Taylor Hall - The most under appreciated player on HF

[5 14 6 1]

Hey all, like the rest of us Oiler faithful I have been extremely pleased with the play of all our young talent this season. I mean what's not to like with the likes of Schultz, RNH, Eberle, Hartikainen, Dubnyk, and the prospects Yakupov and Klefbom playing so well.

However I think one person has stood out especially over the last month, that player to me is Taylor Hall.

He is top 5 in AHL scoring after missing the entire first month of hockey and prior to that missing the end of the Oilers season as well. Not only has he shaken off all the rust but he has recovered extremely well from his shoulder surgery. (something i think we were all nervous for) over the last few games some of the media has claimed Taylor Hall has never been better, I'll take that not even 1/2 a season post shoulder surgery.

I know every fan on this board (other than a select few) see on a nightly basis what Hall brings to our team and the leadership and example he offers. It pains me to see fans of other teams consistently rate Hall as a 2nd tier first overall pick, and a lesser player than many that he doesn't deserve to be ranked behind. I know in the end it doesn't matter what other fans think, all I want is a little bit of appreciation for the future captain, and driving force behind this team.

Does anyone agree? Have you seen the hate for Hall? Why is he so hated? What do you think it will take for Hall to overcome this label?

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[Moonlapse Vertigo]

Every single player on the Oilers - Hall, Eberle, RNH and Schultz - will be under-appreciated until the team starts winning hockey games.

 

[Moose Coleman]

Playing a full season would do wonders for Hall's stock around the league.

 

[oilphan]

Playing a full season would do wonders for Hall's stock around the league.

As well as the Sochi selection committee

 

[Suxnet]

As soon as he gets named captain, people will know. I mean, obviously, he'll never be on the same level as Sequin or Landesgod but we can't do much about that.

 

[dustrock]

Feels like he's bootstrapped the Barons a bit in the last month.

Should be future captain of the Oilers - I'd make him captain this year though.

 

[488fitter]

The kid is a beast...

 

[jukon]

No worries. If other fans can't see why he was picked #1, it shouldn't matter to us. We know why. They will learn in time.

 

[Hoogaar23]

Should be future captain of the Oilers - I'd make him captain this year though.

If I was in charge, I'd name him captain before the ink dries on the new CBA. Some people say the letter on the chest doesn't matter, others think it does. For me, symbolically, it would be finally leaving behind decades of mediocrity - both in terms of the team's performances, and the list of captains:

We went from: Gretzky and Messier to:

Corson
Buchberger
Weight
Smith
Moreau
Horcoff

With all due respect to Jason Smith, other than Weight, does any other team have such a lackluster list of captains over the last 20 years?

Buchberger, Moreau, Horcoff...beuh

 

[Eytinge]

Its shocking how many people think Seguin is better.

 

[Gord]

Hey all, like the rest of us Oiler faithful I have been extremely pleased with the play of all our young talent this season. I mean what's not to like with the likes of Schultz, RNH, Eberle, Hartikainen, Dubnyk, and the prospects Yakupov and Klefbom playing so well.

However I think one person has stood out especially over the last month, that player to me is Taylor Hall.

He is top 5 in AHL scoring after missing the entire first month of hockey and prior to that missing the end of the Oilers season as well. Not only has he shaken off all the rust but he has recovered extremely well from his shoulder surgery. (something i think we were all nervous for) over the last few games some of the media has claimed Taylor Hall has never been better, I'll take that not even 1/2 a season post shoulder surgery.

I know every fan on this board (other than a select few) see on a nightly basis what Hall brings to our team and the leadership and example he offers. It pains me to see fans of other teams consistently rate Hall as a 2nd tier first overall pick, and a lesser player than many that he doesn't deserve to be ranked behind. I know in the end it doesn't matter what other fans think, all I want is a little bit of appreciation for the future captain, and driving force behind this team.

Does anyone agree? Have you seen the hate for Hall? Why is he so hated? What do you think it will take for Hall to overcome this label?

he's not hated. people are just sick of the oiler fans overhyping him, and are resenting Hall because of it. I personally think HF Oiler fans have overrated Hall a bit because he hasn't been able to consistantly show what he can bring to a team for a full season.
If Hall can play a full season or close to it, there will be a more accurate consensus to his abilities.
and really, I think Hall is a second tier #1 pick if you place guys like Crosby and Ovie as top tier #1 picks.

 

[Gord]

Its shocking how many people think Seguin is better.

Hall hasn't yet proven himself to be a better player. why would you be shocked that other people think Seguin is a better player so far? If you remember, even leading up to the draft it was a pick-em situation with many scouts thinking Seguin would be better player long term.

