A year ago, people tried to trade him. Now, people can’t imagine the Oilers without him. Taylor Hall truly is a dynamic talent and the player that is arguably most responsible for Edmonton’s recent winning streak and rise in the standings.
Connor McDavid will be the face of the franchise, he’ll be the straw that stirs the drink as we move forward. However, that time is not now. McDavid is banged up and as good as he is, and he is damn good, he’s still just 18 years old and developing. He needs a veteran to help him, and that man is Taylor Hall.
Right now, Hall is the best player in Edmonton and it isn’t even close. Taylor Hall sits 4th in the NHL’s scoring race, he’s firing at over a point-per-game pace. In 30 games, Hall has scored 14-20-34, those are staggeringly good numbers.
Only Patrick Kane, Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin have scored more points than Hall, that’s extremely good company.
The Offense:
Hall had a down year last year, but it wasn’t exactly his fault. He was injured early and rushed back by the Oilers. The result of that? Another injury and essentially a lost season. Sure, the numbers aren’t good but there were so many factors that it’s tough to look at last season as a true showing from Hall.
This season is more like the 2012-13 and 2013-14 seasons, when Hall was a top-ten point producer in the NHL. The fact is, Hall is one of the top three left wingers in the NHL and one of the top ten scorers in this league currently. He has sublime skill and can do things that a lot of players can only dream of.
His skill and speed combination is quite impressive, and his ability to push possession and create so many scoring chances is impressive to say the least. He and McDavid being on separate lines when this team is healthy will create so many favorable match-ups for this hockey club.
Hall, offensively, is a special player.
Old Dog, New Tricks:
I think the most impressive thing about Taylor Hall this season is his defensive play. Hall currently holds a +15 rating, good for second in the entire NHL only behind Detroit’s Dylan Larkin. With Hall out there, the Oilers are scoring quite a bit more than they are giving up, that’s a key development and a big reason for the improvement.
His defensive play has been so much better this season overall. Hall doesn’t make the key mistakes that he had before, he plays a much smarter game now. Todd McLellan’s system seems to be a perfect fit for Hall, who has adapted to it better than any system implemented by Tom Renney, Ralph Kruger, Dallas Eakins or Todd Nelson.
Taylor Hall is not longer just a great offensive threat, he’s become a solid all-around player. His ability to not make mistakes and keep the puck moving in the right direction has allowed him to take the next step as a player. Taylor Hall is bordering on franchise talent right now.
Final Thoughts:
Taylor Hall has always been a very fun player to watch. This season, however, is on a totally different level. Hall is playing with confidence in his game and he’s generating a ton on offense. His point totals show that, and the eye test shows it too. When you watch Hall play, you almost expect him to create a chance each and every shift. Very few players you can say that about.
His attention to detail this season, becoming a more two-way player, has made all the difference in the world. His ability to keep the puck moving in the right direction has given Edmonton a truly dominating line, and it’s kept them in the playoff race.
What happens the rest of the way, well that’s anyone’s guess. That said, Taylor Hall’s emergence as a two-way player has made him an elite NHL’er. When Edmonton gets back to respectability, and it will happen, Hall will be a major piece of that along with guys like McDavid, Draisaitl, Nurse and Klefbom.
What a difference a year can make, huh?
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