Ya, the article has some small sample size but i think in general it's a microcosm of Hall's career and some of what i've been saying for many many years. He's an ok player as far as being able to generate some offence but you don't win with a guy like that in the NHL. Who was that player that said the Oil were easy to play against in the Hall days because they played like a Jr team (a Habs player i recall)? This is/was hall's game. It might have success in the Jrs where everyone else was also unstructured but in the NHL with the parity you HAVE to play more structured, defensively responsible and the right way.
Even Connor, who's 10x the talent of Hall has games of looking bad when he strays from the structure and basics. Hall likes to often stray from the team structure and do stuff like not be in proper position (ie in the d zone give his dman an outlet on his wing boards etc). He likes to be all over the ice and this throws the other 4 guys off, especially defensively. He makes horrendous turn overs trying to do things beyond his abilities (carrying the puck too much especially in his own end)... saw several bad ones today.
It's a pickle for him... yes he has some talent and people regard him as that but he's very much overrated and therein lies the problems. They and he expect a way of play and certain things from him (ie lugging the puck, running a pp etc) but he's just simply not skilled enough, good enough to be THE GUY. He needs to be more of a secondary guy who also plays the right way consistently (chip in 50+ pts and be strong forechecking and defensively). Not sure at this point whether he'd accept that role or not though.
Today was vintage Hall..... scores a nothing goal (a chessy seeing eye shot), put another pt in the "fancy" stats bag for him, numerous turnovers being dumb or trying to do too much, several real lack of urgency defensive efforts, mediocre effort in a HUGE game for the team (not good as a leader), and a big ol dash 5. Glad he's doing that for our rivals and not us anymore. Holland better not get his a** back here.
Good post.
Bringing Hall back, either as rental or extension, has been a big topic on here and in general around the Oilers this year. Hall was my favorite player while here but his great offensive play ALWAYS has come with a big asterisk next to it for very bad defense and questionable leadership.
With our secondary scoring being so poor for so long many, including myself, are thinking Hall could help our team get better. That, plus one golden year where he drug a poor NJ team into the playoffs, are really the only reasons anyone is seriously considering getting Hall back.
The article, which predates the Arizona game last night, really does properly identify a genuine concern for any team considering acquiring Hall. Olympic team Canada has snubbed Hall for that reason and Hart or not I will be surprised if Hall ever gets a game... assuming the nhl ever goes back.
Combine all that with a player exiting his prime and being very dependant on speed alone, significant injury history/generally being very injury prone, that will have a high cap hit, and you get a player that we shouldn't touch with a ten foot pole.
The timing of the article and then seeing it in action against a divisional rival hopefully really drives home how risky acquiring Hall would be. I really hope the Oilers pro scouts and Holland watched that game with an for the chaos Hall brings to a team.
That game against Arizona alone should shave off a million on Halls next contract and I really hope we are not the ones giving it to him.
I am now firmly in the do not sign Hall camp for any amount. The Hall I watched last night is not worth 5 million per year and someone might actually be dumb enough to pay the guy 9 or 10+ per year.
Combine that with Kassian reportedly getting a fat overpriced 3+mill, Nurse 6+, Bear 3+?, Nuge and Larsson both needing contracts, Yamamoto/Benson/any prospect that excells moving forward needing space and the Oilers really can NOT afford Hall in any way shape or form.