Blackhawks' Veteran Taylor Hall in News Again After Recent Statement About the Rebuild

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Joshua Deeds
December 3, 2024 (8:23 PM)

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The Chicago Blackhawks under Luke Richardson are going through "growing pains" or really does the team just suck? In my opinion, it's both as the team added veterans to a system that was thriving on prospects, and rookies in the last half of 2023-2024.

Taylor Hall was a major player added in 2023, with Captain Nick Foligno brought in as leadership. Hall, however, hasn't played his best hockey in Chicago and has suffered multiple injuries in 2023 which resulted in him missing the majority of last season.

Hall's been healthy the entire season which is a nice change of pace for the Blackhawks, as he put a hat-trick up against the contending Dallas Stars.

Injuries have plagued his play and kept him from performing his duties to his full potential. In addition, he's not been a key play in helping mold Connor Bedard's career, as last season Nick Foligno stepped in to welcome the rookie, and built a strong friendship on and off the ice.

Despite his best efforts, he's only put up 10 points( 5 G, 5 A) in 24 games. He could possibly end up on the trade block.

With recent trade talks, Hall mentioned:

in a recent sitdown with Mark Lazerus of The Athletic. The pending unrestricted free agent said that he'd «like to stick around here and be a part of making this thing grow» but fully recognizes the possibility he'll be on the move by deadline day to help the Blackhawks add some additional futures to their system.

It's a sad statement for someone who has thought of Chicago as his new home. Hall came in with the best intentions and due to circumstances beyond his control, he's been unable to do his best on and off the ice.

Hall's a pending UFA as his 4 year, $6.0 Million deal will be expiring at the end of the season.

If Kyle Davidson wants to gain futures for the next draft or NHL drafts afterward, he could retain some of Hall's salary when he moves him

Taylor Hall has never won a Stanley Cup in the NHL but was a 2018 Hart Trophy winner.

He's found himself in a journeyman role around the league, as he's played on the New Jersey Devils, Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, Arizona Coyotes, and Chicago Blackhawks recently.

It's hard to see where Hall's path will lead him next, but it appears his time in Chicago could be over when March rolls around.

Will you be sad to see Hall go?