Taylor Hall
Position: Left Wing
Current Team: Arizona Coyotes
2020 Salary Cap Hit: $6M
Lastly, we have Taylor Hall. I know. Just hear me out as this hypothetical trade scenario is by far the biggest one to discuss.
There is no doubt that Taylor Hall is an incredible player. This guy is just a few years removed from a 93-point season. Hall had a 52-point season this year, including time with a Coyotes team that isn’t really know for its offensive prowess.
Hall had a tough first half of last season, languishing on an awful New Jersey Devils team. Moving to the Arizona Coyotes seemed like a good idea for him, but he still struggled.
General Manager issues and the loss of draft picks due to NHL combine testing violations leaves Arizona as a less than desirable home for Hall.
Hall and Head Coach John Hynes have a good history together, and a new beginning for both of them could produce favorable results. Now comes the hard part.
Hall made $6M last season and will want some kind of raise even in this COVID-19, money-strapped NHL atmosphere. This may be a tall order for the Predators.
With the Predator’s free agents’ apparent departure and a Kyle Turris buyout, it is not impossible that Hall could be in Nashville. The question is, what could the Predators give up to attain Hall?
The Coyotes’ loss of draft picks may motivate them to make some trades. It would be a huge gamble, but the Predators could offer their 1st round pick this year and maybe throw in Jarnkrok or Austin Watson.
The pressure is on Poile to make the Predators relevant again. If Hall were to be successful in Nashville, Poile would look like a genius. If Hall were to stumble like the majority of the recent forwards that have come to the Predators, then Poile might as well call it a career.
These are all trades that will take creativity from the Predators front office to happen. But Poile has never shied away from making bold moves in the offseason. Sometimes he misses, and other times he hits a home run.
Poile is badly in need of a home run offseason signing to change the direction of the Predators that not too long ago had Stanley Cup aspirations, but now are in danger of becoming a mediocre team that will be lucky to sneak into the playoffs.