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5 Reasons New Jersey Devils Should Sign Taylor Hall

By Nick Villano

NEWARK, NJ - MARCH 4: Taylor Hall #9 of the New Jersey Devils warms up prior to taking on the Vegas Golden Knights at the Prudential Center on March 4, 2018 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images)
NEWARK, NJ - MARCH 4: Taylor Hall #9 of the New Jersey Devils warms up prior to taking on the Vegas Golden Knights at the Prudential Center on March 4, 2018 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images) /
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Taylor Hall – New Jersey Devils (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Taylor Hall – New Jersey Devils (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

The New Jersey Devils traded Taylor Hall to the Arizona Coyotes for a combination of picks and prospects. Some may disagree, but the Devils should absolutely try and bring him back during the offseason.

“The deal is one for one” is something that will live on in New Jersey Devils lore. During that lovely day, Ray Shero spoke with Peter Chiarelli of the Edmonton Oilers, and got him to accept defenseman Adam Larsson as proper compensation for left winger and former number-one overall pick Taylor Hall.

We know how Hall’s career with the Devils went. He had the MVP season in 2017-18, where he single-handedly carried the Devils to the playoffs for the first time in half a decade. It was the first time the Devils ever had a Hart Trophy winner, despite having the greatest goalie of all time and a few amazing seasons in their Stanley Cup winning years.

Then, this season, the Devils fell apart and it was time to sell everything that wasn’t bolted down. It started with Hall, who wasn’t ready to sign an extension with the Devils. With fears they could lose their top line left wing for nothing, Shero traded Hall to the Arizona Coyotes for a 1st-round pick, a conditional 3rd-round pick in 2021 (could be a 1st or 2nd, but most likely will be a 3rd) defensive prospect Kevin Bahl and offensive prospects Nick Merkley and Nate Schnarr.

It wasn’t the haul many Devils fans hoped, as there were rumors of a Colorado Avalanche trade (Bowen Byram?) or Florida Panthers trade (Spencer Knight? Vincent Trochek?) in the works. When it became clear the Coyotes were the front runner, we had dreams of Barrett Hayton and/or Victor Soderstrom in return. Instead, they got two players who were behind them on prospect reports.

Despite the lack of enthusiasm behind the trade, it was the right move to make. The Devils could not go past the trade deadline not knowing what Hall’s plans were. So, they trade Hall for a haul, and it looks like he’s destined to become a free agent.

The Devils should absolutely bring Hall back next season. Say what you will about “fitting the timeline”, there is a free agent that knows the Devils and made it clear he liked playing here. Even if the management is changing, it’s still the same organization that once made him a priority. They should do so again in free agency, and these are the reasons why.

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