from Larry Brooks of the New York Post,

Accepted theory that a team can only come up with a franchise player by bottoming out and cashing in at the draft doesn’t at all hold up if you can get Edmonton GM Peter Chiarelli to trade with you.

Because the Devils sure have their franchise guy in the brilliant and dynamic 26-year-old Taylor Hall, who has surged to the front of the class for Hart Trophy consideration in Year 2 in New Jersey following his acquisition from the Oilers in exchange for Adam Larsson.

Ray Shero has assembled more than a one-man band, obviously, but Hall has been carrying the Devils toward their first playoff berth since 2012 while recording 34 points (17 goals) in 24 straight games since the calendar turned to 2018. Overall, Hall (29 goals, 41 assists, 70 points) has chipped in on 37.4 percent of New Jersey’s goals.

Chiarelli, of course, also traded a 21-year-old Tyler Seguin, so perhaps there is hope Leon Draisaitl will land on Broadway before he turns 23 in late October.

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