Montreal Canadiens should pay attention to the Taylor Hall situation

Taylor Hall is a name the league will have circled this season and the Montreal Canadiens may want to make a move if talk heats up by the Trade Deadline.

The Montreal Canadiens haven’t made a big move at the Trade Deadline in years. Their latest might possibly be Jeff Petry back when he was acquired from the Edmonton Oilers. Trading for Thoams Vanek could be an honourable mention as well, especially given how productive he was in the 2014 playoff run. But all talk this time around is going to be centred around Taylor Hall and the New Jersey Devils.

Hall missed the majority of the 2018-19 season and it looked as if the Devils were ready to take a step with him back in the lineup. Not only that, but the additions of Jack Hughes, P.K. Subban, and Wayne Simmonds could’ve made the difference. Unfortunately, New Jersey is 0-4-2, last in the Eastern Conference, and last in the entire league with 13 points.

Considering the star left-winger is in a UFA contract year, having this kind of start isn’t the best way to instil confidence that things will be better. And for Taylor Hall, better is the playoffs saying this over the summer:

"You want to play on the best team possible, and I’ve played nine seasons in the NHL and only won one playoff game. You want to be on a team that’s not only a playoff contender but a Stanley Cup contender every year because I only have so many more years left in this league and so many more chances to win a Stanley Cup. It hasn’t even come close yet. I kind of want to make up for lost time, but at the same time want to be smart with everything that’s going on."

If that doesn’t drive the point home, there was also this tidbit from the preseason.

So you have to wonder what Hall is thinking sitting in the depths of the NHL standings (again). And at the same time, what are the New Jersey Devils thinking?

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The New York Islanders are still frustrated by the fact that they got nothing for John Tavares who chose to walk in free agency. Everyone is looking at the St. Louis Blues last season in how they were 31st in the NHL at one point, but the Devils may not want to take that risk. That would make Hall a hot commodity once the Trade Deadline comes around.

He’s one of the top left-wingers in the NHL and has a Hart Trophy to prove his worth. Any team that ends up adding that kind of talent automatically takes a step, even if it ends up being for just a single run.

Insert the Montreal Canadiens. Whether they are contestants in the Hall bowl or not depends on their respective position in the standings. Trading for Hall would be very expensive given his talents and the number of teams who will likely be in the game. Marc Bergevin has said repeatedly that he’s not interested in parting with top prospects and considering how bad the Devils are in net, it wouldn’t be surprising to see them ask for Cayden Primeau in the deal.

That leaves free agency where the Montreal Canadiens would have a better chance. Hall likes the spotlight and that would happen playing in Montreal. On the other hand, the Habs have Max Domi to sign who could ask for something in the $8 million range if he shows up like he did last season.

No decisions need to be made right now but Montreal should continue to focus on the Taylor Hall situation in New Jersey. Having a player like that may make all the difference, and keep in mind, Carey Price wants to win soon.