Communicating what it means to be an unsung hero is often a difficult feat. Different people have different qualities they look for in “unsung” players who really make a difference night in and night out. The Tampa Bay Lightning’s 2011-12 season was full of ups and downs. With highs ranging from the emergence of Teddy Purcell and Steven Stamkos’ 60 goal season to the lows of Dwayne Roloson’s struggles and the realization that post-season hockey was not in the cards. However, some stories never made the front page; some guys never got the press they deserved.
When thinking back to the Lightning’s struggles last season, one player’s constant presence and big time performance comes to mind. Down the stretch last season, Adam Hall, a native of Michigan, summed up everything it means to be a Bolt.
Of course, Hall is not the kind of guy who is going to go out on the ice and put up big offensive numbers; that is neither his role nor his style. However, he is the kind of player who will go out and give everything he’s got to make a difference for the boys on the bench. Examining the final stretch of last season, it becomes apparent that Hall made a difference. In fact, when Dominic Moore was traded to the San Jose Sharks, Guy Boucher liked enough of what he saw to give Hall more and more of a role. He was out there at key times to win key draws that ultimately propelled the Lightning to victory on a number of occasions.
Standing at 6-foot-3 and 213 pounds, Hall is the kind of guy who isn’t afraid to go into the corners and fight for pucks. He’s not an overly aggressive guy but, simply put, he gets the job done physically more often than not. By definition, he is arguably the perfect fourth liner. He has a little bit of offensive skill, as evidenced by his time in Nashville, and isn’t much of a defensive liability. He’s trusted by the coaching staff and he is well liked by fans and in the community.
If Hall can manage to stay healthy next season, it’s not out of the realm of possibility to think that he could establish himself as one of the better fourth line guys in the league. Simply put, he’s good at his job and, as mentioned, he’s likable. Obviously there’s a little bit of work to do with the Lightning roster prior to the puck dropping, but Hall gives the Lightning coaching staff one less thing to worry about. He’s going to be there and he’s going to be a solid leadership presence in the bottom-six. With so many young guys coming up through the system, that point cannot be emphasized enough.
Currently, Hall is playing in the tier-two league over in Germany. Through eleven games, he has tallied seven goals and nine points in addition to 31 penalty minutes. Of course, the tier-two German league isn’t the NHL, but if his solid play over in Germany can translate into confidence back in Tampa, that can only mean good things for the Lightning.
This past off-season, Lightning General Manager Steve Yzerman signed Hall to one-year contract extension worth $650,000. If Hall can come in and be the effective player we saw glimpses of after last year’s trade deadline, don’t be surprised to see the Bolts lock him up with a multi-year deal. The Lightning under Jeff Vinik and Yzerman are all about culture; Hall fits right in with the positive, progressive culture the Bolts are trying to create.
As always, thanks for reading! Please send me suggestions for a new Twitter name that involves HockeyBuzz, my name, the Lightning or anything else you can think of. Also, remember to submit questions for the next installment of Mike's Mailbag with the hashtag #MM!
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