Feb 1, 2014; Boston, MA, USA; Edmonton Oilers left wing
Taylor Hall(4) carries the puck during the second period against the Boston Bruins at TD Banknorth Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
The rumor mill has been swirling with the notion that the Bruins could trade Milan Lucic for the Edmonton Oilers Taylor Hall. As we all know the Bruins are in dire need for some help among their top lines, especially for a right wing since the departure of Nathan Horton and then Jarome Iginla signing with the Avalanche. They have yet to find someone consistent who is able to really produce for the Bruins in that slot.
Although it was originally thought that after an injury-burdened season Loui Eriksson would be able to slide in among the top line. However, his hesitance to shoot the puck and choice to make a play than generate some offensive pressure, leaves him alongside Soderberg and a third-line center.
“As a player in this league you learn not to read too much into those things. Rumors are said all the time. The GM is doing whatever he can to put the best team on the ice, and as a player those are things you can’t control. You trust in your GM that he’ll put the best team on the ice.” -Milan Lucic
While the Bruins have been struggling throughout the duration of this season, they aren’t the lowest on the totem poll. Shocking, right? The Edmonton Oilers are making a spectacle of themselves, first in firing their head coach Dallas Eakins and now putting the notion out there that they need to ‘clean house’ and that no option is being overlooked, including moving top draft pick Taylor Hall.
While fans of Edmonton are crying that moving Hall would be the equivalent of stupidity as the Bruins trading Tyler Seguin for Smith, Morrow, Fraser and Eriksson. However, there is a difference. The Oilers are nowhere close to being the same caliber of team as the Bruins and the same comes for trading away top draft picks. The Oilers have been in a funk the entire duration of Hall’s existence at the NHL level, which, as Joe Haggerty pointed out, can royally mess up a young player learning the ins and outs of the League.
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So, the lingering question for the Bruins fan base, would this team benefit from his addition should the Bruins choose to trade for him?
Well, according to some of Edmonton’s sources, they would have high interest in the likes of Dougie Hamilton and Milan Lucic, one or the other being the prime bait to start some deal talks. Pair one of them with a couple prospects and a draft pick or two and we’d be looking at a blockbuster deal, yet again.
Exploring the idea of a roster without Milan Lucic is a weird concept, but perhaps it’s not all that bad. Recently on our Facebook page it was asked if fans felt Lucic still deserved to be a part of the franchise given how up and down he can be with the Black and Gold. One of our readers pointed out that it’s not just Lucic that is inconsistent, it’s the whole roster, which he is correct. He also went on to mention that Bruins hockey isn’t the same as it used to be, all big and bad and known as the Bruisers. Given that their rough and tough exterior has seemingly disintegrated and there are no more board rattling body checks to get the crowd roaring, perhaps it is time the team seeks an alternate place for the once, rough and tough Loo-choo-choo train. Since the team seems to be straying away from the big and bad market, Hall could be just the ticket to changing their look.
Da Windy City
Hear me out, the Bruins decided not to re-sign Shawn Thornton, the Bruins known enforcer, especially given the salary cap. They also decided to deal away Johnny Boychuk in the last year of his contract, to relieve some more salary cap issues. Two players that have always excelled in the rough and tough department. Now we have Milan Lucic, the last of the big and bad tandem of the Bruise Brothers. A power forward who is constantly on the radar when he doesn’t produce. With re-invention being the way of the NHL world as of late, re-branding the team may be what the Bruins have in order, making Lucic the next plausible trade target.
When he was asked about the rumors, Lucic simply shrugged them off, stating;
“As a player in this league you learn not to read too much into those things,” said Lucic. “Rumors are said all the time. The GM is doing whatever he can to put the best team on the ice, and as a player those are things you can’t control. You trust in your GM that he’ll put the best team on the ice. You just try to go out there and play, focus on your game and focus on helping your team win. When your team wins, you never hear about trade speculation, or anything like that. If we just take care of that everything else takes care of itself.”
While it’s all rumors and talk, we still have to wonder exactly what the next move is and who the next pawn will be.