Much of the draft talk in Boston these days revolves around the Patriots and next month’s NFL draft, but the prospect that could make the biggest splash in the Hub next season won’t be selected until June.
Thanks to last fall’s Phil Kessel trade with the struggling Maple Leafs, the Bruins are in prime position to land one of the top picks in the NHL draft. With that pick, Boston could be in position to select highly touted left winger Taylor Hall, who would be a perfect fit for the B’s, according to the New England Hockey Journal.
Boston acquired Toronto’s first-round selection in the deal for Kessel, and since the Leafs (26-34-12) currently own the second-worst record in the NHL, it figures to be one of the draft’s first several picks. Hall is projected to go either first or second, and center Tyler Seguin is expected to be taken with the other top-two pick.
Aside from the fact that the B’s are in desperate need of a winger who can finish, another factor could make Hall and Boston a match made in hockey heaven: Hall’s agent, Bobby Orr.
“Boston is special. I’ve heard great things about the city and I’d be honored to be selected by the Bruins,” Hall told the Journal. “My agent is Bobby Orr, so I’m familiar with the Bruins and their history as one of the Original Six teams. I think it would be a great situation for me.”
The 18-year-old Hall has spent the last three seasons with the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League and just wrapped up his best regular season yet. The Kingston, Ontario, native notched career highs with 66 assists and 106 points in 57 games. He missed six games this season while playing for Team Canada in the World Junior Championships.
In his first OHL season, Hall registered 84 points and a career-high 45 goals as one of the youngest players in the league. In his second year, he tallied 90 points, helped lead Windsor to the OHL championship and then earned most outstanding player honors at the Memorial Cup — a tournament that features the champions from each of Canada’s three major junior leagues.
“Hall’s appeal is pretty straightforward,” writes New England Hockey Journal reporter Kirk Luedeke. “He can skate like the wind and scores goals in bunches. This season, he added a prolific playmaking capability to his repertoire. Although he’s not all that big a player at 6-feet and about 185 pounds, he’s got so much skill, creativity and speed that he’s extremely difficult to contain. With three full seasons in the OHL under his belt, not to mention numerous international competitions, Hall is expected to be playing in the NHL next year for whichever club lands him.”
Cross your fingers, Boston fans — that club could be the B’s.
