By: Max Mainville | Check me out on Twitter @tkdmaxbjj
On the same day as the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, the Boston Bruins have officially re-signed forward Taylor Hall to a four-year contract worth $6 million AAV ($24 million in total).
Hall, 29, was acquired by the Bruins during last season’s trade deadline from the Buffalo Sabres along with forward Curtis Lazar in exchange for forward Anders Bjork and a 2021 2nd Round Pick (53rd overall). In 16 regular-season games, Hall put up eight goals and six assists for 14 points. Evidently, the Edmonton, Alberta, Canada native found immediate success with David Krejci and Craig Smith – giving the Boston Bruins something they had not previously had for many seasons, a dangerous top-six rather than just one line.
In the two-round playoff run, Hall’s production did take a slight decrease. In eleven playoff contests, Hall scored three goals and two assists for five points – three of those points coming in the five-game series win over the Washington Capitals. Regardless, having Taylor Hall on the second line brought additional offence to a Bruins roster that can use all the depth scoring they can get.
Earlier this week, TheAthletic’s Fluto Shinzawa (@FlutoShinzawa on Twitter) stated that UFA forward David Krejci has not yet declared his intentions for the upcoming 2021-2022 season as there is still the potential for him to sign with another team, play overseas or retire from hockey altogether. That is all left to be decided. In saying that, bringing Krejci back on a very short deal would not be a bad thing as he showed last season (44pts in 51 games) that he is still capable of playing a high level of hockey.
Going back to Taylor Hall’s extension though, this is a solid signing for both Hall and the team going forward. For Hall, he locks himself up on a contending team that he found good chemistry within a reduced amount of time while additionally making solid money for a top-six role. After switching between sub-par teams like the Edmonton Oilers, New Jersey Devils, Arizona Coyotes, and Buffalo Sabres – a sense of security for Hall could be a sigh of relief and may allow him to focus more on the on-ice performance and not feeling the pressure of an expiring contract at year’s end.
For the Bruins, they secure a left-winger in the depth charts behind Brad Marchand that scored at a near point-per-game pace in the regular season with the team the year before and is making less than your two biggest stars (Marchand and Pastrnak). Not only that, but Hall will be 33-years-old when this deal expires, meaning he will likely play at a solid level for the entirety of the contract, avoiding any real signs of regression.
Of course, only time will tell if this move will benefit the Boston Bruins. However, as it stands, Taylor Hall is still a Boston Bruin and I am quite pleased about it. Let me know how you feel about the Taylor Hall extension via Twitter @tkdmaxbjj!
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