The New Jersey Devils are one of the most interesting teams in the league right now, with immense pressure on their coaching staff to get things turned around after their early season struggles. Those struggles go beyond just the immediate future of John Hynes though, as the team continues to try to convince Taylor Hall to sign a long-term extension. Elliotte Friedman starts off his latest 31 Thoughts column for Sportsnet with an examination of the situation, and then explained himself further on the Tim and Sid show:
The Devils know that if they’re not looking like a consistent playoff team, the chances of him staying are extremely unlikely. So they know they have to get going. They made a pretty interesting move today behind the bench. They realize if it doesn’t change they’re going to have to start having these [trade] conversations with other clubs.
Friedman even went on to speculate about a potential suitor, noting that the Edmonton Oilers have wanted to “correct” the previous trade for a long time. The Oilers obviously have a new front office in place now, but the simple fact that it is getting to the point of speculation like this is not the way the Devils hoped this season would go.
After selecting Jack Hughes first overall, adding P.K. Subban, Wayne Simmonds and Nikita Gusev, New Jersey was supposed to be not only improved but competing for a playoff spot in the Metropolitan Division. They’ve now gotten off to an 0-4-2 start to the season and can’t seem to find their way in either end of the rink, allowing more than twice as many goals as they have scored to this point.
It is too early for the Devils to throw in the towel—after all, it’s just six games—but after watching their rival New York Islanders lose captain John Tavares for nothing as an unrestricted free agent (a decision by the forward that Hall has said “took a lot of guts”) they’ll need to make a tough decision before the trade deadline on whether their future includes the 2018 Hart Trophy winner if he doesn’t yet have a contract in hand.
Hall will turn 28 next month and has five points through six games.
Having a really hard time seeing Hall back in Edmonton. Maybe for half a season, but why the hell would he resign there unless he played every shift with #97? They’d also have to figure out how to dump a bit of salary.
Trade him,he’s not going to sign in New Jersey.The longer you wait less valve for him.Do you think Calgary Gaudreau for Hall
Lol what
Hall has less than a year left on his contract. Gaudreau just signed a long term deal. No.
Yes. Calgary trades their best player for an older upcoming UFA. Wtf.
Edmonton only has over 5 million in cap space , Hall is gonna want more, don’t see it or what trade material they have want mention Puljujarvi, don’t think Devil’s need him , Edmonton does have a few prospects , look at Tyler Benson , on top choice, New Jersey would have to pay him some of the contract. so that want happen. Gaudreau for Hall, NO !
i could see edmonton doing a RNH for Hall type trade, then use that extra money to try and get him resigned. dont see a fit in calgary unless its a rental situation.and new jersey takes a contract like frolik to offset the cap
Don’t think Taylor Hall was all that fond of his last days in EDM. If Treliving were to ship Johnny out for Taylor, he’d have to go into the W.P.P., and live under an assumed name, with a closet full of wigs. At what Taylor *should* get on the open market, his choices are limited, considering he will decide where he wants to play (UFA vs RFA). Look at all of the promising teams on the rise, and see how much cap space they have or will have, then start eliminating the *no-way-I’ll-play-there* teams. May leave him only a handful of choices.
Only six games? The season is already slipping away. If they lose to the Rags, Hynes is gone!