Boston Bruins won the Hart trophy in 2018 not necessarily in Taylor Hall. But a damn good player is still being found in the team.
Now with Bruins trading in Hall Sunday night, David Krejci can play an attacking weapon on his left, and Bruce Cassidy and any Nick Ritchie, Craig Smith and Jake DeBrusk on the right side can play musical chairs to see who compliments both the others.
“But only 2 goals scored by Taylor Hall!” “He was awful on an awful team!” “How is that team helping to win the Cup!”
All true – a so far deception would be an understatement to call Hall’s season. His two goals and his 19 points are on pace for a low career. It never had a season for the two-digit goals he didn’t hit. So what about Taylor Hall if he was never that bad in his career? So, what exactly is it?
You have to look beyond just goals and assists to see how Taylor Hall produces.
Wanna know where the Bruins are fighting? Cross the neutral zone and pressure from the rush. In particular, 5-on-5. The Bruins are 5v5 dead in 60 minutes, which is the highest-risk chance (7.78). They are a team which is committed to putting the puck in the area, to making it small and to getting the grey goals in front of the net. And they are too dependent on a power play that wasn’t as good as last year.
The ability to create opportunities for the rush is brought to Taylor Hall. He’s an elite playmaker with a monkey on his back for three seasons when it comes to his goals.
In addition to being one of the best players of transition, Hall is a leader in high-risk assists, entry passes and offensive scoring chances. In these categories, in particular, 5 on 5, the Bruins desperately need help.
Hall isn’t horrible in a defensive fashion, but you didn’t bring him that in. You take him away from your top men to get a secondary score.
When Hall speaks of pressure, he doesn’t have to be “the man” in Boston now. Or even one of the top fellows. You see him in Edmonton, New Jersey, Arizona and Buffalo, and he was one of the leading players in the attack. He will now be seen as part of the secondary score.
Yes, his offensive output numbers aren’t great this season. But the Boston team should have higher numbers than Buffalo, which is springing and bounding. Hall played in the city of Buffalo with Dylan Cozens and Casey Mittelstadt. He’s going to skate on the opposite side with David Krejci – a good centre – and someone like DeBrusk, Ritchie, or Smith.
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