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New Jersey Devils: There’s Reward In Playing Taylor Hall At End Of Season

By Nick Villano

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - DECEMBER 03: Taylor Hall #9 of the New Jersey Devils skates in warm-ups prior to the game against the Tampa Bay Lightning at the Prudential Center on December 03, 2018 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - DECEMBER 03: Taylor Hall #9 of the New Jersey Devils skates in warm-ups prior to the game against the Tampa Bay Lightning at the Prudential Center on December 03, 2018 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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New Jersey Devils top player Taylor Hall hasn’t played in an NHL game since late December. Even though this is a lost season, there’s still reason to play him in the last few games.

New Jersey Devils head coach John Hynes gave another brief update on Taylor Hall on Monday. He’s one of the many injured players who aren’t playing, but obviously the most important. The Devils have been without their superstar since Christmas, when during the break the decision to shut him down was made.

Since then, he attempted rest and rehab to fix his knee injury, but eventually decided arthroscopic surgery was necessary. When fans hear superstar player and surgery during a lost season, many believe it should be obvious to shut that player down until next season.

This shouldn’t be the case with Hall unless it’s absolutely necessary. Hynes said Monday that Hall wouldn’t be able to return until one of the final games of the season, if at all. Some might ask “what’s the point?” The point is that if he’s healthy enough to go, it would be much better to get him on the ice, test out the knee, and shake off some of the cobwebs.

If he plays at the end of the season, even if it’s just one game, Hall can test out some of the issues that come with a knee injury. How much pressure can it take? How much speed was lost during the process? Can he go full speed yet, or does he need to let up? These questions spark doubt when they go unanswered throughout an offseason.

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He won’t be able to answer all these questions in one pointless April game, but getting a few on-ice answers is still important. Hall is the type of player where confidence is everything. When he’s believing in his game, he’s an MVP-caliber player. When he’s not, we get the 2016-17 version of Hall. He’ll still be a great player, but he’s not a superstar.

One quick caveat, if there’s a chance he’s not fully healthy, he shouldn’t play. Injuring the knee further going into the offseason would have the opposite impact you want. This move is to give Hall some perspective going into the offseason, and also grinding off some of the rust. Putting him back into rehab, or worse surgery, in the offseason only creates more doubt.

Hall’s return kind of puts a bow on this terrible season. It sounds like other players could return for those last few games, so maybe the Devils could play well with a full lineup and competent goaltenders. If the Devils find a way to play to their potential at the end of the season, where they might have their injured players back and a few prospects who signed away from their teams, it could give the whole team something to look forward to next season.

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