The Chicago Blackhawks initially acquired Taylor Hall via a trade with the Boston Bruins so he could play with and mentor Connor Bedard. Hall was a former first overall pick himself and has played with plenty of other first overall picks, including Connor McDavid, Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier, so he has great experience in that area.
Hall didn’t play much with Bedard during his Blackhawks tenure. He was injured for most of 2023-24 and hasn’t seen much action in 2024-25. They haven’t even shared much power play either.
With each man looking for a breakout, head coach Luke Richardson eventually aligned them. Philipp Kurashev is the third man to complete the trio. There is a lot of potential in these three incredibly skilled players.
In their 6-2 victory over a Stanley Cup contender in the Dallas Stars, this was the best score for either team. Hall scored a hat trick, Bedard had a goal and Kurashev had an assist. Since they spent a few days practicing together, they had the big match they needed to win.
After the game was over, both Bedard and Hall were in incredibly good spirits talking to the media. Of course they all talked about playing with each other in this one.
Developing Connor Bedard is the most important thing this franchise can do right now. Due to his offensive potential as a result of his skill, the Hawks should elevate him to his highest level. If that means Taylor Hall has to be glued to his wing for a while, then so be it. That will also help Hall in the long run.
Coach Luke Richardson has changed the lines a lot. However, based on his post-game comments, it seems like this could be a trio that sticks around for a while.
You shouldn’t mess with a good thing, so these two should play side by side at even strength. It may even be wise to have Hall and Bedard in the power play as often as possible.
Is Hall the team’s second-best forward? An argument can be made for him, but it’s an open discussion. That said, he has the highest ceiling based on what he has done in the past.
Winning makes everyone better. If the Hawks continue to make smart decisions with their lineups, they might be able to win a little more.
Now that Bedard is back on the board, he can get some rest and be ready to open the floodgates against the Minnesota Wild on Friday.
Visit The hockey news Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay informed about the latest news, game day cover, player characteristicsand more.
Related: Taylor Hall tops Blackhawks trade candidates
Related: Blackhawks Trade AHL F Ryder Rolston to Predators
