Is Taylor Hall more than just an offensive threat?
When the Boston Bruins acquired Taylor Hall at the 2021 NHL Trade Deadline, they knew they were getting an offensive, former first overall pick and Hart Trophy-winning forward, but what has been most impressive is his two-way game.
Hall has always been known as an offensive threat, and he is, as he has 248 goals and 409 assists for 657 points in 761 NHL games. In his 12 seasons, Hall has scored at least 20 goals seven times; his career-high was 39 in 2017-18 with the New Jersey Devils, the season he was voted league MVP.
So he knows how to put up the points offensively, but apparently, Taylor Hall has been a good defensive forward for a few years now. I came across his player card from the 2020-21 season, and even on a terrible Buffalo Sabres team before coming to Boston, he had good numbers.
Analytically, Hall was even in a higher percentile defensively than he was offensively that season. The former highly-touted prospect has come a long way since being drafted first overall and relied heavily on by the Edmonton Oilers in his early years.
Taylor Hall has found his game again in Boston; it's finally working in a place where he doesn't have to be the star player, and maybe that's the key to his success.
