The St. Louis Blues find themselves in the trade rumor mill yet again. This time involving future free-agent forward Taylor Hall. The likelihood of this deal is plausible.
The St. Louis Blues could be in the market for another premier scorer. With the long-term injury to Vladimir Tarasenko, another scoring forward would be great!
Even with the way the current team is finding a way to still amass the points and wins despite the number of injuries the club has had to absorb a player like Taylor Hall could potentially give the Blues another lift up.
Doug Armstrong has made a name for himself in acquiring top talent without having to sell the farm. He’s made some fantastic trades over the last few years that have paid dividends to the team’s overall success of late.
More from Editorials
- St. Louis Blues Need Kasperi Kapanen To Be On Best Behavior
- Hayes’ Debut And Other Bold Predictions for the St. Louis Blues
- St. Louis Blues Captaincy Is Suddenly A Huge Problem For 2023-24
- St. Louis Blues National Games Cause More Problems Than They’re Worth
- St. Louis Blues Brayden Schenn Has To Be An Impact Player In 2023-24
The latest one for Justin Faulk hasn’t produced much yet and until or even if Dominik Bokk ever makes his NHL debut we won’t quite know if it was a win or a loss in that trade.
The Blues have some pieces they can move. Jake Allen has been showing that he isn’t a total loss and may just be piquing the interest of New Jersey.
Blues fans would be thrilled to convert a Jake Allen into a Taylor Hall. It would, of course, require more than just Allen.
The Blues would need to most likely add a prospect and a draft pick according to what some of the NHL gurus are saying is needed to land Taylor Hall from New Jersey.
Allen has been playing more of late and that very well could be Army trying to showcase him as a potential trade piece. I haven’t heard anything to suggest that the Blues are shopping Allen, but we all have seen that very little information comes out in regards to trades from Army and his staff.
I truly don’t see Army making a trade for Taylor Hall and giving up a prospect like Jordan Kyrou or Klim Kostin, which the deal would most likely require, and a currently rostered player with a draft pick.
I think we have seen that Kostin will be a very good piece for the future of the Blues. Kyrou for me the jury is still out. I haven’t seen enough from Kyrou in the preseason or when he was up with the Blues to merit a vote from me to be an above-average NHL’er. More time is needed.
Kyrou still lacks a 200′ game and in today’s NHL, not just the Blues, you need a 200′ game to be an NHL’er, much less an above-average one.
Kostin has been developing this over the last year and we’ve seen it in games. It’s not polished yet and he needs a little more time, but he’s laying the groundwork and shows promise.
Back to Hall. I personally have never been a huge Taylor Hall fan. He’s been injured often. Hasn’t been on a winning club. He’s now 28 years old and if the Blues were to trade for him and sign him long-term that contract would start when he is 29.
Sure he won the Hart trophy and that year his team made the playoffs, but aside from that, I have not seen what everyone else sees in him.
Currently, he’s having a slow season in the goal department and some of that is based on the team he plays on, but to only have 4 goals in 27 games is not what the Blues are looking for. If they are indeed looking.
Now if Army can pry him from the Devils for the right price and right contract then sure I’ll take him. I am sure Hall wants to win a cup. What player doesn’t? The Blues have been steadily going about their business winning games and have a good chance to repeat.
Is that enough to attract Hall and entice him to play for less money and have a chance to win a cup? Maybe. How much less and what kind of term are up in the air. Having a former Hart Trophy winner would be welcomed if Army can wave his magic wand and make it fit.
I personally don’t see it happening and I don’t believe it’s the right move for this club either. I don’t think a Taylor Hall in his thirties is beneficial for the Blues long-term and when was the last time a team traded for a “rental” player was successful in the playoffs?
The Blues certainly have not been successful when they have acquired players at the deadline. Ryan Miller anyone?
Hall has only played one full season and came close to a full season with 76 games played the year he won the Hart Trophy in 2017-18. He can’t seem to stay healthy. He has missed 20 or more games in 4 of his 9 past seasons in the NHL.
Currently, he is in his tenth season and is off to a slow start goal wise. He does have 18 assists giving him 22 total points on the season and at this pace, he can hit 64 points. With roughly 12 of those being goals.
It’s not worth it to me. I’d be fine with it if the Blues can send Allen straight up for Hall. Anything after that is a waste to me. Allen straight up and Hall agreeing to play for a 4-6 year contract at around $6 million per or less.
There is my opinion. What is yours? Feel free to comment below. Let me know what you think. I want to hear it, or well, read it in this case! Could Taylor Hall be beneficial? Maybe. Is he really needed? I don’t think so, but what do you think? Thanks for reading!
Drop the puck!