The No. 1 overall NHL draft pick in 2010 and 2018 Hart Trophy winner is plenty impressed with Connor Bedard, a potential linemate in Chicago. And at age 31 Hall is is out to prove he has plenty left in the tank.
Taylor Hall joined rookie center Connor Bedard on the left wing of a line at Chicago Blackhawks training camp on Saturday.
It's no secret that's the spot the rebuilding Blackhawks had in mind for the 31-year-old Hall when they acquired him from the Boston Bruins over the summer. It makes perfect sense.
- undefined
- undefined
- undefined
Hall hopes to check all those boxes this season. After missing the first two days of camp with a lower-body injury, the 6-foot-1, 210-pound forward said on Saturday he's raring to get started.
"I feel like I have a lot of game left and I want to play for as long has possible," Hall said. "I'm not just, you know, riding into the sunset, by any means."
In 2017-18, Hall won the Hart Trophy while recording a career-high 39 goals and 93 points alongside Hischier. He had a reduced role and minutes last season on a deep Boston Bruins team, posting just 16 goals and 20 assists in 61 games.
The Blackhawks acquired Hall and the rights to Nick Foligno from the Bruins on June 26, two days before the 2023 NHL Draft when they selected Bedard. After the deal, Hall said he wanted to show he could again be a Top-6 NHL forward.
Doing it in Chicago, and with Bedard, is as good a place as any.
"He's going to be one of the best players in the league," said Hall, who skated with Bedard a few times in informal practices prior to camp. "I think we're all really excited to see what he can do this year and help him along, and ultimately get him in the best position possible to help our team."
Hall made Hischier, then a rookie, better in New Jersey in 2017-18. Hischier made Hall better. Together, they helped the Devils to a winning record and return to the playoffs after New Jersey missed the postseason for five straight years.
Hall is hoping for a reprise in Chicago.
"Nico was kind of a blessing for me that year," Hall said. "To have a young guy come in and play center and have that youthful speed and that transition game that Nico is really good at was great for me.
"Obviously I had a really successful season. So did our team."
The potential script in Chicago could be similar, Hall thinks.
"Kind of mirrors the expectations that Jersey team had before the season," Hall said. "A lot of people had written us off, but we ended up making the playoffs and had a really good season.
"I'm not saying that we're going to to that this year, but there is real opportunity to springboard this."
Coach Luke Richardson like what he saw from Hall on the ice Saturday. Ryan Donato joined Hall and Bedard on the right side of the line.
"It was great to see him out there and see his speed and skill," Richardson said. "They're (Hall and Bedard) very dynamic, so it was fun to watch.
"They probably see the game the same way. Very high-end talent. A lot of speed. They're going to be very creative and dangerous."