Taylor Hall was wise to expect a trade deadline before the NHL’s March 7 deadline. He ultimately didn’t have to wait very long.
The Blackhawks sent the former Hart Trophy winner to the Hurricanes as part of a three-team trade Friday, shortly after making him a late scratch for their game against the Lightning, a source confirmed.
But Hall was far from the biggest piece of the blockbuster trade, which made only a ripple in Chicago but made a huge tsunami across the NHL as the Avalanche also dealt star Mikko Rantanen to the Hurricanes, per reports.
The Hawks retained 50% of Rantanen’s $9.25 million salary-cap hit to facilitate the trade but did not retain any of Hall’s $6 million cap hit, meaning they still have one retention slot available for the rest of this season.
In return, the Hawks received their own 2025 third-round draft pick, which they had previously traded to the Hurricanes. It’ll therefore be one the earliest selections of the third round, potentially just a few picks later than the Hurricanes’ second-round pick. A third-round pick had been roughly the expected return for Hall all along.
Hall has tallied a respectable 24 points in 46 games this season, including a pretty assist Monday against the Hurricanes — with their general manager, Eric Tulsky, watching in person at the United Center. He has been somewhat turnover-prone, but his ability to carry the puck with speed through the neutral zone has been a major asset.
Hall said Jan. 15 that he entered the season, his second in Chicago, “wanting to continue being a Blackhawk for years to come.” But by that point, with the trade rumors already swirling, he had realized that probably wasn’t going to be the case.
“Everyone in a contract year knows there’s a lot of different ways things can go,” he said then. “I’m ready for anything. I have a great wife who is always ready for a good adventure. If that’s here or if that’s somewhere else, we’ll figure it out.”
The Hawks will face the loaded-up Hurricanes again this coming Thursday in Raleigh.
Rantanen is also a pending free agent this summer, and if he doesn’t sign an extension with the Hurricanes, he’s someone the Hawks could ambitiously target as a long-term star partner for Connor Bedard.
This story will be updated.