With New Jersey Devils left wing Taylor Hall getting traded, it is time to get into the nitty gritty. General manager Ray Shero and interim head coach Alain Nasreddine were forced to sit Taylor Hall. There was absolutely no reason to play a key guy if you are willing to deal him. After the past two games with Hall being out, the Devils are 1-1-0 against the Colorado Avalanche and the Arizona Coyotes.
Since Coach Hynes got relieved of his duties, Coach Nasreddine seems to have won the Devils locker room back. Having watched the past two games without Taylor Hall, the shift of Devils lines with guys like P.K. Subban, Jesper Boqvist, and Jack Hughes is just a sampler of how a “team first” strategy can really benefit the team. Not only is it the competition, but it’s also about getting the locker room prepared for the post-Taylor Hall Era.
This time in Devils hockey is the continuation of the “Marie Kondo method” where Ray Shero is making executive decisions to “tidy up” the team that will bring joy by replacing certain personnel. One of those pieces includes new defensive prospect Kevin Bahl. Bahl is a 229 pound and a 6 foot 6 inch mammoth of a defender who can score and play defense.
Getting a really good defensive prospect in Bahl serves many purposes going forward with the New Jersey Devils in a package for Taylor Hall. Arizona also gave up a 2020 1st and another potential 1st based on the conditions. The Devils also received two other prospects.
A young upcoming defensive player under 20 years old would help work with Devils prospect Ty Smith coming in next season. It’s great to have a good mix of defenders that are young that will replace guys like Andy Greene and Mirco Mueller.
To rewind a while back, this trade comes from after when the Devils picked 4th overall to get Adam Larsson in 2011. Years later we all remember Bob McKenzie confirmed Taylor Hall to New Jersey for Adam Larsson. Now a Taylor Hall trade is gonna improve the replenishment of young Devils that will have a lot more positive ideas to look forward too.
Of course, Devils fans are sick and tired of “the rebuild” but axing Hynes, and the Hall trade may just be the start. There is still a fair amount of “tidying up” with the way the Devils roster is structured. However, if we can get more positive results for the rest of the season like the last two, it’ll be a very fun time not having to worry about Taylor Hall being a distraction.
Don’t be surprised when Ray Shero makes a big hit in his next trade, and the next few coaching picks in the offseason. Things should be much easier to digest from now on.