Forward Taylor Hall will be making the second round of the National Hockey League (NHL) playoffs for the first time in his career, and he’s already had a taste for that kind of success. He hopes to stay with the Boston Bruins for a long time.
Now 29, Hall has had a rocky start to his career, not least because of the expectations that come with being the very first overall pick in a draft. The Albertan has had a bad experience of his six years without a playoff with the Edmonton Oilers.
Despite everything, he believes that every pitfall he has faced has forged the player he has become.
“People think of Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid when they think of top picks, and I’m not in that category,” Hall humbly confessed in an ESPN interview released Thursday. But I became a good player in that league when I was in Edmonton. So I’m grateful for that. ”
Renewed passion
While he rose to MVP in 2018 with the Devils, Hall has had little more success in New Jersey as evidenced by his five small playoff games in three full seasons. Another quick elimination with the Arizona Coyotes last summer, followed by a tough start to the season with the Buffalo Sabers this year, kicked off a thought process at Hall.
It was to maintain and strengthen his passion for hockey that he asked to be traded to a team that was going to make the playoffs.
“What I have probably learned the most [à Buffalo]is that you have to love to play hockey and I have to go somewhere where I can love to play hockey and really feel that love for the sport. Not that I didn’t have it in Buffalo, but we had some dark times there. ”
Islanders first
Hall ended up in Boston, where he regained his offensive punch. He has so far totaled 10 goals and 17 points in 21 games, regular season and combined playoffs. A performance well above his two goals and 19 points in 37 games with the Sabers.
As the Bruins kick off their second-round series against the New York Islanders on Saturday, Hall wants the adventure to continue beyond this spring tournament. He loves to win and he loves Boston. But for now, he is on a mission, and negotiations are not on the agenda at all.
“I want to play here, not just for another year or two,” Hall said. I hope longer than that. I don’t even know what my worth is right now, honestly. I’m not worried about my contract, it’s something we’ll find out this summer. ”
“I have much more important things that I have to take care of as a player and as a teammate. I knew it was a great city, but I was surprised how much better it was than I thought. So I hope it will work. ”
– The first duel between Boston and New York will be broadcast on TVA Sports 2 on Saturday at 8 p.m.
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