BHN Daily: Did Taylor Hall Really Force Trade To Boston Bruins?

Did Boston Bruins winger Taylor Hall force his way out of Buffalo and to the Bruins?

Was the Hall trade to the Boston Bruins and how he became a Bruin a sign that NHL players are about to approach NBA status and dictate their way out of town when things aren’t going their way?

There’s a very strong chance that Hall would not be playing for the Boston Bruins and experiencing a rebirth of his NHL career if he didn’t have a no-movement clause to use leading into the 2021 NHL Trade Deadline. Hall even admitted as much after he, along with forward Curtis Lazar were acquired from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for forward Anders Bjork and a 2022 second-round draft pick on April 11.

“The no-movement clause really helped me become a Bruin,” Hall said when he met the Boston media for the first time after the trade. 

In a recent one-on-one interview with Emily Kaplan of ESPN.com, Hall was asked if he thought NHL players are on the verge of a ‘player empowerment movement’?

“I don’t think it will get to the level of NBA — I don’t think it will get anywhere close,” Hall told Kaplan. “It’s just not something I would envision an NHL player doing, having that kind of influence. NBA players have a lot of leverage over general managers and owners in the NBA, which is great for them. They have a lot of power and they’re some of the biggest — not just athletes — but celebrities in the world. You listen to any hip-hop song right now, and chances are it’s got a basketball player’s name in it. 

What they’ve done for social justice is huge. They’ve done a lot of really good things in making themselves accessible, promoting themselves as players and personalities. Hockey players, we just haven’t done that and I don’t know if it will ever be in our DNA to think like that. But who knows? With guys like Auston Matthews and younger guys that are taking over the league, if they want to put themselves out there more, it will be positive for them.”

Now onto the rest of your BHN Daily links:

So when will Hall and the Boston Bruins begin their second-round series with the New York Islanders? (BHN)

Whenever the Bruins-Islanders series begins, the Boston Bruins are expecting to be involved in another ‘heavy’ and physical series. (BHN)

Could Boston Bruins defenseman Jeremy Lauzon be ready for Game 1 against the Islanders? (BHN)

Is former Boston Bruins captain Zdeno Chara done with the Washington Capitals after just one season? Will he retire? (BHN)

With their series-clinching win in Game 6 on Wednesday, the New York Islanders clinched their first series on home ice since they clinched the first-round series with the Washington Capitals in six games in the first round of the 1993 Stanley Cup Playoffs. (NYI Hockey Now)

Here’s some more Islanders coverage from our teammates at NYI Hockey Now. (NYI Hockey Now)

Former Boston College star goalie Spencer Knight was unable to propel the Florida Panthers to a Game 7 with the Tampa Bay Lightning. (Florida Hockey Now)

Speaking of goaltending, Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy is the best goalie in the Stanley Cup playoffs right now after dominating the series with the Panthers. (Florida Hockey Now)

Could the arrival of Jeff Carter and his success since the NHL Trade Deadline help to keep the Pittsburgh Penguins veteran core together for one more season? (Pittsburgh Hockey Now)

Carter may be able to help but as Penguins captain Sidney Crosby pointed out after the Game 6 loss, that will be up to management and ownership. (Pittsburgh Hockey Now)

The Vegas Golden Knights were unable to clinch their series with the Minnesota Wild in Game 6. (Vegas Hockey Now)

Count this puck scribe as being stunned that Toronto Maple Leafs captain John Tavares is already skating again. (TSN)

Finally, a look back at the last time the Boston Bruins and New York Islanders played each other in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Warning for Bruins fans that don’t know the outcome, this will not make you happy!