Toronto Maple Leafs: Does a Taylor Hall Trade Make Sense?

So, What Should Kyle Dubas Do?

The concerns surrounding Taylor Hall are extremely valid and any GM who elects to not pursue the 29-year-old might be making a safe bet. However, the conversation essentially boils down to one thing:

How often does a player of Hall’s ceiling and caliber come on the trade market, where a first-round pick is not part of the expected return?

It seems like too good of an opportunity for Kyle Dubas to pass up on. In a win-now, all-in season, adding that type of offensive threat to an already potent group featuring Matthews, Marner, Tavares, and Nylander, Hall would not be expected to carry the burden of being his team’s number one option.

It is possible a large portion of Hall’s shortcomings have been predicated on the fact he is not able to be a team’s best player. But if he were to come to Toronto, we are talking about a former MVP potentially being the team’s fourth or fifth best forward and guaranteed to be no higher than third.

A top six of Hall-Matthews-Marner and Galchenyuk-Tavares-Nylander is incredibly deep. What team would be able to match that? It would then allow the Leafs to keep Hyman on the third line, a spot which he has dominated over the past few weeks.

A deep forward group is essential to any contender looking to go on an extended playoff run. Bringing Taylor Hall aboard the best chance he has ever had at capturing a Stanley Cup, and with him having grown up in Ontario, I would expect to see a rejuvenated and motivated player, looking to make an impact.

It remains to be seen what Kyle Dubas, Brandon Pridham, Laurence Gillman and the Toronto Maple Leafs have up their sleeve. But there is one thing we can be certain of: something is brewing and may be coming to fruition very soon.