When the news came down in 2016 that Adam Larsson had been traded straight up for Taylor Hall, many mocked the Edmonton Oilers for the return they received from the New Jersey Devils. After all, Larsson had a career-high of 24 points in a season and didn’t seem like a true top-pairing option.
Part of the reason the Oilers targeted Larsson though, other than his handedness, was his contract. He had signed a six-year, $25MM deal with the Devils in 2015 that meant he would carry just a $4.16MM cap hit through this season. Hall was more expensive at $6MM per season and, now five years later, has played for four different teams.
The deal looks a little more even now that Larsson has established himself as the Oilers’ best shutdown defenseman and will look even better if they can manage to sign him to a reasonable extension. On Hockey Night In Canada this evening, Elliotte Friedman reported that the Oilers and Larsson have been in negotiations since before the trade deadline and have made good progress on an extension. Friedman expects the deal to come in around four years in length.
Larsson’s career-high is still 24 points, set in the 2014-15 season with New Jersey, but he has been a very important part of the Oilers this year. The 28-year-old trails only Josh Archibald for the team lead in hits, is far and away the team leader in blocked shots, and averages more than two minutes on Edmonton’s 11th-ranked penalty kill every night. He’s still not a true top-pairing, all-situations defenseman, but an extension makes sense for both sides.
The Oilers also have Tyson Barrie to think about this summer, but are saving some money on Kris Russell’s extension, which brings his cap hit from $4MM to just $1.25MM next season. With a deal for Larsson on the horizon, the team will have to spend carefully on the margins if they want to bring both Barrie and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins back.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Barrie is gone. Bouchard will take his spot.
They still should be mocked for trading Hall for him. Larsson is a nice stay at home defenseman but that’s not worth a Hart trophy winner, especially on a team that has struggled to get a LW for McDavid.
Yes, probably should have got a pick on top of it. But they were over a barrel at the time and had Chia as GM, who many consider one of the worst GMs on the planet at the/that time. Not on Oiler fans for that deal. And now if signed to an extension, Larsson for Hall looks like less of a robbery. Jersey and Phoenix got the better part of sweet eff all in return for him. Buff got a little something. But at deadline I doubt they could have got Larsson straight up for Hall.
Even most Oiler fans weren’t happy or content with the return on day 1. But a lot were after the first season of Larsson, and majority will be content if extended with a slight haircut on his current contract.
Nothing wrong with the deal now. Larsson stabilized a BAD DEFENSE, at the cost of a top 6 winger. Oilers got 4/possibly + years of a cost effective 2-4 dman. Devils got 2 years of top 3 winger and some spare parts once moved.
Hall only had one great year in NJ, he sucked in Arizona and Buffalo. He is overrated, I’m wondering who’s more valuable to your team, an underachieving Hall or a reliable defenseman like Larson.
Taylor Hall will probably sign a 1 year / +/- 4M$ and play for his career next season
He has been fire in Boston. He will certainly get more than a one year at 4M.
Someone will pony up at least $6.5m per for him if Boston doesn’t lock him up. Not saying he deserves that type $ but he’ll get it.
I never liked Hall as I felt he was too fragile. Then when you find out he was partying and didn’t have a work ethic in practices it all starts to paint a poor picture. His small tear in Boston won’t last. Someone will pay money for him and very soon regret it.
Every day the Larsson trade looks better and better. Not that it should ever have been made 1 for 1; but it has somehow worked out long term.