New Jersey Devils starting to listen to teams on Taylor Hall, per report

Taylor Hall’s time in New Jersey seems to be closing in on an end as the Devils are starting to listen on offers for their star player.

The New Jersey Devils are reportedly starting to listen on other team’s offers for 28-year-old forward Taylor Hall, according to TSN’s Pierre LeBrun. Hall’s name had been on the unofficial trade block in November when reports surfaced that the forward was unlikely to sign a contract extension with the Devils in-season, but this is the first time there has been confirmed talks about Hall this season.

LeBrun reported on Saturday that there was no deal eminent for Hall, but if one were to occur the Devils may not wait until the Feb. 24 trade deadline to send the forward to another team if the terms are right.

This season, the Devils have vastly underperformed expectations as a team many believed to be on the rise. In the offseason, New Jersey acquired P.K. Subban in a trade, while also snagging Jack Hughes as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft as a playmaker alongside Hall and 2017’s former No. 1 overall pick, Nico Hischier.

With 25 games played this year, the Devils are 9-12-4 and their 22 points are well behind a wild card position at the start of December. New Jersey has played better of late, but they are still the NHL’s second-worst team as the league begins its third month of play.

Hall, this season, has played below his true talent level, with 21 points — and only four goals — in 25 games played. The forward’s shooting percentage is well-below average at 4.5 percent — meaning Hall is due for a break or two — but Hall has been underwhelming this year, to say the least.

That being said, Hall’s trade value is still incredibly high for the Devils. While Hall has stated to the media that he has not asked for a trade from the Devils, New Jersey has seemingly gathered interest in Hall early on this season.

On Hockey Night in Canada on Saturday, Sportsnet insiders Elliotte Friedman and Chris Johnston reported that the Oilers, the Blues, the Avalanche and the Canadiens all had interest in Hall and that the forward would net least two first round picks from a team or a top prospect.

That is a steep price, especially considering Hall will be an unrestricted free agent on July 1 and will not cost a team anything other than cap space to sign him in free agency. However, Hall is an attractive trade deadline pickup for a team looking to make a long playoff push as a young high-skilled forward.

Hall’s production this season has been poor, but on a better team he’d be an immediate asset to a team missing players via injury — such as the Blues — or a team looking to add depth, like the Oilers.

The NHL’s trade deadline is still a few months away, but Hall’s situation is one worth following as he remains the league’s biggest tradable asset this season.