Hate On Taylor Hall Is Completely Unwarranted
By Nick Villano
While trying to find an answer as to why the New Jersey Devils’ season has gone so wrong, some fans are turning on Taylor Hall. This is the worst thing they can do in his first season in New Jersey.
Last summer, the famous 23 minute span that “shook the hockey world” as sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman coined it started when the New Jersey Devils sent defenseman Adam Larsson to the Edmonton Oilers for superstar forward Taylor Hall.
The Devils were missing a superstar on the team since Ilya Kovalchuk retired (Jaromir Jagr was a superstar in name, but not in production). This gave the Devils something their fans sorely needed, hope.
Almost every single media outlet called this a completely one-sided deal. Devils’ general manager Ray Shero was getting praised as the second coming of Lou Lamoriello. The buzz around the Devils had not been this high since their miraculous run to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2012.
With a trade like this, many wondered whether there were reasons outside the Oilers’ need for a defenseman.
Those worries have now trickled into Devils’ fans minds.
Hall is tied with Kyle Palmieri for the team lead with 42 points. His line is always the one that stands out. Many games he looks like the best player on the ice.
Fans are obviously frustrated with this team. There is good reason for that. Expectations were so high, and they failed them hard. However, fans should not turn on its star player. Even worse, fans should not think there is a possible locker room issue with a player when there is no evidence of such.
Taylor Hall is under contract until 2020. He’s the centerpiece of this team for the foreseeable future. While there are hard times, fans need to show they appreciate what Hall brings to the table.
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As hard as it may be to see right now, the Devils are going in the right direction. With Hall and Palmieri signed for at least three more years, along with years with Cory Schneider and Adam Henrique, the team has their core together. This gives them the flexibility to make major moves this offseason.
Hall is the star of the Devils. Fans need to embrace him as their star, and avoid giving him unwarranted hate.