The idea of acquiring Taylor Hall at the trade deadline was intriguing to many Islanders fans.

During the offseason, Hall left the Arizona Coyotes to sign a one-year contract with the Buffalo Sabres. The idea was that the Sabres could attempt to make the playoffs for the first time in years with Hall. If they did, they could consider signing him long-term.

However, this was an awful season for both Hall and Buffalo. The Sabres had tons of injuries, an outbreak of COVID-19, and spent most of the season in last place. Taylor Hall played arguably the worst hockey in his NHL career and only scored two goals in 27 games. So, it didn’t take long for speculation of a Taylor Hall trade to begin, since he had shown no interest in signing another contract in Buffalo.

When discussing trade rumors, Taylor Hall’s name was often tied to the Islanders. Anders Lee’s injury left a vacancy on the Islanders’ first line, and Taylor Hall seemed perfect to fill the hole. Despite his rough season, Hall is a former MVP, a left-winger, and can be an elite scorer in the correct system. So, the Islanders expressing interest in him made sense. Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello reportedly had phone calls with Sabres GM Kevyn Adams discussing a trade. Other teams in the race for Hall included the St. Louis Blues, Edmonton Oilers, Florida Panthers, and Boston Bruins.

However, the Islanders did not pull the trigger on a Taylor Hall trade. Instead, they picked up Kyle Palmieri and Travis Zajac from the New Jersey Devils. Although many fans liked the acquisition, some still believed they should have traded for Taylor Hall instead. So, here are the three main reasons the Islanders probably didn’t trade for Taylor Hall.

1. Kyle Palmieri Is the Better Fit

Kyle Palmieri is a very mature and consistent player. Although Lamoriello resigned as GM of the Devils before they acquired Palmieri from the Ducks, he knew exactly what he is getting from him. Meanwhile, Taylor Hall is inconsistent. Sometimes, he looks like one of the best players in the league. Other times, Hall can go long stretches with little production. With the season almost over, the Islanders wanted a player who can do his job each night for the rest of the season and the playoffs.

Also, Kyle Palmieri has similarities to Anders Lee, who he is trying to replace temporarily. He has scored over 20 goals in five straight seasons and seems to always be in the right spot to put the puck in the net. He is also physical like Lee, is defensively responsible, and can battle in front of the net or in the corners.

So, not only is Palmieri the better fit on ice, but he also has valuable connections. When trading for Palmieri, the Islanders also picked up depth forward Travis Zajac, who Lamoriello drafted in 2004. Zajac’s contract also expires this summer, and he joins Andy Greene and goaltender Cory Schneider as Islanders who were under Lamoriello in New Jersey.

Palmieri also grew up in Smithtown, New York, so the Long Island native is due to give it his all for his hometown team. So, although he is less skilled than Hall, Trotz knows how to use him properly and that makes him a better fit.

2. Taylor Hall Has a No-Movement Clause

When Taylor Hall signed a one-year, $8 million contract with the Buffalo Sabres, a no-movement clause was included. This gave Hall full control to veto any trade he didn’t approve of. He’s turning 30 years old next season and has spent most of his prime on rebuilding teams. It seems clear that Hall wanted to go to a team he believed had a chance to win the Stanley Cup. The Boston Bruins were very appealing to him.

I do not believe that Hall was particularly against the idea of being traded to the Islanders. However, he used his no-movement clause as leverage. Since he had the choice of where Buffalo could trade him, he let them know he favored a trade to the Bruins. So, the Bruins had a significant advantage over other teams making calls for Hall and eventually got a deal at a relatively cheap price.

3. Taylor Hall Has Struggled This Season

As stated before, Taylor Hall was not playing like himself during his stint in Buffalo. He finished with two goals and 17 assists for 19 points on the Sabres’ top line. For comparison, Kyle Palmieri had 17 points with the Devils this season. Obviously, Hall was in a tough situation. His superstar center Jack Eichel spent a lot of time injured and was not fully healthy when he played.

The Sabres also dealt with a COVID-19 outbreak and had a really tough schedule when they returned. They lost 18 consecutive games from Feb. 25 to March 29. With the bad season, many general managers were very cautious about acquiring Hall due to his and the team’s lack of production.

When Taylor Hall is playing his best, he is worth at least a first round pick. That’s what Arizona gave up for him when they traded for him last season. He has what it takes to be a superstar in this league. However, due to his poor play, and his contract circumstance, all the Sabres got for him, alongside Curtis Lazar, was a second round pick and forward Anders Bjork. It seems to be less of a package than what the Islanders gave up for Palmieri and Zajac. But the system isn’t fit for him, and it probably seemed too risky in Lamoriello’s eyes.

Ben Kule

Die-Hard Islanders fan and writer from Plainview, Long Island, NY. I have a passion and knowledge for this team and I enjoy sharing that with others