Oilers First Overall Draft Pick Could Be Moved at Trade Deadline

Hall is visiting his former team in Edmonton tonight in his second season with the rebuilding Chicago Blackhawks, and in the final year of his contract that pays him $6M each season. According to Paul Almeida, it's possible that Hall gets traded at the deadline.

Given the Blackhawks status as a rebuilding team and Hall's as a veteran player and pending free agent, it entirely makes sense that Chicago will trade him - if they can. Hall is recovering from tearing his ACL after just two games last season, and players recovering from that particular injury oftentimes have very slow starts, especially at an older age. For Hall to get moved to a contender this year, he'll have to prove that he can still be an effective player.

The Oilers drafted Taylor Hall first overall back in 2010, and he went on to play 6 seasons in Edmonton before being infamously traded in a one for one deal for defenceman Adam Larsson. Hall went on to win a Hart Trophy in New Jersey, and then continued on a journeyman career as his offensive production declined. After 834 career NHL games with 6 different teams, Hall has a respectable 266 goals and 697 points.

The Edmonton Oilers should be in the market for an impact trade this season, but likely won't spend their assets to improve at forward and bring back Taylor Hall. Instead, they'll be targeting an addition on defence primarily, and perhaps a bottom six forward. It will be nice for fans to see a familiar face back in Edmonton tonight, but the Oilers are looking to get their first win from his Blackhawks.