For the record, I have no idea what the Oilers could get for Taylor Hall. I imagine it would be a lot though, which is why the temptation has to be there for ol’ “man of action” Craig MacTavish to do something “bold” and turn one potentially great player into two or three really good ones.
So to clarify: I’m not saying the Oilers should definitely trade Hall. They could easily come to regret it if they do. I’m just saying the possibility should be on the table, with a future built around centers Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Leon Draisaitl, winger Jordan Eberle, and defenseman Darnell Nurse. (And the way things are going, maybe even Connor McDavid or Jack Eichel.)
Oh, and I’m not convinced Nail Yakupov is a bust either. The kid’s only 21 and hasn’t exactly been granted a great environment in which to develop. “You need to be patient,” some guy said today.