What if it really happened?
What if one of the youngest, most intense and talented players in the NHL is traded from his current hockey home to a new ice spraying, net crashing, board banging zip code?
If recent rumors are true, that may be exactly what the hockey world has in store for Edmonton Oilers forward Taylor Hall.
Should the unthinkable actually happen, what team could not only make use of a player of Hall's caliber - because let's face it, what team couldn't use a player of Hall's caliber - but also offer enough in trade return to actually see the deal through?
How about the Tampa Bay Lightning and general manager Steve Yzerman?
"Any deal would have to start with Jonathan Drouin and then be sweetened with a high-end defensive prospect like Slater Koekkoek or Tony DeAngelo and another young NHL-ready forward," writes Alan Muir of SI.com. "A hefty price, but the thought of Hall on the wing with Steven Stamkos would make Lightning GM Steve Yzerman giddy."
Drouin, still only 19 years old, is the former 3rd overall pick in the 2013 draft. His season hasn't quite taken off the way Yzerman had hoped after he fractured his thumb in training camp, but he's begun seeing some time with Stamkos and Callahan on the top line and could be ready to take the next step in his development.
As for Stamkos, even after his injury, he's still arguably the best overall player in the league. He and Callahan have formed a strong bond, but Stamkos has also flourished with the likes of Tyler Johnson. The addition of Hall would be the piece that could put the Bolts over the top and cement their status as Stanley Cup favorites.
Thomas Drance of TheScore.com also sees any potential package starting with Drouin, but notes that the Lightning have a number of young players that could entice the Oilers.
"...in Alex Killorn, Tyler Johnson, Ondrej Palat, Brett Connolly, Nikita Kucherov, and Vladislav Namestnikov, the Lightning have a ton of capable young NHLers who could sweeten the pot.
"Throw in a young defender like Radko Gudas or Andrej Sustr, and a future like Anthony DeAngelo, Adam Erne or Slater Koekkoek, and you have a strong foundation for a package that could realistically entice the Oilers to consider parting ways with their best player."
The thought of the Oilers actually moving Hall still seems farfetched at this point, but were it to happen, expect the Lightning to put together a serious package aimed at potentially bringing the impressive youngster to Tampa.
