Taylor Hall’s Best Decision Will Be to Join the Toronto Maple Leafs

Now an unrestricted free-agent, Taylor Hall should take his talents to the Big Smoke and sign with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are in a position where they need to consider whether to sign their own unrestricted free agents or search elsewhere for one. A player they should consider bringing in from outside the organization is the former first-overall draft pick, Taylor Hall.

Not only would Hall be a good fit in the Leafs lineup but the club would be the best landing place for the left winger. He would surely thrive in Toronto.

Hall had the worst season of his career last year. Prior to the start, he signed a one-year, $8M deal to join the Buffalo Sabres. In his 37 games with the organization, Hall only recorded two goals and 17 assists. He didn’t come close to living up to his potential or cap hit.

Toronto Maple Leafs and Taylor Hall

General manager, Kevyn Adams, had to cut bait and move Hall at the trade deadline just to get something back for the forward he knew he would be unable to re-sign. Hall was shipped to Boston where things immediate turned around. Hall registered eight goals and six assists in just 16 games. Surely, he had regained his confidence heading into the playoffs. In the Stanley Cup playoffs Hall had another three goals and a pair of assists in 11 games.

Hall still has a lot to offer the game. In his short time with the Bruins, he was able to see how much playing with a group of better players can elevate his own game.

With there now being rumours that the Maple Leafs may be calling Hall’s agent, he should consider the opportunity that playing in Toronto presents. At age 29, Hall is still a top six forward. With the Leafs, that would mean he would be playing with either Auston Matthews or John Tavares on a nightly basis.

That’s just the center he’d be paired with. On the right side of the rink would either be Mitch Marner or William Nylander. No matter which combination Sheldon Keefe puts Hall with, he has the potential to be a part of the most deadly trio in the NHL.

For Kyle Dubas and the Maple Leafs, it would make a lot of sense to sign Hall, especially if Zach Hyman moves on from the organization. Not only can Hall potentially bring more production than Hyman but because of last season’s struggles, he could possibly be had for a bigger bargain than Hyman as well.

The biggest holdup of a potential marriage between the Leafs and Hall is likely the Bruins. If Hall enjoyed his short stay there enough, he may prefer to remain with the franchise a little longer to see how it plays out.

With free agency opening at the end of this month, Toronto Maple Leafs fans won’t need to wait long to find out whether Hall becomes a part of next year’s squad.