Taylor Hall, Nick Foligno Looking for Bigger Roles, Resurgence with Blackhawks

Chicago acquired veterans from Boston to mentor, protect Connor Bedard and kids. But both forwards believe they have plenty of gas left in the tank to produce — and help drive rebuilding Blackhawks upward.

Taylor Hall, the NHL's No. Draft pick in 2010, had some great, flashy moments with the Edmonton Oilers after joining them as an 18-year-old rookie that fall. 

And the slick winger's production trended upward in six seasons on a talent-thin Oilers team. But Hall truly found his stride after being traded to the New Jersey Devils in 2016.

Hall won the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP in 2017-18, netting 39 goals and 93 points, and leading the Devils back to the playoffs after a five-year-hiatus. It was Hall's first trip to the postseason too.

A big reason for the jump: Hall played left wing on a line with speedy Swiss rookie center Nico Hischier, who had been picked first overall in June 2017 at the NHL Draft at the United Center. Hall helped push the pace for Hischier. Hischier, now a star with the Devils and their captain, did the same for Hall.

Hall and the Chicago Blackhawks are banking on the same sort of chemistry with top 2023 draft pick Connor Bedard. Hawks general manager Kyle Davidson acquired Hall, 31, along with center Nick Foligno, from the Boston Bruins two days before taking Bedard first overall in Nashville.

Yes, Hall and Foligno -- along with 38-year old Corey Perry -- are charged with providing team leadership, guiding and looking out for Bedard and other youngsters who may make the team this season. Hall also wants to prove he has has plenty of production left in his 6-foot-1, 215 pound frame.

"I’m excited to play a bigger role," said Hall, who also skated briefly with 2019 top draft pick Jack Hughes in New Jersey. "I’m excited to show that I've grown. I’m excited to show that even at my age I can still be a top line guy."

Hall and Foligno drifted down to a bottom-six forward roles on a deep Bruins team that set regular-season records for points in 2022-23. That was OK with both, as Boston kept piling up points before being upset in seven games in the opening playoff round by Florida.

"My role was bit lesser last year, more on the third line, said Hall, who finished with 16 goals and 36 points in 61 games as his ice time slipped to a career-low 15:56 per game. "I think we had so many good players on our team."

Both Hall and Foligno realized the Bruins, up against the salary cap, might have to shed veterans. Hall is set to earn $6 million this season in the third year of a four year contact. 

The 35-year-old Foligno says he's is pumped about coming to Chicago after signing a one-year, $4 million deal with the Blackhawks once his rights were transferred.

"The big thing for me, I was looking for an expanded role," said Foligno, whose 12:22 of ice time last season was his lowest since his rookie season with Ottawa in 2007-08. "In talking to Kyle (Davidson) and (coach) Luke (Richardson) even beforehand and getting and understanding of what my role would be, it seemed like a no brainer to come there and have this opportunity.

"They checked a lot of the boxes I was looking for," he added. "I was really re-energized to help rebuild this with Taylor. It lines up with where I am in my career and the drive I still have to come and win."

Foligno had 10 goals and 26 assists last season and peaked with 31 goals and 73 points with Columbus in 2014-15. He and younger brother Marcus are the sons of hard-nosed former NHL winger Mike Foligno, Detroit's first-round draft pick in 1979 who went on to score 355 goals and 727 points in 1,018 NHL games.

More than a bit of Mike Foligno rubbed off on Nick, known for being one of the NHL's best two-way forwards and leaders. He won the Mark Messier Leadership Award, hand-picked by Messier, in 2017 along with the King Clancy Memorial Trophy for leadership and humanitarian contribution.

Besides mentoring Bedard and others in the dressing room and at practice — and "eliminating distractons" away from the rink — Foligno, Hall and Perry will be there to protect "hockey's generational talent" in games. Richardson predicts Bedard may get the puck "and just be gone" often, but an ice sheet is confined space. A defender's job is to separate an attacker from the puck. Hockey is a physical game.

"On any good team you want everyone to feel like you have each other's backs," Foligno said. "It's no different when you have a young kids that's trying to establish himself in the league and make him feel comfortable that he can go out and do his job."

Hall and Foligno have been enjoying summer at lake houses in Ontario. They'll get to Chicago to meet Blackhawks teammates, including Bedard, soon enough.

They've been impressed with what they've seen from afar.

"I think you can tell just watching him dealing with media and talking, he knows what to expect," Hall said. "He has big expectations of himself.

"For guys like Fliggy (Foligno) and I, you know it's about letting him play and bringing out the best in him."