Fansided

5 potential trade targets for New Jersey Devils’ Taylor Hall

By Kyle McKenna

NEWARK, NJ- OCTOBER 14: Taylor Hall #9 of the New Jersey Devils plays the puck against the Florida Panthers during the game on October 14, 2019 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Andy Marlin/NHLI via Getty Images)
NEWARK, NJ- OCTOBER 14: Taylor Hall #9 of the New Jersey Devils plays the puck against the Florida Panthers during the game on October 14, 2019 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Andy Marlin/NHLI via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 5
Next
(Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/NHLI via Getty Images)
(Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/NHLI via Getty Images) /

4. Florida Panthers

If there’s one Eastern Conference team that’s desperate — and they should be if they’re looking for playoff success — it’s the Florida Panthers.

Perhaps this is a year where Florida takes a chance at trading for a skater such as Taylor Hall – even if the Cats know he wouldn’t re-sign with them, after they acquired the former MVP. Look no further than what the Columbus Blue Jackets somewhat accomplished last postseason.

Columbus general manager, Jarmo Kekalainen, pushed to make a run and held on to upcoming UFAs such as goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky and forward Artemi Panarin while he acquired the hot ticket in Matt Duchene at the 2019 NHL trade deadline.

Columbus won its first-ever playoff series since joining the league in 2000-01, and as for Florida, its lineup seems to have more balance than Columbus’ from last season.

Hall would really spice things up for a Panthers team that’s expected to finally take a giant leap forward, and it would also speak volumes to South Florida’s fanbase about how serious the team is this time around about winning.

At some point in time, a team such as Florida is going to have to make a big splash at the trade deadline and one that may only be a rental. Just ask teams who’ve won the Cup before how much that has helped them.

As for New Jersey, it could probably demand more in return from Florida – a Panthers team that needs to make a statement at either the 2020 trade deadline or this offseason – before it continues its long and lonely path of mediocrity.

Home/NHL