On Sunday night, the Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final. This win secured the Hurricanes their second Stanley Cup in history and first since 2006 against the Edmonton Oilers. As much as some Oiler fans may not like the Hurricanes from the 2006 final, you can’t help but feel some good for them. They have had a solid core group of players for many years and finally brought home the ultimate reward. The most significant reason why Oilers fans should be happy is that Taylor Hall has officially won his Stanley Cup.
From being a first-overall pick to landing on multiple teams, Hall finally found his home in Carolina. Hall was at one point the face of the Oilers. He played for them during an extremely dark time, and it is great to see him get the success he deserves. Hall finally achieved hockey’s ultimate goal after 16 NHL seasons.
Hall’s time with Edmonton
The Oilers selected Hall first overall in the 2010 NHL Draft. His outstanding performance with the Windsor Spitfires in the OHL was phenomenal. His 106 points in 57 regularseason games and 35 points through 19 playoff games were unspoken numbers at that time. After helping the Spitfires win back-to-back Memorial Cups, there was no doubt, really, that Hall was going to go first overall.
Hall entered the Oilers during the decade of darkness. He was really the only hope for them alongside Jordan Eberle when he first entered the league. Through dealing with all the hype and the pressure, Hall actually had a solid rookie NHL season. In 65 games, Hall scored 22 goals and 40 points. Hall went on to have a couple of similar seasons afterwards (his 2012–13 season was diminished due to the lockout), but truly broke out in the 2013–14 season. In 75 games that year, Hall established himself as a superstar. He scored 27 goals and 80 points, easily being the best player on the team.
Hall was a part of a memorable core for some Oiler fans. He, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Jordan Eberle, and Justin Schultz were supposed to be the core moving forward. It was not until Hall’s final years as an Oiler that he got to play with Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid. In the offseason of 2016, a significant trade was made, sending Hall to the New Jersey Devils. It was a one-for-one deal that sent Adam Larsson back to Edmonton.
Hall brought many good memories and highlight reel goals during his time as an Oiler. It is a shame that the franchise never got to see him in the playoffs.
Struggling to find a home
After his time in Edmonton, Hall was supposed to be the franchise player that the Devils were looking for. In a short amount of time, that is exactly what Hall was. In the 2017–18 season, he was literally the best player in the NHL. The forward scored a career high 39 goals and 93 points. This secured him the Hart Memorial Trophy and his first taste of playoff hockey. Unfortunately, the playoff run did not last long, as the Devils lost in five games in the first round.
After that amazing season, Hall struggled to stay healthy, and then the trade rumours began. In the end, Hall was traded by the Devils to the Arizona Coyotes in a huge deal. The Coyotes were trying to push for a playoff spot and ended up making it thanks to the playoff bubble in Edmonton. After a brief stint with the Coyotes, Hall signed with the Buffalo Sabres, looking to make an immediate impact. This was the worst fit for him in his career. Through just 37 games, Hall only scored two goals. The Buffalo experience was a disaster, but it led to a good trade for Hall.
Hall was traded to the Boston Bruins in exchange for Anders Bjork and a second-round pick. This was a great home for Hall as the Bruins were loading up for a Stanley Cup run. He regained a bit of his scoring touch with Boston and was a part of the legendary 2022–23 team, which was the best NHL team in history. They posted a remarkable 65 wins that year, but collapsed in the first round against the Florida Panthers. After the playoff collapse, Hall was dealt to the Chicago Blackhawks to play alongside Connor Bedard.
Finally fitting in
The Chicago experience was another disaster, where Hall dealt with injuries and weak linemates. Finally, in early 2025, Hall was a part of the Mikko Rantanen trade that sent him to Carolina, where everything fell into place. He may not have been one of Carolina’s top forwards, but he was viewed as a depth leader for the younger guys. Hall entered Carolina as a role model for players like Seth Jarvis, Logan Stankoven, and Jackson Blake, all of whom were upcoming young stars.
The first half of his time in Carolina was a success. Hall fit the depth role well in Carolina, recording 18 points in his first 31 games. Going into the playoffs, the team had its sights on the Stanley Cup. Like the Oilers, the Hurricanes had to deal with the Panthers. Hall had a rough series, posting no points in a five-game elimination in the Conference Final. The entire franchise hit the reset button and was all in for the 2025–26 season.
The Hurricanes went through some major changes. They moved on from Martin Necas, Brent Burns, and obviously, Rantanen. They shifted around some pieces that needed a change of scenery and brought in the guys who belonged in Carolina. The Hurricanes had a near-flawless season, winning 53 games and finishing second in the league with 113 points. Hall had a solid season and carried that momentum to the playoffs. Here, Hall recorded points in seven of the first eight games, arguably being the team’s MVP. Hall went on to score the Stanley Cup-winning goal in Game Six against the Knights and solidified a spot in NHL history.
If not for Jordan Staal, Hall would have likely won the Conn Smythe Trophy.
Up Next: Will the Vegas Golden Knights finally allow the Edmonton Oilers to interview Bruce Cassidy?