 

[oilers2k10]

He's been the longest serving shiny new toy.
Eberle was never a shiny new toy until he emerged as one this past season.

 

[McDreamy]

The poll on the main board ranking Tavares, Landeskog, RNH, and Hall showed a lot of stupidity on this forum. Plenty of people seem to think Hall is significantly worse than the rest of the young talent coming into the league. Most people seem to think Hall is clearly the worst of those 4, and it really doesn't make sense. Tons of post had them ranked as such:

Tavares
RNH
Landeskog

Hall

The guy is a driving force on the ice and creates a ton of space with his determined forecheck and speed. He's put up very good numbers since being drafted as well. The thing is, people who don't watch him much see a player with an ugly skating stride and ugly hands, but don't actually get to see how effective a player Hall is. He looks like he's handling a cinder block but he actually has very good puck control and can cycle the puck really well.

The injuries don't help his case either, but those are blown out of proportion by hfboards. Without the couple fluky injuries he's had I think we'd hear a lot less about how injury prone he is. He will eventually get the recognition he deserves, so let everyone else underestimate him.

 

[CornKicker]

the oilers will make the playoffs is taylor hall plays all 82 games, i stand by that

 

[Draiskull]

the oilers will make the playoffs is taylor hall plays all 82 games, i stand by that

yet the OKC might miss it even with Hall in the lineup

 

[Silver]

the oilers will make the playoffs is taylor hall plays all 82 games, i stand by that

He's wearing #4, so hopefully Hall can eat up minutes on the blue line.

 

[Draiskull]

The poll on the main board ranking Tavares, Landeskog, RNH, and Hall showed a lot of stupidity on this forum. Plenty of people seem to think Hall is significantly worse than the rest of the young talent coming into the league. Most people seem to think Hall is clearly the worst of those 4, and it really doesn't make sense. Tons of post had them ranked as such:

Tavares
RNH
Landeskog

Hall

The guy is a driving force on the ice and creates a ton of space with his determined forecheck and speed. He's put up very good numbers since being drafted as well. The thing is, people who don't watch him much see a player with an ugly skating stride and ugly hands, but don't actually get to see how effective a player Hall is. He looks like he's handling a cinder block but he actually has very good puck control and can cycle the puck really well.

The injuries don't help his case either, but those are blown out of proportion by hfboards. Without the couple fluky injuries he's had I think we'd hear a lot less about how injury prone he is. He will eventually get the recognition he deserves, so let everyone else underestimate him.

Not sure about Landeskog but there is no shame in being ranked behind future 100+ pt players in Tavares and the Nuge.

The kid has plenty of time to make a name for himself and be more appreciated..

 

[Draiskull]

He's wearing #4, so hopefully Hall can eat up minutes on the blue line.

Hey that might solve our problems on D ... Worked for me on NHL 13 when I made Malkin (65% faceoffs rating) my #1Dman

 

[MISC*]

As well as the Sochi selection committee

Really?

 

[Draiskull]

Really?

Never know... how many canadian natural LWers are there and how many of them would be around for Sochi? Unless they are moving Tavares\Stamkos etc to wing Hall will be fighting against the likes of Seguin and Benn for a spot on the left side (both of which are also C)

 

[McDreamy]

Not sure about Landeskog but there is no shame in being ranked behind future 100+ pt players in Tavares and the Nuge.

The kid has plenty of time to make a name for himself and be more appreciated..

Yeah I absolutely agree RNH and Tavares should be ranked higher. The vibe of that thread I mentioned is that Hall is nothing special, which is dead wrong. I'd be happy with his peak being a 30-40 goal 70-80 point player who bring more to the table than just points.

 

[IV XIV XCI]

It's probably better that other team's fans underestimate him.

Who cares what they think. It makes them feel better about themselves to talk trash about our stars.

Until we make the playoffs we have to keep our mouths shut.

 

[awesomo]

yet the OKC might miss it even with Hall in the lineup

But they aren't going to miss. Things are still tight. A lot of teams are 1-2 wins from first place. But when the season plays out okc will be up there much like the Lakers in the NBA

 

[Lay Z Boy GM]

I don't really like the idea of giving out the C until Hall, or someone else proves their leadership for at least the better part of a season. Ideally we get rid of Horcoff, name Ryan Smyth captain, as we should have years ago. Then give A's to Hall and Eberle until one of them, or someone else, emerges as captain.

I wouldn't want to name Hall captain, have him crumble under pressure and maybe lose captaincy to RNH or Eberle. Could cause unnecessary friction in the team.