The Chicago Blackhawks took on the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday night at United Center. It was a game loaded with skill but one player in particular had a milestone night.
During the game, Taylor Hall scored his second of the season for Chicago and it was a special one. The goal marked the 700th career point of Hall’s career.
Since becoming the number one overall pick in the 2010 NHL Draft, Hall has had some incredible peaks and some tough valleys.
The valleys have to do with injury. He has dealt with being out of his team’s lineup a lot over the years and that includes his stint with the Blackhawks.
The peaks have to do with his play. His 700 points come in 839 games split between the Edmonton Oilers, New Jersey Devils, Arizona Coyotes, Buffalo Sabres, Boston Bruins, and Chicago Blackhawks.
His career year came in 2017-18 while playing for the Devils. He had 39 goals and 54 assists for 93 points in 76 games played. His efforts that year, a playoff year for New Jersey, won him the Hart Trophy as League MVP.
With all of the bad teams that he’s been a part of and all of the injuries he’s sustained, this 700th point should feel good.
Hall, a first-overall pick himself, has had the pleasure of mentoring a lot of number-one picks that came after him. That includes Connor Bedard of the Blackhawks who can learn a lot from a guy like Hall who knows how to deal with and live up to that pressure.
Taylor Hall appears to be healthy and ready to have a big year now. Is he going to top the career year that he had with New Jersey in 2017-18? No. Is he going to be the leader on and off the ice that the Hawks need him to be? Yes, he sure is.
What is the career ceiling for Taylor Hall? Well, he’s only 32 years old and still producing in the NHL so there is no reason to put a cap on it. Can he reach 1000 points? Only time will tell but he’s got some work to do.
Related: Former Blackhawks Goalie Is Looking Incredible In Vancouver
Related: Blackhawks Injury Update On Alec Martinez & Artyom Levshunov
