRI on Monday in Edmonton. The results were learned yesterday before the Oilers took the ice in Montreal for their game against the Habs.

Sportsnet’s intermission panel gave some specifics last night during the Oilers game, saying Hall suffered a a grade two ACL strain, and that the recovery time is really four weeks minimum. To me, it sounds like the Oilers should be prepared to play a month plus without their top offensive weapon. That’s a scary thought for a team that has struggled out of the gate.

Hall will be gone for at least four weeks, and I’d guess it will be closer to six, but then again I’m no doctor. It’s a knee ligament, so the Oilers have to be careful here. Hall is their biggest piece, and they can’t afford to rush him back into the fold, no matter how bad things might get.

For Hall, this is the continuation of a bad trend. Hall has suffered an injury in every season he has played in. It was the ankle that ended his season early in 2010/11. In 2011/12, he suffered a shoulder injury in November, and then a concussion that ended his season in March. Not to mention, Hall had shoulder surgery after the season which kept him out of action until last November.

He hurt his hamstring during the shortened season last year as well. He’s never been healthy through an entire season and that’s a little bit of a reason for concern. The hit Hall took from Gryba wasn’t bad, and you have to wonder if it’s bad luck or if Hall really is just a fragile player.

Hopefully these next four plus weeks are enough to get Hall back into the lineup and keep him healthy.

From an Oilers standpoint, this is a major blow for a team playing catch up in the standings. The Oilers need all hands on deck here, and now will be without their top offensive option in Hall. This creates a big hole in Edmonton’s top six, and forces other players to step up. The Oilers lose the player who stirs the drink and pushes the river, and it will have an impact on the team’s offensive production.

Players like Nail Yakupov and David Perron will need to step up and take a bigger role now. Yakupov has struggled in the early going, but is going to get every chance here to break through. Perron will have to pick up the slack on the left side now, and he should be able to do that if he keeps playing the way he currently is. He’s been really good to this point.

Tyler Pitlick, who was recalled to take Hall’s roster spot, will have to step up too when in the lineup. He’s got the kind of skill-set that can cushion the blow. He’s got good speed and can play a decent physical game, and is good on the forecheck. He’s got a little bit of offense to him too, and if he plays to his potential could be a of great assistance to the Oilers lineup.

It’s a big blow to the Oilers to have Hall out for the next four weeks and maybe beyond, but there are ways to soften the blow. Players will have to step up.