By: Ryan Duffy | Follow Me On Twitter @Rduffy26
Through the first 23 games of the 2022-23 season, the Boston Bruins have shown depth scoring throughout their forward group. With Jim Montgomery behind the bench, all four forward lines have contributed offensively with the puck and, perhaps more importantly, defensively away from the puck.
The two-way play from Boston’s forwards has shown how their lineup has boughten into their roles, even if they aren’t necessarily accustomed to them. One of Boston’s forwards that have boughten into this two-way role is Taylor Hall, who has been an unsung hero for the Bruins.
Hall has been playing on the third line alongside Charlie Coyle and Trent Frederic, where the trio has made a complete mismatch against their opposition. They’ve outscored the competition 4-1 through just over 26 minutes played together through their six games as a line.
While Hall was initially projected to play alongside David Krejci and David Pastrnak at the beginning of the year, Montgomery has put Pavel Zacha alongside his Czechia natives on the second line. Despite being placed down the lineup, Hall hasn’t looked at playing on the third line as adversity but rather a new opportunity. In the Athletic’s Fluto Schinzawa’s recent article, Hall discussed this opportunity following the Bruins’ 3-1 victory over the Tampa bay Lightning last week.
“It’s whatever’s best for the team,” Hall said. “You come into the year; you think you’re going to be on one line, and you’re going to have a lot of success. Sometimes things work out. Sometimes things don’t. But for our team, we’re 19-3 or whatever it is. Wherever you’re slotted, you’ve got to make the best of your ice time. Charlie Coyle, as a third-line center, that’s one of the best third-line centers in the whole league. I don’t take it as a demotion. I take it as, ‘Do the best and what you can with the ice time you’re given and the opportunity you’re given.’ I think we can be a really good line.”
Last season, former Bruins’ head coach Bruce Cassidy placed Hall alongside Coyle on the second line since Krejci returned to Czechia for the 2021-22 season. The combination fell short of expectations, and the line was later disbanded. Through the short time Hall and Coyle have been playing together this year; they’ve shown much more success by playing in the bottom six.
“He is very accepting of the fact that I’m using him on the third line, and we’re using him on the second power play because that is what’s best for the Boston Bruins,” said Montgomery regarding Hall’s role. “I can’t say enough about his exemplary attitude. He’s still getting 15 minutes a night, and some nights he’s getting 16, 17 depending on special teams.”
After assisting on Trent Frederic’s second goal in Saturday night’s 5-1 win over the Colorado Avalanche, Hall has three goals and four assists through his last eight games. He currently has eight goals, eight assists, and four game-winning goals on the year, which is tied for second in game-winners league-wide. Ever since he was drafted first overall in the 2010 draft by the Edmonton Oilers, the 13-year NHL veteran has always been known as a scorer, but he’s reached new heights as a two-way player since arriving in Boston at the 2021 NHL trade deadline.
Even when Hall doesn’t show up on the score sheet, he’s been noticeable defensively as he uses his elite skating ability and hockey sense to disrupt the opposing team’s odd-man rushes. Without a doubt, Hall has been one of Boston’s best forwards on both ends of the ice thus far this season. While many fans may expect the former Hart Trophy winner as league MVP to be on the score sheet every night, Hall has transformed into a 200-foot player in a Bruins uniform and has perhaps given Boston their deepest lineup in franchise history.
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