The Toronto Maple Leafs are strengthening their lineup by adding former MVP Taylor Hall from the Chicago Blackhawks. This move aligns with Toronto’s aim to win the Stanley Cup, as they have not yet addressed their forward group in the offseason. Last season, the Maple Leafs struggled to score goals in the playoffs, making the acquisition of Hall a significant upgrade.
A proposed trade on the website PuckPedia, using their PuckGM tool, suggests the following deal:
Maple Leafs Receive:
- Taylor Hall ($3 million retained)
Blackhawks Receive:
- 2025 second-round pick (Florida’s)
In this trade, Toronto would acquire Hall with $3 million of his salary retained, making him a $3 million player, which is financially manageable for the Maple Leafs. The Blackhawks, in turn, would receive a valuable second-round pick to aid their rebuilding process.
Hall is entering the final year of his contract, and it is likely he will be traded by the deadline if Chicago is not in a playoff spot. By moving him before the deadline, the Blackhawks secure another high draft pick, while Toronto gains a skilled forward to enhance their offense.
Last season, Hall recorded 2 goals and 2 assists for 4 points in 10 games. The former first-overall pick won the MVP award in 2018.
Hall Dealt With Injuries Last Season
Hall was limited to just 10 games last season due to a knee injury sustained on November 9. He attempted a comeback but was eventually shut down for the season and underwent knee surgery.
“He’s very disappointed,” Blackhawks head coach Luke Richardson said. “It came from an accumulation of minor injuries and just became unstable, necessitating surgery. A seemingly harmless play resulted in a fall that finalized the decision for surgery.”
Chicago acquired Hall on June 26 along with Nick Foligno from the Boston Bruins in exchange for Ian Mitchell and Alec Regula. Hall has previously played for the Edmonton Oilers, New Jersey Devils, Arizona Coyotes, Buffalo Sabres, Bruins, and Blackhawks.
Maple Leafs GM: Team Still Has Work to Do
During free agency, Toronto focused on improving their defense and goaltending. They signed Chris Tanev and Oliver Ekman-Larsson to bolster their defense and added goalie Anthony Stolarz to pair with Joseph Woll. However, they did not sign any forwards and lost Tyler Bertuzzi to Chicago.
After the first wave of free agency, Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving acknowledged the need for further improvements. “We still have a lot of work to do,” Treliving said. “We executed some plans, but I’m not satisfied with our current roster compared to where we ended last season.”
The Maple Leafs have yet to make significant changes to their forward group as they approach their season opener on October 9 against the Montreal Canadiens.
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