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Boston Bruins: Why Taylor Hall is unlikely to end up in Bruins colors

By jc

BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 12: New Jersey Devils left wing Taylor Hall (9) tries to get past Boston Bruins right defenseman Charlie McAvoy (73) during a game between the Boston Bruins and the New Jersey Devils on October 12, 2019, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 12: New Jersey Devils left wing Taylor Hall (9) tries to get past Boston Bruins right defenseman Charlie McAvoy (73) during a game between the Boston Bruins and the New Jersey Devils on October 12, 2019, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Brandon Carlo Taylor Hall Boston Bruins
NEWARK, NJ – NOVEMBER 19: Taylor Hall #9 of the New Jersey Devils pass the puck as Brandon Carlo #25 of the Boston Bruins tries to defend during an NHL hockey game on November 19, 2019 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. Boston won 5-1. (Photo by Paul Bereswill/Getty Images) /

A top-six winger could solidify the Boston Bruins as Stanley Cup favorites. Does that make Taylor Hall a trade target?

We’re a little over a quarter into the NHL season, about the time when trade rumors really start to heat up. Boston Bruins GM Don Sweeney will likely be in the market for a top-six winger to solidify his team’s chances this year. Will Boston make a play for a big-name winger?

If you look at the forwards on the trade market, Taylor Hall is the name that really stands out. The New Jersey Devils hoped to re-sign Hall earlier this season, but after a poor start this season, a trade is on the horizon.

Hall is a former MVP, and he certainly remains one of the most talented wingers in the league. He would be quite the luxury on Boston’s second line, and his presence could give the Bruins the best top-six in the league.

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That said, a Hall trade seems too much like a dream right now. Because of a few different roadblocks, he doesn’t appear to be a realistic trade option for the Bruins.

Boston Needs a Right Wing, Not a Left Wing

First, there’s the obvious fact that Hall plays pretty much exclusively on the left wing. As a left-shot, he’s also not somebody who can comfortably move over to the right side.

The Bruins are set now at the left wing position with Brad Marchand, Jake DeBrusk, and Anders Bjork. There’s even Danton Heinen, who can play both wing positions. Ideally, the Bruins need to add a top-six right wing.

Both DeBrusk and Bjork look much more comfortable on the left side than the right, so it doesn’t make sense for the Bruins to move them to the off-wing to accommodate Hall. What then has to give for a Hall trade?

The Bruins of course could make Hall work if they included DeBrusk or Bjork in the trade to New Jersey. That, however, might not be worth it from Boston’s perspective.

Hall only has four goals in 24 games this season. DeBrusk doesn’t have great numbers this year, but because of his recent hot streak, he now has five goals in 21 games. He’s younger than Hall and remains under team control beyond this year, so the Bruins can’t give DeBrusk up for Hall.

Honestly, Boston shouldn’t trade Bjork either. He’s only 23, and he continues to make great strides. Teams nowadays need young players who outproduce their cap hits. Why would the Bruins trade a player like Bjork for an upcoming free agent?

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