Devils Trade Former MVP Taylor Hall to Coyotes
By Mark Powell
After months of debate, the Devils have finally pulled the trigger.
New Jersey's season has gone awry for a variety of reasons, but the fact remained they were highly unlikely to bring back former MVP Taylor Hall as the team embraces a potential rebuild around No. 1 pick Jack Hughes.
With Hall's impending free agency a shadow around the team desperate to put up a respectable showing in the Metro, Ray Shero has sent the 28-year-old to the West Coast.
Devils will get a first-round pick plus a conditional pick as well as prospects from Arizona for Taylor Hall
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) December 16, 2019
Hall is one hell of a talent on the wing, but he was wasting his prime in Newark. Arizona, meanwhile, has thrived this season atop of the Pacific standings. After signing Phil Kessel this offseason, the Coyotes have now added even more scoring punch to a team that -- despite the star power -- is rather top-heavy.
Can confirm the trade for #NJDevils Taylor Hall to Arizona. Three prospects, plus two conditional draft picks. One is a conditional first-rounder. Kevin Bahl, who plays with three NJD draft picks for the Ottawa 67s, is expected to be one of the prospects.
— Corey Masisak (@cmasisak22) December 16, 2019
Shero has one eye toward the future in Jersey, as Hughes is only 18 years of age. As beneficial as it would be for the No. 1 pick to compete for a playoff spot in year one, supplanting Hall as the clear face of the franchise moving forward is far more important.