As reported by Sportsnet.ca, the Edmonton Oilers have traded left winger Taylor Hall to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for defensemen Adam Larsson and on the other side of Canada, P.K. Subban has been dealt to the Nashville Predators for defenseman Shea Weber.
Hall, 24, was a top level prospect when he entered the NHL in 2010 but has not lived up to the exceedingly high expectations of the first overall selection that media and fans have set for him.
With the emergence of Connor McDavid as the main centerpiece the Oilers are building around and the Oilers desperate need for backend improvement, it became clear to the Oilers' management team that Hall was expendable. In his time in Edmonton, he has put up 132 goals, 196 assists and 328 points in 381 games played.
Larsson, 23, was the 4th overall selection in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft and re-signed with the Devils in 2015 for six years at US$25,000,000. He played 82 games last year, tallying 3 goals, 15 assists for 18 points with +15 plus/minus rating.
Oilers General Manager Peter Chiarelli said after the deal that this was price one had to price for a quality defenseman but many Oilers’ fans are questioning Chiarelli’s decision to get rid of the Oilers’ top winger and player last season for the young defenseman. As of right now, it appears the New Jersey has won this trade but only time will tell who gained the most out the deal.
P.K. Subban had a rough year on the ice and it became clear that speculation that the 27-year old defenseman was possibly on his way out of Montreal and it happened. Subban has been dealt to the Nashville Predators for defenseman Shea Weber.
Subban was criticized heavily this year by coach Michel Therrien for his bad form on the ice as the Canadiens collapsed after the loss of goaltender Carey Price due to injury.
After a disappointing season which saw him play 68 games this season, a change in scenery might be best for the 2014 Olympic Gold Medalist and two-time First All-Star Team member.
Weber, 30, has been the face of the Nashville Predators' organization and becoming the franchise's fifth captain in 2010. The two-time Olympic Gold Medalist came off a year which saw his goal, assist and point totals increase but also saw a minus 22 point decrease in his plus/minus rating from the year before.
The Kelowna Rockets' product has a current cap hit at $7.9 million, $1.1 million dollars below Subban's $9 million cap hit.