Todd Cordell: New Jersey Devils: Taylor Hall Not On NHL Network's Top-20 Forward List

I don't know how you can call a team with 4 #1 picks a terrible team unless those players aren't very good. When Hall cracks 30 goals he might be considered a top 20 player. Until then he's somewhere in the top 50.

I don't know how you can call a team with 4 #1 picks a terrible team unless those players aren't very good. When Hall cracks 30 goals he might be considered a top 20 player. Until then he's somewhere in the top 50.
- Razzdazzle1

What about when he cracked 80 pts and finished 7th in league scoring?

I don't know how you can call a team with 4 #1 picks a terrible team unless those players aren't very good. When Hall cracks 30 goals he might be considered a top 20 player. Until then he's somewhere in the top 50.
- Razzdazzle1

Their high for points in a season over the last five years is 74. I don't know how you can say they're not terrible.

he's not too far outside of the top 20.

nothing to sweat about

What about when he cracked 80 pts and finished 7th in league scoring?
- DeflatedPucks

James Neal and Marion Gaborik have also cracked 80. Hell even Eberle got 76. One year means nothing.

James Neal and Marion Gaborik have also cracked 80. Hell even Eberle got 76. One year means nothing.
- Vanillaface

how about four years? https://twitter.com/ToddC...status/748363785300246533

Oilers are not terrible...as one of the famous HB bloggers likes to put it..they're just unlucky.

Oh well.

Who cares if someone included him on a list or not. He's the exact type of player the Devil's needed and hopefully it works out great for him here.

your guy didn't make some random list? better blog about it

So what if he's not on the list - the guy is a stud -

I don't know how you can call a team with 4 #1 picks a terrible team unless those players aren't very good. When Hall cracks 30 goals he might be considered a top 20 player. Until then he's somewhere in the top 50.
- Razzdazzle1

He's better than anyone on the Flames.

He's better than anyone on the Flames.
- Iggysbff

No, he's not. I agree with Johnny Hockey being up there over Hall. He's done more with less.

James Neal and Marion Gaborik have also cracked 80. Hell even Eberle got 76. One year means nothing.
- Vanillaface

Neal and Gaborik are also one-dimensional players. Neal has his moments where he resembles a game similar to Hossa, but those moments are few and far between.

you know this list is shiite when Toesw is ranked ahead of Malkin, Kopitar, Bergeron, Tavares, Seguin, Stamkos, Tarasenko, McD, Perry, ...

1. Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks
2. Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins
3. Alexander Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
4. Jamie Benn, Dallas Stars
5. Jonathan Toews, Chicago Blackhawks
6. Joe Pavelski, San Jose Sharks
7. John Tavares, New York Islanders
8. Anze Kopitar, Los Angeles Kings
9. Tyler Seguin, Dallas Stars
10. Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins
11. Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay Lightning
12. Vladimir Tarasenko, St. Louis Blues
13. Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers
14. Patrice Bergeron, Boston Bruins
15. Johnny Gaudreau, Calgary Flames
16. Joe Thornton, San Jose Sharks
17. Claude Giroux, Philadelphia Flyers
18. Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay Lightning
19. Corey Perry, Anaheim Ducks
20. Nicklas Backstrom, Washington Capitals

Respectfully, I just think Hall has some things working against him in considering him a top 20 player when all things are considered.

1) Injury prone so far in his career.
2) Not really a clutch performer - He was on a bad team, but still his 7 GWG put him tied for 127th among forwards in that dept over the last 3 seasons.
3) Average at best defensively - Not what most consider to be solid 2 way player and doesn't kill penalties.
4) Plays wing - Nothing really against his performance, but C is more challenging and more valuable typically.
5) Has a chance to take a real leadership role in Edmonton and honestly didn't do much with it.
6) Not soft, but not what would be considered a real physical player either.

The guy is still a great player to have and one of the best LW in the game offensively. I just think the items mentioned above are valid reasons why he may not be one of the top 20 forwards in the NHL at this point. He certain has the skill to be more and the change of scenery could really help him. He certain was part of a challenging situation in Edmonton and didn't have the best coaching staff for a lot of his time there.

you know this list is shiite when Toesw is ranked ahead of Malkin, Kopitar, Bergeron, Tavares, Seguin, Stamkos, Tarasenko, McD, Perry, ...
- kaptaan

I definitely think the order of some of these players is off, but I think the list as a whole is pretty accurate.

What about when he cracked 80 pts and finished 7th in league scoring?
- DeflatedPucks

I'd rather have a 30 goal scorer on my team than a one time 80pt season guy. Do you remember how good Hudler a couple years ago? Should he be on this list too?

Their high for points in a season over the last five years is 74. I don't know how you can say they're not terrible.
- Todd.Cordell

Lol they are terrible, I'm just saying that those #1 picks might be the reason.

He's better than anyone on the Flames.
- Iggysbff

Ok settle down. I didn't make the list and put Gaudreau at #15. Maybe you missed him there while you were staring at your old Gretzky jerseys remembering the good old days.

Oh wait, the media is biased and refuses to use an objective lens when assessing talent? Go figure.

Oh wait, the media is biased and refuses to use an objective lens when assessing talent? Go figure.
- 50GinosIn07

just like when the idiot media was all over buffalo for tanking, yet those same pos in toronto, were totally wetting themselves cuz the leaf were gonna get the first pick after the most blatant tank job in the history of the NHL.

one which shanaban acknowledged with his tone deaf, idiotic comment, "we earned it"....

Taylor Hall is a top 10 player in this league right now. I'd take him over Towes any day.

I'd rather have a 30 goal scorer on my team than a one time 80pt season guy. Do you remember how good Hudler a couple years ago? Should he be on this list too?
- Razzdazzle1

Hudler is one-dimensional player who couldn't even carry taylor's jockstrap

you know this list is shiite when Toesw is ranked ahead of Malkin, Kopitar, Bergeron, Tavares, Seguin, Stamkos, Tarasenko, McD, Perry, ...
- kaptaan

Yeah...sure... except Toews has the track record to back it up in the NHL and internationally.

Solid offensively - He is often deployed defensively without Kane on his wing or else he would be scoring more.
Clutch goal scoring
Elite defensively
Elite at winning draws
Great leader - very few better captains right now
Fantastic in the shootout - Team Canada is glad about that one

There aren't a lot of players with the compete level of Toews or that do as much as he does in every area of the ice. If Chicago gives him some wingers to play with this season, he will be having a great season.