Oilers Taylor Hall is available, should the Rangers go for him?
Taylor Hall
The NHL rumor mill is all abuzz with Oilers LW, Taylor Hall’s name on the trade block. Apparently, in an effort to clean house and change culture in Edmonton – they are looking to move the 23 year winger because he is “un-coachable”.
Darren Dreger offered this informed speculation on TSN Radio in Toronto on Monday, hours after Edmonton Oilers coach Dallas Eakins was relieved of his duties. In speaking about the Oilers’ culture, he said:
“It’s not one player. It’s the collection of players that make up the sagging work ethic and lack of culture. But if you had to put a face on it, or a name to it, that name would be Taylor Hall.
“Taylor Hall, at least from a culture standpoint, in the room not on the ice, hasn’t been what they hoped he would be. So when [GM Craig] MacTavish looks into his crystal ball and sees what’s coming his way through trades, he’s gotta be looking at the trade deadline and then beyond that looking at the draft floor.
Taylor Hall (Edmonton Sun)
So let’s get down to brass tacks here. Taylor Hall is 23 years old, weighs in at 6’1″ and over 200 pounds. He has size, speed and skill to the the tune of 80 points in 75 games last season. Taylor is also in the 2nd year of a 7 year contract that will pay him 6 million a season. Looking down the road, that contract is a bargain.
Should the Rangers go after him? Does the sun rise in the east and set in the west? Is water wet and fire hot? You get my point – the answer is YES.
Of course, the Rangers aren’t the only one looking, but they may have the piece the Oilers are looking for. Unrestricted free agent to be, Marc Staal. The big defenseman is exactly the type of player on defense the Oilers want. The fact that he will be a UFA would not deter them either. If Staal really is looking for 6 million plus, the Oilers will gladly give it to him. However, the Oilers we need some assurance that he would sign and that’s where it would get muddy.
Mats Zuccarello (Getty Images)
Another possibility is a package deal. Say Mats Zuccarello and John Moore, who add up to approximately 5 million in salary. Zuccarello is also a UFA to be, and is the type of heart and soul player the Oilers would be looking for. Plus, Zucc would not only get his money from Edmonton, he’d get top line minutes too. Also, don’t discount Benoit Pouliot giving his opinion on said Rangers players, ala Ryan Callahan. The question is, would that even register for Oilers management?
Regardless, the Rangers would likely need to create more wiggle room to accommodate Hall’s 6 million in cap hit for both deals, but an opportunity like this only comes ever so often. The point is, if he really is out there – Glen Sather needs to leave no stone unturned.
Note: There are a ton of rumors and proposals out there. Some are legitimate offers from teams (none of them NYR). Bottom line, Taylor Hall is an incredible young talent and one that the Oilers will want a boatload for.
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