How Taylor Hall will help the Coyotes get back to the playoffs

The Arizona Coyotes are leading the Pacific Division, but can new acquisition Taylor Hall push the team to an even higher level?

Less than two weeks ago, the Arizona Coyotes entered the fray as a rumored suitor for New Jersey Devils’ winger Taylor Hall. On Monday afternoon they acquired the 2018 Hart Trophy winner, along with forward Blake Speers, in exchange for a 2020 first-round pick (top-three protected), a conditional 2021 third-round pick (which can become a second or a first) and three prospects.

Not only did Arizona not give up anyone from their current roster to get Hall, the Devils will also retain half of his $6 million cap hit for this year. Hall is in the final year of his contract, which makes it possible (if not likely) he’s just a rental for the Coyotes. But with a seven-year playoff drought going, general manager John Chayka saw an opportunity to cash in some future chips for immediate impact and value.

Arizona is a stout defensive team, entering Monday’s action allowing the third-fewest goals per game (2.34). But they are tied for 24th in the league in goals per game (2.63), with a raw total of 92 goals (tied for 22nd in the league). However ironically though, they have the league’s 10th-best power play (20.8 percent) with the number of opportunities they’ve had also ranking in the top half of the league.

With 25 points so far this season for the Devils (six goals and 19 assists), Hall would be the Coyotes’ leading scorer. Offseason acquisition Phi Kessel has underachieved to this point, with seven goals (six on the man advantage though) and 19 points through 35 games. Assuming Hall steps onto the No. 1 line and the top power play unit, the positive domino effect on players like Clayton Keller, Christian Dvorak, Kessel and Derek Stepan — who will play alongside him or be given more favorable situations — should be notable.

Three teams enter Monday’s action within two points of the Coyotes in the Pacific Division, so the effort to remain competitive in the division and the Western Conference as a whole meant addressing the need for some legit scoring punch. Hall was the best way to accomplish that at this point in time, and Chayka got it done as other teams seems to fall by the wayside in talks with the Devils.