Okay, The Coyotes Are Out Of The Playoffs. Time To Bring Taylor Hall Back To Edmonton

Hey, we all got dreams.

The 2020 NHL playoffs march on. The Arizona Coyotes have been eliminated by a powerful Colorado Avalanche squad in the Western Conference Quarter-Finals in just five games. It could have been over in four. The Coyotes were no match for the Avalanche having been outscored 22-6 overall in the series.

Naturally, the Coyotes - although more slender on offence, surely ran their best lines they possibly could have.

I mean, who wouldn’t put Taylor Hall on a line with Carl Soderberg and Vinnie Hinostroza?

Yeesh.

The Coyotes got housed by the Avalanche by a 7-1 score. The Avalanche will jump to round 2, while the Coyotes will have plenty of time to prepare for the NHL Draft, set to take place in October.

Barring a new contract in Arizona, 2010 first overall selection Taylor Hall will become an unrestricted free agent at the conclusion of these playoffs. If the Oilers have any ability to do so, they ought to pull out all of the stops to get him back in Edmonton.

Before you completely write this idea off as some sort of madness, it could work. The Oilers ought to make it work. How many times do you get a chance to sign a Hart Trophy winner to a contract?

IT WON’T WORK

It absolutely could work.

I’m not going to pretend that the Oilers are up against the cap, especially after last night’s Jenga session that tried to figure every last dollar and cent into the roster. I’m also quite aware that bringing a player of Taylor Hall’s calibre into the fold would cost eight or nine million a season for multiple years. But let’s not get away from the fact that the Oilers will likely be moving at least one player for some cap relief. And no, I wouldn’t want them to jeopardize signing a player like Ethan Bear long-term.

How many times do you get a chance to sign a Hart Trophy winner to a contract?

WHERE DOES HE GO?

Pretty sure that Taylor Hall could play alongside either Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl and the music would sound pretty good. He’d find a home on one of the two power play lines. And, while I’d love to see a full year of Tyler Ennis on the second line to the tune of about 900K, I think I’d enjoy about five years of Taylor Hall on that line if the money can be worked out. Hall is coming off a year that saw him spend part of the season in NJ before coming to Arizona. He finished with 52 points in 65 games. It translates to roughly 65 points over a full season, something that has eluded Hall several times in his career due to his style of play.

But when he’s in the lineup? He’ll drive that line all by himself. Imagine him on a line with either one of 97 or 29. Imagine if you paired up 97 and 29 to bring back the 4 and 93 combo. I’m here for this, and you should be too.

How many times do you get a chance to sign a Hart Trophy winner to a contract?

YOU’RE SERIOUS

Absolutely serious. The man scored 93 points two years ago on the Devils. He scored 25 points in 30 games this year on a New Jersey club that finished alongside the Ottawa Senators in goals per game. Edmonton is going to need some help 5 on 5 next year. (despite having excellent special teams, they finished -16 in even strength goals this season)

It’s not going to be easy to make the cap work, but if there’s no deal in Arizona (and if Hall’s agent picks up the phone), there’s not a better player this offseason who you could bring into Edmonton.