The Larsson/Hall Trade so far from the Devils’ Perspective
The discussion and debate surrounding the Adam Larsson for Taylor Hall trade that shocked the NHL world this summer has been raging since the very first tweet that announced it, all the way up until the current day and will likely carry over into the future for years to come.
To this point in time, the heated talks have been covered on blogs, ranted about on social media, and have even found significant radio play time, even up to this day. With the Oilers set to face off against Taylor and the Devils in a little over 24 hours, and then again in just under a week, this discourse will only intensify over the coming days.
However, the one thing to consider for probably most Oilers fans is that when it comes to this type of discussion, unless someone was to go about actively seeking the opinion of those who watch a lot of New Jersey hockey, the majority of what is taken in on the trade in Edmonton is from an Oilers observer’s perspective. Obviously, this method of analyzing the trade doesn’t necessarily provide the most rounded of discussions.
In light of that, I thought that it it would be a good idea to take some time to speak with a couple of writers who cover the New Jersey Devils and see what they have to say about the trade so far.
It is still very young in the trade’s age, but considering that it is halfway through the season already, it should certainly be worth it to take a look at things from the broader perspective.
This piece will be covered in two parts, with the second coming tomorrow morning. For this, I have selected two writers who not only know their hockey, but specifically know their New Jersey hockey quite well. These two gentlemen have spent countless hours covering the Devils and with that they have developed very respected and knowledgeable opinions on the team.
I think that both men have provided superb answers and will really help to provide us Oilers fans with what is being seen on the East Coast.
Speaking with Todd Cordell
First up we have Todd Cordell. Todd is a very sharp hockey writer (among other things) who covers the New Jersey Devils and Calgary Flames specifically, along with general NHL and junior league topics.
Todd does a lot of insightful writing at a few different places and you can find links to all of it at his Twitter: @ToddCordell. In addition to those links, you will find a plethora of tweets with a treasure trove of useful and interesting information. If you aren’t already following him, I would suggest you do.
With that said, below is Todd’s look at the Taylor Hall for Adam Larsson trade so far. Not only will we see what the Devils look like with Hall in the lineup, but we also get a glimpse into what life has been like without the steady hand of Larsson on the back end. Enjoy.
Bret: It has been analyzed many times over, but to provide a little context, in a few short words what were your initial thoughts on the Taylor Hall for Adam Larsson trade?
Todd: I was driving at the time and my phone started blowing up. I pulled over to the side of the road so I could see what was going on and I had a bunch of texts and tweets notifying me of the trade. When I was first going through it and saw Adam Larsson and Taylor Hall involved I was like ‘ok, this is a good base for the deal. what else is New Jersey giving up?’ The answer, of course, was nothing.
I knew the Devils and Oilers had been talking about quite a few different possibilities — I believe Damon Severson and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins had their names brought up prior — but I was surprised the Devils managed to get Hall without giving up more.
From your perspective, what, if any, impact has the loss of Adam Larsson had on the New Jersey Devils, and more specifically, the defence of the Devils?
I think it has certainly hurt. Damon Severson has done a nice job filling in for Larsson on the top pairing, but the notable additions, if you call it that, on defense were Ben Lovejoy and Kyle Quincey. Neither of those guys can hold a candle to Larsson, so it’s no surprise the defense has struggled without him.
What are some specifics as to how the defence has changed? Are there specific items from Adam Larsson’s game that you miss? Any items that you are glad have left?
The defense has lost some of its physicality and steadiness. Larsson had developed some bite to his game in the year or two prior to being traded, and was very good in his own zone at 5v5 and on the penalty kill. His absence has definitely hurt in that regard.
What impact, if any, has Taylor Hall had on the New Jersey Devils, and more specifically, the offence? Has he lived up to your expectations?
Hall has been fantastic from the word go. He has taken a beating from the outside because the Devils have struggled but it’s certainly not deserved. At 5v5, the Devils generate more scoring chances and high-danger scoring chances with Hall on the ice than any other player. He is also producing at a 71-point pace over 82 games. He has been everything the Devils could have hoped for and more.
Taylor Hall is obviously a very exciting player to watch. Are there specific facets of his game that you find particularly enjoyable? Any facets that maybe you would like to see changed?
His speed and skill stand out but I also like his competitiveness. He has thrown some big hits and shown no hesitation darting to the dirty areas or mucking it up in the corner. He has also been pretty good without the puck. I have absolutely no complaints about his play.
To this point in the season, the Devils have had a relatively disappointing campaign. Do you see a connection between the results of this season and the trade? Why or why not?
I do not. You could say the defense is worse without Larsson, but the offense is certainly much better having a guy like Hall producing at a 70+ point pace. I think there was a net gain overall.
Going back to the first question, seeing what you have so far, have your opinions on the trade changed at all? If so, how?
Not at all. Maybe it’s the scouting philosophy in me, but I have always believed in getting the best player available as opposed to taking a lesser player to fill a need. I think that’s what we saw with the Hall/Larsson trade as the former is the more impactful, and better, player.
Overall, from the perspective of the Devils, would you make the trade again?
100%. The Devils have been a disaster offensively since Zach Parise and Ilya Kovalchuk left. In Hall, the Devils acquired an elite player locked up long-term at a favorable cap hit given what he brings to the table.
The defense has struggled this year but the Devils can address that in the off-season with all the cap space and draft picks they possess. Defensemen like Larsson are easier to get your hands on than elite point producers like Hall.
Concluding Part 1
Well there we have Todd’s take on how the season has gone so far for the Devils. A very founded and reasonable view on the situation for sure.
Oilers fans, is it what you had expected to hear or has it come as a bit of a surprise? Let us know in the comments or on Twitter about what you think.
As for my analysis on both interviews, I will save it for Part 2 of this piece which will be released tomorrow morning. In that one, we will speak with John Fischer (@JKFischer) from allaboutthejersey.com to hear his view on the trade.
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