New Jersey Devils superstar Taylor Hall missed the last 31 games with an injury that was completely unknown. That is, until today.
It finally happened. More than two months after Taylor Hall was shut down by the New Jersey Devils with a mysterious injury, we finally know what that injury actually is.
Earlier this week, Devils’ Taylor Hall underwent successful arthroscopic surgery on his left knee. Still too early to know if or when he will be back this season.
— John Shannon (@JShannonhl) February 28, 2019
It’s a knee injury! No, this isn’t excitement for his injury, but more relief for finally knowing what’s wrong. For months, the Devils have been extremely secretive about what was wrong with Hall. It didn’t make much sense. Miles Wood has a fractured ankle, and we found out days later. When Joey Anderson had surgery, the team told us right away.
With Hall, they never told us anything. Fans would pester everyone who covers the Devils begging for updates on his status. What did we hear day in and day out? He’s skated away from the team, and that’s it.
With news that Hall went under the knife this week to deal with his knee injury, this likely ends his season. GM Ray Shero said he would have an update on Hall’s status during his trade deadline press conference, and this is likely it.
Many will ask why the team waited so long to make a decision on surgery, but Hall likely got two different opinions from doctors. One probably said he could get better with rehab and rest, while another suggested surgery. He really wanted to play with his teammates, so he likely pushed hard to return to the ice, but this was inevitable. If he didn’t do it now, he would need it in the offseason. This ensures he’s ready for next season when the Devils will really need him.
Having all the facts, Devils fans can move forward. It’s strange we had to wait for John Shannon of Sportsnet to break this story and it wasn’t someone with the Devils day in and day out. Sometimes that’s how it works, because these reporters know all the doctors, the trainers and team personnel that the daily beat writers might not know at this point.
It’s just good to know what’s wrong with Hall, and that it isn’t something that could linger into next season. Arthroscopic surgery is usually minimally invasive and takes a few weeks to recover fully. This will only make Hall better in the long run, and hopefully the Devils re-sign him on July 1st to give him some security to go all out from game one of the 2019-20 season.