The Taylor Hall Thread

[Emperoreddy]

Don't usually do player only threads (and this isn't going to change), but the acquisition of Hall is a big enough deal IMO to get his own thread.

Keep it about Hall.

Click to read more...

 

[Bleedred]

Still can't think of the last time we acquired an under 25 STUD forward.

 

[JimEIV]

Still can't think of the last time we acquired an under 25 STUD forward.

Jason Arnott was 23 when we got him from Edmonton

 

[devsfan4life]

Incredibly excited to watch his talent, competitiveness and athleticism in a Devils uniform. We had gotten so stale and predictable on offense the past few years. It'll be nice to have a driving force in Hall who leads by example, gives 100% every shift and let's his play do the talking. Haven't had that since Zach.

 

[JimEIV]

There seems to be a strange cautiousness around the board? I mean for years people were clamoring for a star forwards...

We just got one and the excitement level seems to need a double dose of Viagra.

 

[Emperoreddy]

I think some people are still in shock. I think others don't realize how good he is (he did play his entire career in Edmonton, which I doubt was a popular gamecenter choice around these parts).

 

[MadDevil]

We did also trade a guy many of us really liked, and a pretty key piece of the defense to get Hall.

 

[Emperoreddy]

Hall is a proven game changing, franchise forward.

Enough said.

 

[NJDevils17]

Hall is unreal. And he's 24. Still can't believe this happened.

 

[britdevil]

I still can't believe they got him. I loved Larsson, but you make this trade all day long.

Super super excited.

 

[Eric Sachs]

I don't think he'll miss much of a step here but it's also nerve-wrecking knowing that it will be another good 3-4 months before we even see him on the ice and how he fits in.

He's a proven franchise forward but there's still lots of question marks. New team, new conference, new everything..

 

[Devils86]

Here something that I haven't really read...everyone who is pro Larsson says he's young hes only going to get better..Hall is 24 not even in his prime. He's also going to get better. We have an elite F going into his prime years that still has room for growth. I would not be shocked at a 35g 45A season if he stays healthy.

 

[6 God]

Here something that I haven't really read...everyone who is pro Larsson says he's young hes only going to get better..Hall is 24 not even in his prime. He's also going to get better. We have an elite F going into his prime years that still has room for growth. I would not be shocked at a 35g 45A season if he stays healthy.

That's easily possible for Hall.

God I miss him.

 

[Bleedred]

Jason Arnott was 23 when we got him from Edmonton

Of course, but that was 19 years ago this winter. Still has been a long while.

As mentioned the other day, Arnott's stock had plummeted a little at that time and I'm not sure if he was on the verge of busting. Though hitting his ceiling was in definite question at the same time. Whereas that hasn't been a question with Hall.

 

[Bleedred]

I don't think he'll miss much of a step here but it's also nerve-wrecking knowing that it will be another good 3-4 months before we even see him on the ice and how he fits in.

He's a proven franchise forward but there's still lots of question marks. New team, new conference, new everything..

I don't see him having a problem fitting in at all. I think it's a similar situation to Cory. Cory is an elite player at his position and didn't drop off coming into the East. The save percentage went slightly down and he's not posting .930 seasons, but that's more because he's a starter and no one sustains .930 season after season with a starters load like Cory has.

Hall is also an elite player at his position and I don't see him dropping off either. I'm not saying he'll be even better here than in Edmonton, but it wouldn't totally shock me either.

 

[ghdi]

He's a proven franchise forward but there's still lots of question marks. New team, new conference, new everything..

Yes, but these adjustments can be made quickly with a player at his talent level. In fact, it may be the best thing that's happened in his career. Everything you suggest as a question mark can be mitigated alone just with the fact that he has a guy who he's played (and succeeded with) in the past in Henrique. Edmonton has not been a fun place to be the past few years.

If you had told me a month ago Adam Larsson was not going to be a member of this team and I'd be more optimistic about the 16-17 season than I thought possible, Id say you were crazy.

 

[VoidCreature]

When Zach left, he was my favorite player by a lot. It took me years to get over him leaving.

Hearing all the comparisons between Hall and Parise has me so excited. The non-stop motor, the heart of a warrior. Those were the things that made me love him.

Hope he chooses a number soon. Gonna get his jersey as soon as I can!

 

[Devs4L]

Yes, but these adjustments can be made quickly with a player at his talent level. In fact, it may be the best thing that's happened in his career. Everything you suggest as a question mark can be mitigated alone just with the fact that he has a guy who he's played (and succeeded with) in the past in Henrique. Edmonton has not been a fun place to be the past few years.

