[Rumour] Dreger: Hall is the face of the Oiler's culture problem. I expect him to be shopped

[GioforPM]

Yeah, if you assume Hall's attitude and defensive play can be addressed, you still need to trade someone back that won't cripple your own team. Pull off a trade like Dallas - sure.

Look at Calgary. Sure we could afford Hall's contract, but who would you trade? Not Monahan, Bennett, Brodie or Giordano. Not Gaudreau. Soooo, would Edmonton be happy with Calgary's first pick and Kris Russell or or Marcus Granlund or Jonas Hiller? Unlikely.

[SweepToTheCup]

Originally Posted by Demaeon

As a parent of two young kids, I'm thinking Taylor is probably just hungry.

Or maybe he needs a nap.

I think it's clear from his play he isn't that hungry...but he probably needs his bed sheets changed.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Seguin has all those flaws and the Bruins didn't have a problem finding a trade partner. Scoring goals is a pretty important skill in the NHL.

I never said the Oil couldn't find a trade partner for Hall.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by dash_pinched

This is going to be the funniest thing I read all day:

If you're EDM, at draft do u offer No. 1 pick to MTL for Subban/Price package? Or to LA for Doughty/Quick? Gotta get creative, aggressive.
— Damien Cox (@DamoSpin) December 16, 2014

He is getting absolutely lit up on Twitter yet keeps acting like what he's suggesting is sane and rational. On that note, he did used to have hair...

[Coach]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

I could counter that Seguin didn't necessarily have a breakout season until after he was traded.

I also don't think that Seguin has the lapses on the d-side that Hall does. He was/isn't fantastic, but he is an 1st line NHL centreman, so he's assumed to automatically have more defensive awareness than arguably one of the worst offenders in the game; and he was also brought in through A Bruins system that not only preaches tghose abilities, but requires them.

If I remember, the Bruins were more concerned about his off-ice lifestyle than his on-ice play. Also, they needed to trade one of their centres and Bergeron/Krejci had just lead them to a Stanley Cup. Seguin gave them a better return than any of their other players outside of the core group.

Boston trading Seguin made sense at the time, even if they ended up coming up short in value. But they did it because they were trying to maintain their contender status, not to purge themselves of a rotten identity.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

He is getting absolutely lit up on Twitter yet keeps acting like what he's suggesting is sane and rational. On that note, he did used to have hair...

I suppose in his defense, of course you'd offer #1 overall for either of those packages.

Why Montreal and LA trade their two most important players for an 18 year old is a little unclear, but Edmonton should offer it, why not?

[devo22]

Originally Posted by MattyC

To be fair to Hall, there aren't that many 2-way wingers, the position doesn't necessitate it the way centre does. Not ones that put up PPG numbers anyways.

yeah, but no one expects him to be a great two-way winger like Marian Hossa. He's just expected to be responsible defensively, and that surely isn't too much to ask from a star player.

[killer_carlson]

That Hall is a problem is no surprise. However, what is a surprise is that more of the mainstream media is breaking the mould and reporting the issue. This type of coverage will not go over well with Oiler organization who have a stranglehold on dissent when it comes to their team.

see these posts:

http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthr...ll#post5031443
http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthr...ll#post5037175

[Vinny01]

Wait is Cox suggesting that McDavid is currently worth a top 5 Dman AND top 5 goalie in the league right now?

[Zevo]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

Wait is Cox suggesting that McDavid is currently worth a top 5 Dman AND top 5 goalie in the league right now?

Even worse, he seems to be saying a 20% chance at McDavid is worth that.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by dash_pinched

This is going to be the funniest thing I read all day:

If you're EDM, at draft do u offer No. 1 pick to MTL for Subban/Price package? Or to LA for Doughty/Quick? Gotta get creative, aggressive.
— Damien Cox (@DamoSpin) December 16, 2014

Yeah, thats delusional.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by Derek Sutton

They also got fleeced big time. If the Oil were to accept an over paid 3rd liner, teams would be lining up for Hall, despite his awful hockey IQ.

Eriksson was hardly a 3rd liner when the deal was done. In the previous 4 full seasons he played, Eriksson put up 36, 29, 27, and 26 goals, and had three consecutive 70+ point seasons. His production took a major nosedive after the trade to the Bruins, owing to two concussions. The Bruins didn't get fleeced - they got very unlucky with major injuries to a player who had been virtually injury-free in his career up to that point.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Zevo

Even worse, he seems to be saying a 20% chance at McDavid is worth that.

He said at the draft, so that would be after the lottery.

[troutman]

What player with a NMC clause would ever go to EDM?

[GioforPM]

I'm not sure I make a Doughty/Quick for Crosby trade, let alone a kid who might be a Crosby. I would probably do Subban/Price for Crosby and maybe would even do it for McDavid.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by troutman

What player with a NMC clause would ever go to EDM?

Well, they do have a big mall.

[dino7c]

I said the Flames should have traded their 1st this season last summer...I was mocked so bad on here lol

Major risk, but I figured the Flames would be better than expected and they could have got a kings ransom

[gkatyal]

Originally Posted by Hackey

Actually you came to conclusions. I'm saying when a player of Hall's caliber comes on the market teams are not going to be scared away because of rumored character issues or this idea that he is the sole reason goals are scored when he is on the ice. I mean it's not like he's playing for the worst NHL team of the last ten years. But yes yes it is all his fault despite him being their best player year after year. You can try to downplay the guy however you want. Fact remains he's one of the best young players in the league today and there will be plenty of GMS trying to land him. Apparently that is mind blowing to you but it's pretty obvious to any unbiased hockey fan.

I am sorry, but yes he is playing for the worst team in the NHL for the past 10 years
The reason I know this is because Edmonton is no good.

[Hackey]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I didn't conclude anything, other than that you made something up out of whole cloth (teams lining up for Hall). They may well do so, but there's no evidence of that at all. When they do, and when they offer something significant in return, then you'll have facts upon which to base your argument.

Your conclusion was that GMs don't care about the "little things". Based on the "fact" that teams are lining up for Hall. Which you made up.

Defence isn't a "little thing". Character isn't a "little thing". Right now, Hall has little trade value. He's a mediocre scorer this year, with huge defensive issues, injury problems and a big salary. He's a winger - which places him a notch below a centre or defenceman of similar ability.

You can dislike the player or point out flaws in his game but the fact that you think he has "little trade value" let's me know your bias isn't allowing you to see the full picture. He's one of the top young players in the game. If he was perfect he would be Sidney Crosby. Despite his flaws it is very difficult to obtain a player of his skill at his age. This isn't reaching this is a pretty reasonable claim. We don't need offers in writing to know this. You have the right to your opinion as I have the right to mine. I guess we won't know who is right until a deal is actually made.

[Flash Walken]

Is Taylor hall an 80 point player if he is forced to put up his points in an offensive system with rules, boundaries, structure and other equally skilled players?

Is he a 70 point player playing 18-20 minutes a night of intense , defensively responsible hockey instead of 22+ minutes of seat of your pants offensive explosions?

Does Taylor hall get as many touches playing with Tavares, stamkos, krejci, toews or kopitar?

I think the answer to those questions is no. Those are key questions in the evaluation process.