Discover NHL Winter Classic – Taylor Hall | Michael Reaves/GettyImages

The Ottawa Senators have been a surprising team in the NHL this season. With their 2-0 shutout road win against the New York Islanders last night, the Senators are one point behind the Columbus Blue Jackets for the second Wild Card spot.

Leevi Merilainen has played incredibly well with having two shutouts over the past three games. With Merilainen’s play over the past three games, the Senators have won their past three games.

However, the Senators are still in need of offensive player as the trade deadline is drawing closer. The Senators will need to make a move to improve their roster to become a stronger team. If the Senators want to make a trade, there’s one veteran on the Chicago Blackhawks that can make a solid trade target.

Taylor Hall makes solid trade target and asking price shouldn’t be too bad

After this season concludes, Taylor Hall will become an unrestricted free agent at 33 years old. There’s no doubt Hall will more than likely be traded with the Blackhawks being the worst team in the NHL and being a free agent. Although he will be a free agent after this season, Hall would make a solid addition to the Senators and value shouldn’t be too bad to get Hall.

According to Scott Powers from the Athletic, Powers mentioned how there could be a “slight chance” the Blackhawks could get a second-round draft pick for Hall in a recent article. However, most league sources Powers talked to believe a third-round draft pick is more likely. Second or third-round draft pick, a move for Hall can help make the Senators stronger.

Some hockey fans may have forgotten that Taylor Hall was the 2017-18 Hart Trophy winner when he was a member of the New Jersey Devils. After winning the Hart Trophy, Hall hasn’t been the same. Hall has only recorded one 60-point season since the 2018-19 season, but he would still be a lethal player on the Senators with his play.

In 875 career games, Hall has recorded 719 points. On a bad Chicago team this season, Hall is tied for the fourth most points on the team with 22 with eight of them being goals. Hall could also seek to get out of Chicago and play for a playoff contending team with how bad Chicago is this season.

Adding Hall on the Senators can help make a more dominant powerplay, add goal scoring, bring veteran leadership and help grow some of the young offensive forwards. Tim Stutzle, Brady Tkachuk, Drake Batherson, Claude Giroux and Josh Norris are the five forwards on the Senators’ roster with more points than Hall this season.

Giving up a second or third-round draft pick might be more valuable to some teams more than others, but it’s a risk the Senators need to consider before another Eastern Conference team wants to make an effort for Hall.