Chicago Blackhawks Trade Former First Overall Pick Taylor Hall, per Source
According to a new report by Pierre LeBrun, forward Taylor Hall is expected to be traded in the coming days.
With speculation that he may be dealt ahead of March 7, and with the Blackhawks trying to accelerate their rebuild, it looks like the team is cutting ties with a veteran and former first overall pick.
Per Pierre LeBrun, there is a supposed deal lined up that involves at least the Carolina Hurricanes as part of a three-team deal.
No word yet on the mysterious third team potentially involved.
This season, Hall has nine goals and 15 assists with a minus-15 in 46 games with the Blackhawks.
It didn't take long for Hall to be on the move, only minutes after this article was published, he was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes in a package that also included Mikko Rantanen heading from Colorado to the 'Canes.
Hall will be a part of a Hurricanes team that will no doubt become one of the scariest in the Eastern Conference, and instantly increase their Stanley Cup odds with the blockbuster deal.
Chicago is also retaining 50% of Rantanen's salary as well according to The Athletic's Scott Powers.
Taylor Hall's Journey With Chicago Comes To An End
The former first overall pick has had quite the downturn since coming to Chicago. With only 11 goals and 17 assists in 56 games, he's a shell of the former player who used to average 20 goals and also had a career high 39 in 2017-18; the year he won the Hart.
He hasn't been a factor much this season although he's been healthy so that's a huge plus. The issue is his lack of production doesn't even come close to the $6M he's being paid.
The saving grace is that he will be a free agent at season's end, and whichever team takes him whether it be Carolina or the third team, they don't need to worry about his deal in the summer (unless he explodes in the playoffs and helps win a Cup).
Hall is 33 and definitely in the twilight of his career, and though he's been a fantastic player, he's never won the big one and time is running out. In his 878 game career he has 275 goals and 446 assists with time spent in Edmonton, New Jersey, Arizona, Buffalo, Boston, and Chicago.
Though he is much older now, his veteran presence and leadership will no doubt be a huge addition to the team that picks him up, and with how he also dealt with the pressure of being a top pick, Hall understands the nuances that make up an NHL player.
Taylor Hall is headed to his seventh team in his career, but perhaps this is his lucky day and he finally gets to taste championship gold.