This is basically what I'm expecting. By all accounts Hall gives a 110% and is a fierce competitor. Plus, judging by his comments the other day, it seems as though he's going to be an extremely motivated player when the season starts.

As you said, Edmonton hasn't been a fun place to play the last couple of years. He was one of the faces of a Canadian franchise that was in the middle of a failed rebuild. Wiping that slate clean, and changing to an atmosphere with far less outside noise and internal flux/turmoil should allow him to focus more. Maybe play with less of a burden. I think it's only going to be a positive for him. I think we're going to get the best version of Taylor Hall. He's still only 24, anyway.

I'm really hoping he and Henrique click the way they did for Windsor. I want them playing together for years to come. I want them dominating in the playoffs together for years to come.

This was such an amazing trade Shero made, I still can't believe it. I like Larsson, but you can find players to help replace the attributes he brought, even if they don't bring a mirror image of what he brought. We still have Severson and Merrill who will hopefully continue to develop, and Santini as well.

It's so hard to get a player that brings what Hall brings, though. And he's 24 ****ing years old.

As a Devils fan, when you stop, strip away any other ties to Larsson beyond what he is as a player, you realize the value here was incredible. It was honestly a no-brainer trade you make 10 times out of 10.

 

[Bleedred]

I'm dozing off right now, or at least in and out.

I really wanna watch some Hall highlight videos, I'm just a little too fatigued right to really get into them.

I need a little more rest to really get into the vids. This thread title looks like ''The Taylor Ham Thread'' to me right now, that's how I'm reading it. I need some sleep.

 

[BurntToast]

This trade reminds me of the Corey trade. I was super shocked then and I am super shocked about this trade. In both cases it seemed our trade partners were trying to trade other players. I never thought Canucks would trade Corey over Lou. I was pissed we gave up a high pick and felt bad for Brodeur. Hindsight, that is a epic trade. I thought RNH or Nail would be the player traded and it never even crossed my mind Hall was available. RNH for Severson seemed reasonable, so Hall for Larsson makes sense. Larsson is a great player and will be missed.

 

[Sir Fenwick Corsi]

I was pretty bummed to see Larsson go, but this was simply a trade that they could not pass up. I honestly still can't believe they were fortunate enough to get him. Lars was a big price to pay but Hall is exactly the type of player this franchise has desperately needed. They don't come around often so this really was incredible news for us. Still a lot of work to be a playoff team but Hall gets us closer and he's going to be a blast to watch. Feels nice to finally be looking forward to a season again.

 

[Czech Trio]

Over the past 3 years Taylor Hall has consistently been one to drive play.

http://stats.hockeyanalysis.com/ratings.php?disp=1&db=201316&sit=5v5&pos=skaters&minutes=2000&teamid=0&type=individual&sort=IPP&sortdir=DESC

His IPP or involvement in goals while on the ice is always at the top if not the top of the league. Couple that with Hall and Henrique's historical chemistry and that line will something to watch.

 

[liquid1988]

Judging by his exit interview he will be out for blood. I have faith he will have his best season to date this year. Bet on it

 

[DevilsFanInFla]

My reaction when this trade went down was literally "Holy ****ing ****, we just got Hall!". Fortunately for my wife, we were in the car and not in a public place This trade is huge for us in so many ways and I believe Hall will only be a better player here than in Edmonton. Edmonton is a dumpster fire run by inept idiots for the majority of his career. He worked his butt off to lead a team through those lousy conditions and just when it starts to seem like it might get better, he gets shipped out so McDavid can play with a guy who is now overpaid and in 3-4 years the fans of Edmonton will hate as he wears down and can't play at a high end pace. He's said that he's coming here with something to prove and I fully believe he is going to do that. He'll raise the level of play of his linemates and be a leader on the ice and in the locker room and he's only 24. I'd say he'll be the first Devil to hit 50 goals and he might hit 100 points though neither this season. Give him 2 years and when he's playing with guys like Zacha and/or McLeod and look out. In all of this I feel bad for Larsson as he's going to have even more pressure on him because of who he was traded for and he doesn't deserve that. I'm hoping he has a rough go of it in Edmonton, like Fayne, and we trade for him back in 2 years

 

[ForeverJerseyGirl]

Here something that I haven't really read...everyone who is pro Larsson says he's young hes only going to get better..Hall is 24 not even in his prime. He's also going to get better. We have an elite F going into his prime years that still has room for growth. I would not be shocked at a 35g 45A season if he stays healthy.

I think with Hall it feels like he's a built older than he is because he was in the league from the time he was drafted, but you are absolutely right that he's still young (with a potential to get even better) and poised to enter his prime. That's pretty amazing to think about.