The trade is one for one will always have a place in New Jersey Devils history. That Bob McKenzie tweet to announce a major move shook the foundation of hockey coverage.
At the time, Devils GM Ray Shero looked like he had pulled off the heist of the century. He got former first-overall pick Taylor Hall for defenseman Adam Larsson. These were two players with varied results early in their careers who probably both needed a change of scenery, even if both didn't realize it at the time.
Hall had built a reputation in Edmonton, whether earned or assumed or even made up, and the rumors swirled about him. The pressure was mounting for Hall and the Oilers. They received the first-overall pick three years in a row, with Hall starting the trend in 2010. When the Oilers got the first-overall pick again in 2015, they became a joke around the league. Luckily for the Oilers, that pick was Connor McDavid, and he changed the trajectory of the Oilers forever.
Hall was supposed to be his forever sidekick. The superstar winger is now finally paired with the generational center who would change the legacy of this franchise. After decades of futility, they had their Wayne Gretzky-Mark Messier connection again. That first year, their playing styles never meshed together. At some point, the Oilers separated them and actually paired Hall with Leon Draisaitl.
Hall led the young team that season with 65 points, but it was still a disappointment for a player who was setting a standard for the best of the best in terms of young NHL players. Failing to hit 30 goals as he entered his prime wasn't good enough in the eyes of Oilers fans.
That offseason, the Oilers separated Hall from McDavid forever, sending him to New Jersey in one of the most shocking moves we've seen in a long time. The day was full of shocks, as P.K. Subban was also traded for Shea Weber and Steven Stamkos decided against free agency at the very last moment. Still, the Hall move was the one where analysts were trying to answer the most questions.
Hall's words after the trade showed how he felt. As NHL.com reports, Hall was clearly trying to find the right words after the move.
""It's disappointing; I was there for six seasons, so you certainly develop a relationship with the team and the city and with the fans. I'm disappointed that I'm not going to be able to see that through. But I'm excited that I'm going to be able to play for a team that wants me. It's not that Edmonton didn't want me, but I certainly do feel a bit slighted by the whole thing. In saying that, I'm excited for New Jersey and I'm excited for the chance that's in front of me now.""Taylor Hall, 2016 post Devils trade
After a tumultuous relationship in Edmonton, Hall was given a chance to turn around another flailing franchise. The Devils were in the midst of a rebuild after Lou Lamoriello left and Shero took over as GM. Hall was a cornerstone to Shero's plan in New Jersey. Larsson as a value member of the defense who was supposed to be the top guy in his draft class. Sending him to Edmonton was a bold move, but Hall's ceiling was much higher.
Unfortunately for the Devils, Hall did not come close to his ceiling in year one. He scored just 20 goals and had 53 points for a Devils' team that wasn't doing much in the standings. The Devils finished the season with just 28 wins and 70 points in the standings. It's safe to say this was as bad as anyone expected. Once again, Taylor Hall was playing on a team that would get the number-one overall pick.
Shero would talk with Hall, saying he "gets that one year" in a meeting with Hall. He compared the trade to the death of a family member, being forced to move across the continent and learn the intricacies of living in New Jersey. However, the 2017 offseason ended up being the most important in Hall's life. A trip to Coachella, a new training regimine, and most importantly, a new mindset gave Taylor Hall a new mission.
But more important than any of that was the meeting between Shero and Hall. It was a five-hour dinner where everything was discussed, and Shero was direct with Hall that he wasn't close to coming to his potential. Now firmly in his prime, Shero said that Hall was only hitting about "35%" of his potential. Hall admitted he wasn't coming close, but there was a realization in that meeting, and it would change Hall's career.
A meeting between Ray Shero and Taylor Hall changed his career
Instead of a guy who couldn't find a home, New Jersey became his.
Hall would go on to have his best season of his career, posting 93 points for a Devils team desperate for offense. When Travis Zajac went down with an injury before training camp, rookie Nico Hischier stepped up and gave Hall new life. They built a quick chemistry on the ice. Of course, Hall became the first player in Devils franchise history to win the Hart Trophy.
The next two seasons were tumultuous because of injuries to the Devils, including a nagging knee injury that ruined Hall's 2018-19 season. The Devils never recovered, and despite going all in with P.K. Subban, Nikita Gusev, Wayne Simmonds, and another number-one overall pick in Jack Hughes, Hall and the Devils had a disappointing start in the 2019-20 season.
Because Hall was headed straight for unrestricted free agency that July, the Devils traded him to Arizona. The trade paid huge dividends to the Devils, bringing them the pick they used to take Dawson Mercer and Kevin Bahl.
Meanwhile, Hall was never the same guy. The electricity he had with the Devils, even up until the end, just wasn't there at any other stop. He was mediocre in Arizona, terrible in Buffalo, fine in Boston, and played a veteran role in Chicago. This season, he was traded for basically nothing to the Carolina Hurricanes.
Think about Taylor Hall's legacy if he doesn't have that meeting with Shero and the ensuing MVP season. That changed his legacy from one of the biggest number-one overall busts of all time to a guy who might get consideration for the Hall of Fame. That's how important winning an MVP is in the NHL.
While we don't think Hall gets into the Hall, he'll be on the ballot. That never happens without Ray Shero. Shero's untimely death reminds us of the impact he had on so many players, coaches, and front office members. Taylor Hall might be his greatest work, turning his personal corner and making him the superstar he was always supposed to become, even if hitting 100% of his potential was short lived.