Last night brought immense pain for the Boston Bruins. Their season is done, and to add insult to injury, they were entirely outclassed in an elimination game. Respect is warranted for how hard the New York Islanders played because of this. However, it seems as though the toughest days are only beginning for the Bruins, as they have a plethora of looming questions going into this off-season.
There are some massive names who they can lose to free agency. Two of these include former Stanley Cup winners in Tuukka Rask and David Krejci. Arguably their most steady left-handed defenseman, Mike Reilly, may have also played his last game with the Bruins. However, perhaps the most intriguing name of the bunch is the team’s other trade deadline pick-up, Taylor Hall.
The former Hart Trophy winner struggled immensely with the Sabres this season, but really turned his game around in Boston. In fact, in 16 regular-season games with the Bruins, he managed to compile eight goals and 14 points. Every game he was extremely noticeable, too, as he would help lead the charge and spark the second-line in the process.
However, the postseason was not particularly strong for him. This was especially the case against the Islanders. He was held off the scoresheet the vast majority of the time, which was the complete opposite of his initial play with the team. Although he has expressed a desire to sign a long-term deal on multiple occasions, now there are some red flags.
It all depends on how much money Hall is expecting from the Bruins.
Ultimately, signing Hall back is something that could be spectacular for the team, in theory. He is such an entertaining player to watch, as he has the potential to make offense happen every single shift. However, if he is expecting $8 million again like this season, it is in the Bruins’ best interest to move on.
However, if he is willing to take less money to stay in Boston, it absolutely should be considered. Hall is the best second-line left winger the Bruins have had since Milan Lucic’s prime days. It also would be enticing to see what he would be able to do during a full season with the club. However, there is no way he can make more than core players like Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak.
If this marks the end of Hall’s tenure in Boston, though, it can be deemed as a good one. The Bruins gave up virtually nothing to obtain his services, and he provided some fantastic moments in the process. It is just a shame that his season ended in a disappointing fashion.