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Hall plays the wing, which isn’t a key position in the NHL, not like centre or defence is, and since the Oilers are desperate for a top d-man, trading a winger for a d-man makes sense. This is especially the case because the Oilers should be able to find a top winger in this draft, as there are five or six rated right at the top of the 2016 class Hall shoots left, so he’s not needed so much on the Oilers power play any more, with left-shooters like Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins around. Meanwhile, sniper Jordan Eberle shoots right. The Oilers have no one to replace Eberle on the left half-wall right now. Being a right shot, Eberle also matches up better with Connor McDavid at even strength than Hall does.

Where does this leave us with Hall? Keep him!

My own take is that the only way you trade a Taylor Hall is if you’re getting back one of the NHL’s best defenceman, a player like P.K. Subban, Oliver Ekman-Larsson or Erik Karlsson.

Hall’s run of strong defensive play this year shows he can get it done. If the Oilers are ever in the playoffs, I can see Hall being consistently strong in his own end, cranking up his intensity in a big game.

With McDavid driving results on the top line, it’s also outstanding good luck for the Oilers to have such a player as Hall driving the attack on the second line. How many NHL teams have that kind of weaponry?

As for Hall’s drop in scoring in the final 52 games, he was still creating all kinds of scoring chances, almost as many as in his very best years, so not to worry.