Is Connor Bedard just going through a sophomore slump to start 2024-25, or was he perhaps put on too high of a pedestal coming into the NHL? Taylor Hall [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjEyMTQ0MTA0OTM3NjI5Njcy/usatsi_25092138_168400847_lowres.jpg] Taylor Hall Chicago Blackhawks left winger Taylor Hall’s stock has fallen in recent years, but he's still worth trading for. Yes, where once Hall was a premier forward who posted 39 goals and 93 points in a season that earned him the Hart Trophy as the NHL’s most valuable player, Hall has struggled in recent seasons even to reach the 20-goal plateau. The 33-year-old is on the back nine of his NHL career, but that doesn’t mean Hall has nothing left to give. In the right circumstances, with the right team, Hall can be a valuable contributor to a franchise’s Stanley Cup playoff plans. That team clearly won’t be the Blackhawks, which is why he’s likely to be traded by the NHL’s March 7 trade deadline [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/chicago-blackhawks/latest-news/2-blackhawks-amongst-top-targets-on-latest-trade-board]. The Athletic's Scott Powers [https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6042850/2025/01/08/blackhawks-nhl-trade-deadline-2025/] reported on Jan. 8 that the Blackhawks could fetch a third-round draft pick for Hall, which is worth it. Hall has only eight goals and 22 points in 43 games with the Hawks this season, but that doesn't consider the last-place team he's on and his season-ending surgery in November 2023 for a torn ACL. He only played 10 games last year before his injury, so, understandably, he wasn't hot out of the gate. Even then, Hall is still on pace to put up 15 goals and 41 points this year – a points total that would be his best since the 2021-22 campaign, when he had 61 points in 81 games with the Boston Bruins. Hall has only two assists in six games in January, but he posted eight assists and 11 points in December. He can still score from mid-range as well instead of having to get to high-danger areas in close. That should be very encouraging to potential trade partners, considering the Blackhawks average 2.55 goals-for per game – the third-worst total in the league. Hall could bump up his goal-scoring and assist totals even more on a much deeper team that doesn’t require him to drive a line. Considering the Blackhawks have been playing him an average ice time of 15:08, playing on a different team’s second or third line would help out that team’s secondary scoring totals. Hall’s current salary of $6 million [https://puckpedia.com/player/taylor-hall] will be a stumbling block for many teams pressed close to the NHL’s salary cap ceiling. But there are still franchises that could absorb Hall’s full cap hit to get a deal done. Teams like the Columbus Blue Jackets and Utah Hockey Club have tons of current cap space, and Hall would be a nice boost to their supporting casts. If the Blackhawks retained 50 percent of Hall’s salary, there would be more than a few teams – including the Detroit Red Wings and Los Angeles Kings, for instance – that could acquire Hall. And Chicago can continue to rebuild with a decent draft pick. Another attractive part of acquiring Hall is he's a pending UFA. He’s a pure rental player, but if he proves he’s got gas left in his competitive tank, Hall could earn himself a contract extension that takes him into his mid-thirties. He won’t get $6 million per year, but he could become a bargain on his next contract if he's motivated to turn back time and improve his production on a team with a better fit. If Chicago trades Hall, he will almost certainly go to a more offensively productive team where he can be a valuable contributor heading into the playoffs. He’s had his issues in recent seasons, but at this stage of his career, Hall can still prove he can help a team win meaningful games. Time will tell whether the right combination of factors raises his game, but in theory right now, Hall still may prove to be a useful and valuable asset. Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjEyMDk0MTI4NDI5NzM3OTYw/googlenews.png] Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News [https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqBwgKMK-q0gsw7sXpAw/sections/CAQqEAgAKgcICjCvqtILMO7F6QMwytvfCA?ceid=CA:en&oc=3] and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here [https://info.thehockeynews.com/mail/microsites/951/1/gTeQVf?_gl=1*ustlbj*_ga*NjkyMzUxMy4xNjYzNjIwMzQ3*_ga_PK63FB1PME*MTcxMzUwOTExNi40NDguMS4xNzEzNTA5MjA5LjU5LjAuMA..]. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or by visiting our forum [https://thehockeynews.rtb.io/THNHOME/posts].
